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Dave
 
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Default Electrical testing for equipment in rented properties

Are there ay landlords out there who can advise on the need for
electrical testing of washing machines and fridges?
Several sites, including the ODPM's, indicate that it's necessary to get
these items tested (presumably PAT tested) and say that it's required by
the "Electrical Equipment (safety) Regulations 1994" - but from reading
these regs I can't see where they require it (AFAICS it's just the UK
version of the Low Voltage Directive).
Can anyone out there speak with any authority?

Dave
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John White
 
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Default Electrical testing for equipment in rented properties

Dave wrote:

Are there ay landlords out there who can advise on the need for
electrical testing of washing machines and fridges?


I'm not a landlord but I carry out PAT and fixed installation testing
for several private landlords.

As with all other electrical appliances in the property, washing
machines and fridges usually require testing. The property's fixed
installation also normally requires testing.

Several sites, including the ODPM's, indicate that it's necessary to get
these items tested (presumably PAT tested) and say that it's required by
the "Electrical Equipment (safety) Regulations 1994" - but from reading
these regs I can't see where they require it (AFAICS it's just the UK
version of the Low Voltage Directive).


I am not a lawyer but I understand that the requirement is derived
from a combination of the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations
1994 and the Consumer Protection Act 1987.

The Regulations impose an obligation on suppliers of electrical goods
to ensure that they are safe. A landlord is normally considered to be
such a supplier when they rent out a property.

Can anyone out there speak with any authority?


The Local Authority and your insurance company will almost certainly
have guidelines for rented properties.

John
--
John White, SCA Electrical
Domestic and Commercial Electricians http://www.scaelectrical.co.uk/
Fixed Installation and PAT Testing http://www.the-pat-tester.co.uk/
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charlieB
 
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Default Electrical testing for equipment in rented properties

There's an article here
http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/pdf/3-...y%20Checks.pdf

There's no legal requirement for any particular checks to be carried
out, nor any requirement for how often checks should be carried out -
however, should something go wrong, you need to be able to prove due
diligence.

one way of supporting due diligence would be to carry out some testing.
Frequency of testing also varies with whether the product is portable
or not - that is fitted with a plug, rather than hard-wired to a fused
spur - as the flex on a portable prodcut is assumed to be more at risk
of damage.

You should also provide complete instructions for the use of all
electrical appliances in the property. That way the tenant can
familiarise themselves with the specific warnings in user manuals
(which often include instructions aimed only at the terminally stupid).

Charlie

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sPoNiX
 
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Default Electrical testing for equipment in rented properties

On Wed, 25 Jan 2006 23:27:15 +0000 (UTC), Dave
wrote:

Are there ay landlords out there who can advise on the need for
electrical testing of washing machines and fridges?
Several sites, including the ODPM's, indicate that it's necessary to get
these items tested (presumably PAT tested) and say that it's required by
the "Electrical Equipment (safety) Regulations 1994" - but from reading
these regs I can't see where they require it (AFAICS it's just the UK
version of the Low Voltage Directive).
Can anyone out there speak with any authority?


It is necessary to ensure that the appliances are safe. This may be
accomplished by regular PAT testing (and inspection) or by other
methods.

ie PAT testing is simply one method of ensuring the appliances are
safe, and is not compulsory if alternative methods are used.

sponix
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Dave
 
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Default Electrical testing for equipment in rented properties

charlieB wrote:
There's an article here
http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/pdf/3-...y%20Checks.pdf

.... snipped

Thanks for the link. It's certainly interesting, but the reference is
written by someone with a vested interest.
It would be good to find an authoritative interpretation of the
requirements by someone with nothing to gain from recommending regular
testing.

Dave


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Default Electrical testing for equipment in rented properties


Dave wrote:
charlieB wrote:
There's an article here
http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/pdf/3-...y%20Checks.pdf

... snipped

Thanks for the link. It's certainly interesting, but the reference is
written by someone with a vested interest.
It would be good to find an authoritative interpretation of the
requirements by someone with nothing to gain from recommending regular
testing.

Dave


http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg237.pdf covers the case for portable
equipment in Hotels. I imagine it's similar and a look around the site
may tell you something.

MBQ

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Dave
 
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Default Electrical testing for equipment in rented properties

wrote:
Dave wrote:

charlieB wrote:

There's an article here
http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/pdf/3-...y%20Checks.pdf


... snipped

Thanks for the link. It's certainly interesting, but the reference is
written by someone with a vested interest.
It would be good to find an authoritative interpretation of the
requirements by someone with nothing to gain from recommending regular
testing.

Dave



http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg237.pdf covers the case for portable
equipment in Hotels. I imagine it's similar and a look around the site
may tell you something.

MBQ


Thanks for that, another interesting reference - it primarily discusses
physical inspections by a competent person and says there is no
requirement to keep records. An MIEE CEng isn't accepted for part P
(spit!) but I reckon it would be accepted here.
There doesn't seem to be anything on the HSE site that requires regular
electrical testing of electrical installations or items such as washing
machines, microwaves and fridges - only of truly portable electrical items.

Dave
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Default Electrical testing for equipment in rented properties

Dave wrote:
wrote:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg237.pdf covers the case for portable
equipment in Hotels. I imagine it's similar and a look around the site
may tell you something.


Hotels are particularly onerous testing places for PAT purposes
(counts as equipment used by the public). I don't have the PAT
guidelines to hand, but I don't think they say anything about
rented properties. I would suggest a fairly long testing cycle would
be fine, with an additional formal visual inspection triggered by
change in occupier.

Thanks for that, another interesting reference - it primarily discusses
physical inspections by a competent person and says there is no
requirement to keep records. An MIEE CEng isn't accepted for part P
(spit!) but I reckon it would be accepted here.
There doesn't seem to be anything on the HSE site that requires regular
electrical testing of electrical installations or items such as washing
machines, microwaves and fridges - only of truly portable electrical items.


PAT is not restricted to portable appliances -- the 'Portable' in PAT
should be regarded as refering to the tester, i.e. testing should be
performed in situ using a portable tester. However, portable (as
opposed to Stationary or Fixed) appliances are the ones most likely
to become damaged in use.

There are two C&G courses/exams which take a day each which HSE
recognises as demonstrating competence to perform PAT testing.
These are intended to be achievable by anyone who can wire a plug
and knows ohms law and the difference between milliohms and
megohms. It is not necessary to be an electrician to obtain these
certificates, and indeed very few electricians are actually competent
to perform PAT testing as it's not covered by any of their
courses/exams.
Incompetent PAT testers are easy to spot -- they nearly always start
by plugging the appliance into the PAT test equipment.

--
Andrew Gabriel

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charlieB
 
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Default Electrical testing for equipment in rented properties

Thanks for that, another interesting reference - it primarily discusses
physical inspections by a competent person and says there is no
requirement to keep records. An MIEE CEng isn't accepted for part P
(spit!) but I reckon it would be accepted here.
There doesn't seem to be anything on the HSE site that requires regular
electrical testing of electrical installations or items such as washing
machines, microwaves and fridges - only of truly portable electrical items.


Yep - reckon the IEE missed a trick here when part P was going through
- competent in most "professional" branches of engineering is
ultimately by peer review and to a certain extent self review.

There isn't a requirement anywhere that says "though must do A, B and C
to have done due diligence in assessing the safety of electrical
equipment supplied as a landlord" - short of going to a court of law,
or carefully reviewing any cases that have gone before, you'll have to
decide for yourself what is sufficient.
I'm a landlord and consider myself to competent enough - I made an
inspection myself, noting results of any measurements made and replaced
a cracked socket.

Charlie

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