Electrical Contractors | 4 Landlord Responsibilities For Ensuring Electrical Safety In A Rental
Landlords are required to ensure that rental accommodation is well maintained, especially when it comes to electrical safety. Failure to meet these requirements can cause serious injury, property damage and even liability. If you are planning to rent out your home, you'll ideally want to do everything in your power to ensure minimal risks to avoid overspending for any offences later. This guide offers you insights into landlord responsibilities for ensuring electrical safety in a rental. Only qualified electrical contractors should handle electrical components for maximum safety.
Ensure All Appliances Are In Safe Working Condition
Before your tenants move in, you may want to get your electricians to check that all appliances are in safe working condition. Unsafe appliances should be repaired or disposed off before they cause any serious injuries. For instance, old washing machines or dishwashers may cause shocks if they have not been used for a long time because of faulty or damaged wires. Your electrical contractor can assess the problem and recommend repairs for any faulty appliances before the home is given on rent.
Check Power Outlets And Casings To Prevent Electrical Fires
Your electrical contractor should ideally do a thorough check of power outlets and casings that may expose live parts or cause a fire. Any loose or spark-causing power outlets should be replaced. Similarly, cracked casings need to be swapped because they could shock anyone exposed to hem. Socket outlets, switchboard and earthing connections should also be checked.
Add An Electrical Safety Switch
If you haven't already done so, consider having an electrical safety switch installed in your rental apartment. Safety switches are designed to save people from electrocution. They cut the power to a device within a fraction of a second when an electrical fault occurs. Only licensed electrical contractors can install and test these safety switches regularly, so don't attempt this dangerous installation task on your own.
Inspect Wires And Look For Signs Of Ageing
Ageing or jagged electrical wires are most prone to fires, so get your electrical contractors to test them before allowing people to move into your home. If there are signs of ageing and wear, it's probably a good idea to replace them now, instead of waiting for a serious fire or electrical injury to take place in your home because this could leave you several thousands of dollars poorer later.
As a responsible landlord, you should ideally ensure electrical safety in your rental –– for your own peace of mind and for the safety of your tenants. Get regular maintenance from qualified electrical contractors to ensure that your home's safety isn't compromised.
