RICS Scotland supports...

[Johnmelad]

RICS Scotland supports move for electrical safety in the private rented sector.

God idea?

Should this be forthcoming for the rest of the UK?

http://www.rics.org/uk/knowledge/news-insight/news/rics-scotland---esc-campaign/

 

[viewer]

On one hand anything which improves living conditions and makes for safer housing must be a good thing, however, there already is legislation which covers fitness and which includes defective fittings and electrical wiring. Local authorities have the responsibility for dealing with the legislation throughout the UK. The fact that we have problems with housing repairs in 2013 shows that the system is not working. By expecting a five-yearly electrical inspection there would be increased costs for landlords and increased costs to councils in policing the system.
It does seem that, as has often been the case, that new laws would be introduced due to the failure to properly use existing legislation.
Being pragmatic, it is also important to see where electrical dangers arise; the vast majority of fires or electrocutions being caused by faulty appliances.
Perhaps more useful would be legislation which required the fitting of RCCDs and smoke alarms to all houses?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

According to the 2011 census there are about 8.8M rented households in the UK.

That means well over 7000 inspections per day.

Anybody know how many electricians are members of Competent Person schemes, and therefore how many each one will have to do? That would be assuming that any rules/regulations/laws in this respect would require such a person to be used, and it would assume that electricians and rented properties are evenly distributed, which won't be the case.

Many will have been sold off, but at one time, the Becontree estate in Dagenham had 27,000 properties. In Manchester, the Wythenshawe Community Housing Group is currently responsible for around 14,000.


Doesn't seem workable to me.

 

[knowall]

That's good news for Scotland then!

 

[seasickstevie]

In addition to a rented property being tested every five years for a 'long-term' tenancy, you've still got the transient type of occupancy - and there's a lot - so dwellings would still need to be tested at every change of tenancy.

This is even more important, in order to check the previous occupant hasn't 'tampered'.

Sounds like a lot of work ...