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Residential Safety Inspection Pre-Purchase & Landlord’s Safety Inspection

Landlord's safety inspection reduces fire risk.Each year there are about 7-8,000 fires in residential houses caused by electrical fault. In 2005 there were 15 deaths and 1100 injuries resulting from electrical fires. (www.electricalsafetycouncil.org.uk)

Injury and loss caused in this way can be devastating and costly. We happen to think that it’s better to avoid such situations altogether. Rather predictably the Government and most insurers agree.

Many people take electricity for granted, but at the time of house purchase or before installing tenants, it can pay to know exactly what condition your electrical installation and equipment is in, before you face the cost and hassle of electrical fault.

Pre-Purchase Survey

Before agreeing a purchase price it can be advantageous to “look under the bonnet” of the house to inspect the electrical installation. Most houses are second hand (or worse!) and the electrical installations can be the result of years of neglect or bad DIY. Given that a house is likely to be the biggest asset a person buys, please do not allow yourself to inherit an equally large liability for someone else’s DIY, neglect or cost cutting approach to electrical safety. Your family, your income and freedom (for buy-to-letters) may be worth more to you than that.

Pre-purchase survey identifies wiring that may need replacement.

Our Inspection acts like an MOT. It will assess the overall condition of the electrical installation, list any faults (and likely remedial costs) and allow you to plan, and budget for, your vision of the dream house. Landlords should be aware that under the legal responsibility to provide a safe electrical environment, this wiring inspection is recommended every five years in rented residential property.

Please, please, please (whether you end up buying our services or not) consider this inspection before you agree a purchase price or install new kitchens and bathrooms or redecorate. We hate to see adults in tears, but that’s what happens a lot of the time when people ignore the matter of electrical safety inspections. A small upfront cost can eliminate this trouble, and possibly assist you to reduce a purchase price.

Landlord’s Safety Inspection

Fusebox in need of replacement with modern version.In addition to regular wiring inspections (recommended every 5 years), Landlords are also encouraged to ensure annual testing of electrical equipment. We rarely see a house that, even when unfurnished, does not rely on some electrical appliances (immersion heaters, extractor fans, heating controls, fitted kitchen appliances or showers).

Many agents refuse to handle such rental properties without documentary evidence of testing. If your tenants are going to use an appliance, the onus is on the landlord to prove each appliance is safe to use. Our service satisfies this requirement.