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Most UK local authorities consider an HMO landlord, or agent, a ‘competent person’ for an annual visual inspection but not a ‘competent person’ to carry out a ‘full inspection’. A qualified electrician should carry out a’ full inspection’.
Record the date, time and results of the annual visual inspection.
An annual visual inspection should check, as a minimum:
· Electrical leads – not damaged or frayed.
· Electrical leads – not repaired, replace if damaged.
· Electrical leads – not hidden from view, for instance under a carpet or rug. Damage will not be noticed.
· Electrical leads – positioned so they are not damaged by heat, for instance behind a kettle or near a cooker. Electrical leads position advice.
· Electrical appliances – working?
· Tenants are not ‘daisy-chaining’ electrical adaptors, for instance connecting one 4-way adaptor into another 4-way adaptor.
· Electrical outlets (plugs and sockets) – no discolouring or burn marks.
· Electrical outlets (plugs and sockets) – check that not too many appliances are plugged into one outlet.
· Electrical plugs – not cracked or damaged.
· Electrical plugs – the grip is holding the cable.
· Electrical plugs – no bare wires visible where the cable enters the plug.
· Light sockets – securely fitted, no discolouring or burn marks.
· Light switches – secured OK, no discolouring or burn marks.
· Bathrooms – electrical outlets at least 3 metres from the edge of a bath or shower cubicle.
· Bathrooms – electric heaters and boilers – fixed, permanently wired to a wall (NOT free standing or portable).
· Bathrooms – electric heaters should be more than 0.6 metres from the shower or bath.
· Ask tenants whether the same bulb or fuse is blowing or the same RCD needs resetting – this suggests a problem with the electrical circuit.
· Extension cables – fully unwound to prevent overheating.
· Water and electricity don’t mix – for instance flower vase on TV or other electrical appliance.
· Use your common sense – if it looks wrong it probably is.
Links
Electrical Test And Inspection (UK)
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This webpage gives the Judge Electrical opinion on what an HMO or ’buy to let’ landlord should check during an annual electrical visual inspection. |
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Annual Electrical Visual Inspection – HMO & Buy to Let Landlords |
