How many property owners get electrical safety audits done on their properties?
If a place is left vacant and disconnected for a period of time (a few months), an electrical safety check will be required prior to reconnection. However, if the place is almost continuously tenanted, it could go unchecked for years, even decades.
I live in a rented flat in a block of 5. They are all owned by the same person and managed by a well known real estate company.
When I moved in here, I tested all electrical outlets and found a working but dangerous one. I advised the property manager who arranged for an electrician to replace it. The electrician also spotted an issue with 4 out of 5 of the light fittings here and arrangements were made to replace those on a subsequent visit.
I also had concerns about a wall heater and asked the electrician to test/tag it or remove it. He tested it and found it dodgy and removed it. 2 of the other flats still have their (same) wall heaters and I assume the other 2 do as well. All potential issues. These are 1960's style flats and I'd say the wall heaters could well have been fitted from new.
A couple of months later the flat next door was tenanted. I went next door and helped my new neighbor by extracting a broken lightbulb from a fitting. I also tested all her sockets, found one which was faulty/dangerous and instructed her not to use it and to promptly report it to the PM.
About a week ago I installed a heated towel rail (with a plug) in the bathroom. I had already heard of the requirement to have an RCD or hardwired electricals in a bathroom, but I was again reminded at this time. I thought I'd better check this out for sure so I contacted the electrician company who handles these flats, had a chat with the guy there, who confirmed what I had already suspected - namely that, the wiring here may never have been compliant, in other words, unprotected electrical sockets have apparently never been allowed in a bathroom.
At this point - I thought I'd better call the PM and ask for a proper electrical inspection to be done here for my piece of mind.
I also followed up with my neighbor and found that she had not told the PM and she had been using the socket, despite me telling her not to. I also found that another neighbor had a electrical safety problem they had not reported, despite knowing of it for a month.
At this point I realised - I care about this because of my experience in electronics and my understanding. Lots of other people don't. As long as something works, they don't give a s*, even if warned something is dangerous.
This one is being sorted because I alerted the PM to the issue. The PM has advised the owner will be getting an inspection on all the flats. But I'm unusual. Most people just assume all's fine as long as it doesn't not-work. But we are talking issues which could cause someone to get electrocuted or start a fire.
I think there is a lesson here for some landlords - especially those renting out older properties.
If a place is left vacant and disconnected for a period of time (a few months), an electrical safety check will be required prior to reconnection. However, if the place is almost continuously tenanted, it could go unchecked for years, even decades.
I live in a rented flat in a block of 5. They are all owned by the same person and managed by a well known real estate company.
When I moved in here, I tested all electrical outlets and found a working but dangerous one. I advised the property manager who arranged for an electrician to replace it. The electrician also spotted an issue with 4 out of 5 of the light fittings here and arrangements were made to replace those on a subsequent visit.
I also had concerns about a wall heater and asked the electrician to test/tag it or remove it. He tested it and found it dodgy and removed it. 2 of the other flats still have their (same) wall heaters and I assume the other 2 do as well. All potential issues. These are 1960's style flats and I'd say the wall heaters could well have been fitted from new.
A couple of months later the flat next door was tenanted. I went next door and helped my new neighbor by extracting a broken lightbulb from a fitting. I also tested all her sockets, found one which was faulty/dangerous and instructed her not to use it and to promptly report it to the PM.
About a week ago I installed a heated towel rail (with a plug) in the bathroom. I had already heard of the requirement to have an RCD or hardwired electricals in a bathroom, but I was again reminded at this time. I thought I'd better check this out for sure so I contacted the electrician company who handles these flats, had a chat with the guy there, who confirmed what I had already suspected - namely that, the wiring here may never have been compliant, in other words, unprotected electrical sockets have apparently never been allowed in a bathroom.
At this point - I thought I'd better call the PM and ask for a proper electrical inspection to be done here for my piece of mind.
I also followed up with my neighbor and found that she had not told the PM and she had been using the socket, despite me telling her not to. I also found that another neighbor had a electrical safety problem they had not reported, despite knowing of it for a month.
At this point I realised - I care about this because of my experience in electronics and my understanding. Lots of other people don't. As long as something works, they don't give a s*, even if warned something is dangerous.
This one is being sorted because I alerted the PM to the issue. The PM has advised the owner will be getting an inspection on all the flats. But I'm unusual. Most people just assume all's fine as long as it doesn't not-work. But we are talking issues which could cause someone to get electrocuted or start a fire.
I think there is a lesson here for some landlords - especially those renting out older properties.
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