CMS Electrical News

Source: Chris Spencer, CMS Electrical
Date: 09.09.09

There was a recent article in The West Briton newspaper about the inquest following on the unfortunate death of Thirza Whittle in Cornwall, who was electrocuted after her landlord supplied a faulty electric radiator to a property she had was renting. The newspaper had a full article in their edition of 13th August on the trial arising from the inquest report. Their comment page quoted that the £5,000 fine [and £1,182 cost] should be the least of Hillary Thompson’s [the Landlord] worries. She will have the death of a young mother on her conscience forever!

This accident could have been avoided and Thirza`s father-in-law would not have allowed his family to move into the property if he had been aware that the electrical safety inspections had not been carried out?

We as a company spend much of our time carrying out these safety checks and inspections for landlords and have prepared information for Landlords to help them.

The Electrical Safety Council (ESC) advises tenants to look for the following things before moving into a rented property:

An electrical report (known as a Periodic Inspection Report) confirming that the electrical installation is safe for use
Certification confirming that any recent electrical work meets the UK national standards
That sockets, switches and light fittings are in good condition with no signs of damage
That any electrical appliances are provided with the manufacturer's instructions, have up to date Portable Appliance -Test (PAT) stickers on them and are in good working order

As time has moved on since most houses were last wired it is quite probable that many need a review of whether the installation is still suitable for today’s lifestyle.

Making sure there are enough sockets for tenants needs. Many TVs will now need another socket for the TV digital box for example. Also to gain accreditation they now require a certain number of sockets per room, presumably as three are needed for a computer & printer, not forgetting every student’s lifeline, the mobile phone, and associated charger.

North Wales fire fighters have warned of the dangers of "unsuitable" extension leads after a homemade device sparked a garage fire’.

A crew was called to Stryt Las, Rhosllanerchrugog at 1200 BST. It is thought to have been caused by a short circuit in a homemade extension lead connected to the freezer. Andy Robb, Fire Safety Enforcement Officer for Wrexham, urged people "never to attempt to create homemade solutions to any electrical problems". Nobody was hurt in the blaze.

'Qualified electrician' Mr Robb added: "This is the latest in a spate of fires involving electrical appliances. "We would urge residents never to attempt to create homemade solutions to any electrical problems. "If you are going to use an extension lead, it should display the British Kite Standard Mark or an EN number and carry the correct fuse age. "Also, all older electrical items in your home should be checked over by a qualified electrician to ensure that they are in good working order."

Introduction to ESC electrical safety

Although the UK has a fairly good record of electrical safety, there are still over 30 Deaths and nearly 4000 injuries from electrical accidents and also 8000 fires that occur in the home each year. Most of the accidents in the home involve faults in, or misuse of, domestic appliances, flexes, plugs or connectors. A large number are related to electrical maintenance or DIY activities. The major dangers to health from electrical accidents are from shock, burns, electrical explosion or arcing, fire, and mechanical movements initiated by electricity.

The causes of such incidents are varied but include:

Deterioration of the electrical installation.
Broken accessories and equipment.
Misuse of the installation and equipment and occasional vandalism.
Inconsistent or lack of a planned maintenance programme

Safe To Rent

It may come as a surprise but there are 7.8 million homes rented in the UK. Of these some 840,000 are defined as houses in multiple occupancy [HMOs].

While most HMOs are well maintained by responsible landlords and careful tenants confusion about the landlords legal obligations and lack of awareness amongst tenants about electrical safety generally can lead to a risk situation.

There is a planned PR &help programme being set up by the Electricity safety councils to advise all Landlords and they are looking for Landlords [and tenants] who may have had to deal with dangerous or hazardous problems in rented homes please contact us for further details.

Many of our Landlords take sensible precautions and many letting agencies will not take on properties unless they have been electrically certified. With potential renters becoming more discerning it would seem to be a sensible and ultimately more economical option. We have available the following downloads upon request.

East Midlands Decent and Safe Homes: Gives advice on how Landlords can ensure that their properties meet Health & safety procedures.

ESC: A fifty-page download on electrical safety and recommendations for Landlords.

If any one would like a no obligation visit or discussion about their own needs, then please contact CMS Electrical on 0115 8752466.