So we have had a fair few new Coventry student focused landlords come to us recently and it amazed us how many haven’t even had any electrical testing carried out in addition to PAT Testing, so we thought we would write an article to help advise and assist the student landlords of Coventry out there.
Though this article is more for HMOs we think its good practice to carry out PAT testing on all of your appliance in your property be it aimed towards students, families or professionals, after all it is tax deductible and it also saves lives.
Where a landlord be it a student property or not may provide an electrical appliance as part of a property tenancy, the law expects that all appliances supplied will be maintained in a safe condition.
Though not a legal requirement as such in many instances it is recommended as a point of due diligence, god forbid anything was to ever happen if you can show that you’ve done everything physically possible with in you power it can save you from a prison sentence, huge fine and also the knowledge that someone was injured or worse in one of your properties.
The law however doesn’t quite expand on how a landlord should show due diligence and we recommend it as best practice.
Did you Know?
You can test items yourself if you have a basic knowledge and understanding of safety and electrics, though the cost for having someone come out is pretty in expensive, if you would like a quote for someone to test the electrics within your student property in Coventry please do let one our staff members know, here at Studentcircle lettings we aim to try and assist the landlord and tenant in rebalancing the student accommodation balance of trying to provide an overall good service to both the student and the landlord
What is a portable appliance?
A portable appliance is any item that can be moved or unplugged from the mains, it can be anything from a kettle to a fridge.
Do I need to have a qualified electrician to test each appliance?
The answer in most instances is no, a visual inspection would normally suffice, you would need to look out for any signs of danger though if you do not feel comfortable no. For most appliances, a visual inspection by the landlord for any signs of danger would be sufficient. If an appliance is particularly dangerous to check or if as a landlord you don’t feel comfortable assessing it, you should have a qualified person perform the inspection.
- Things to look out for when inspecting appliances:
- fraying, cuts or heavy scuffing to the lead
- damage to the plug such as bent pins or melted plug
- Tape should never be used to join leads together
- Wires visible from the plug
- Appliances being stored in wet conditions unless IP Rated
- Cables trapped under fridges, furniture or heavy objects
We can provide you with quotes for having your house or houses inspected