Poorly installed or cared for electrical appliances could cause a fire in your home.
In the first of a series of blogs about making sure your house is as safe as possible, read our advice on making sure your electrical appliances are safe. We also have advice for landlords and tenants regarding electrical appliance safety.
Golden rules of appliance safety
‘Register My Appliance’ is a campaign by the Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances and is supported by both the Government and local Fire Services. They have provided these six golden rules of appliance safety:
- Always follow the installation and care instructions carefully, and keep the booklet in a safe place.
- Note the appliance’s serial number and date of purchase in the booklet for easy reference.
- Don’t use extension leads or adaptors for large appliances. They should be plugged directly into a wall-mounted socket outlet.
- Fit at least one smoke alarm on each level of your home and place one near your kitchen as a priority. Test them frequently.
- Register your new and old appliances at www.registermyappliance.org.uk so that manufacturers know where to find you if a safety repair is needed.
- For a clean bill of health, check your older appliances against the recall listing here.
Advice for landlords
In Scotland...
New rules have recently come into place for landlords of rented properties in Scotland. All properties with existing tenancies must have an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) and Portable Appliance Test (PAT) completed by a registered electrician before 1st December 2016.
If you are a Your Move landlord in Scotland and signed up to our Fully Managed service, we can carry out all the administration involved in obtaining a quote and having the EICR and PAT carried out for a fee of £60 (including VAT). You will still need to pay the contractor for their service and certification.
Just call our dedicated helpline on 01506 656 434^ (option 2).
Read more about new rules for landlords in Scotland >
In England...
There are currently no specific regulations concerning electrical appliances for landlords in England, but if you are supplying appliances it’s always a good idea to ensure they are safe. It protects both your tenants and your property.
Ensure the appliance safety rules above are followed in your properties and consider getting an Installation Survey or Portable Appliance Test.
We can help you to arrange the relevent electrical safety checks for your rented properties. Simply phone our dedicated helpline on 0800 0149 344^.
You can read more about lettings legislation and safety regulation here >
Advice for tenants
Be sure to follow the appliance safety rules above in your home.
If you notice any problems or faults with appliances provided by the landlord then report them immediately to whoever manages the maintenance of the property – that might be a letting agent or the landlord themselves.
Remember, small faults can quickly become bigger problems, so report anything as soon as you notice a problem.
