| FACT
FILE - Part "P" Building Regulations (Electrical Safety in Dwellings)
 Don't
be caught with one of these in your rental property  The
Electrical Safety Council is an independent charity committed to reducing deaths
and injuries caused by electrical accidents.
The
Electrical Safety Council have recently produced two documents on Electrical Safety
which can be used by landlords and to answer their queries. Please feel free to
download by clicking on the image below: 
Electrical Safety
in Dwellings From
1 January 2005, people carrying out electrical work in homes and gardens in England
and Wales have had to follow the new rules in the Building Regulations. These
apply to all properties either let as holiday rentals, long term lettings or owner
occupied (not let). The rules are set out in Part P Building Regulations (Electrical
Safety in Dwellings). Failure to comply with these Regulations is a criminal
offence, which could result in a maximum fine of £5,000 and or imprisonment.
Why has the Government introduced the new rules? To
reduce the number of deaths, injuries and fires caused by faulty electrical installations
and to make it harder for 'cowboy builders' to leave electrical installations
in an unsafe condition.
In very general terms these regulations require that works, repairs, maintenance
etc., on "electrical installations", in certain areas of a property, are
now known as "notifiable" works and as such must only be carried out by
a "competent person". Who
is a "Competent Person"?
Someone who is currently registered with an approved self-certification scheme,
which monitors and regulates his or her activities, competence etc.
The competent person can "self-certify" the relevant works and he (or she) then
has a responsibility to provide the customer and the local authority building
control department with a copy Certificate relating to the notifiable works. If
your property is let out then you will need to maintain a copy of any such certificate
in their management files for possible future reference.
Someone who is not a "competent person" could still do the works
as long as they seek appropriate approval from their local authority Building
Control department, before and after the works are carried out. In most cases
an officer from the department will wish to visit the property and inspect the
works and may require the applicant to submit suitable drawings or schematics.
What does an "Electrical Installation" mean? Fixed
electrical cables or fixed electrical equipment located on the consumer's side
of the electricity supply meter in a dwelling or in the common parts of a building
serving one or more dwellings; and that includes sheds, garages and greenhouses.
Non notifiable works:
Although you should take guidance from the Building Control department generally
these would include repairs, replacements and maintenance;  
and additions or alterations to existing circuits outside
kitchens and bathrooms: Replacing power sockets (white laminate with
chrome for example), replacing a damaged power cable, replacing a light switch
or ceiling rose, adding lighting points, sockets and fused spurs to existing circuits
as long as they are not in a special location or special installation.
Special
Locations / installations: Kitchen - bathroom/shower room, garden lighting and
swimming pools.
 
 When
the Notifiable work is carried out Will I get a certificate that the electrical
work meets the requirements of the Building Regulations? Yes
- a qualified installer should give you a signed BS 7671 electrical safety certificate
for all types of electrical work. If you use a registered installer for notifiable
work, the operator of the registration scheme will send you a Building Regulations
compliance certificate. If you use an unregistered installer for notifiable work,
the Building Control Service will inspect the work to check that it complies with
the Building Regulations before issuing a completion certificate.
What will happen if the owner does not follow the Building Regulations?
- The
electrical installation might not be safe.
-
You will have no record of the work done.
- You
may have difficulty selling your home if you do not have the right electrical
safety certificates.
- Your
local authority's Building Control Department may insist that you put right faulty
work.
Where can I get more information? From
your local authority's Building Control Department who publish a free 'Explanatory
Booklet on the Building Regulations'. Or visit www.odpm.gov.uk/explanatory-booklet
for a copy
N.B. This information should not be relied on for accuracy and
is presented here without the responsibility of jml Property Service and the website
it is being displayed at. ©jml property Services 04-05 Top
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