Whether it’s a gated apartment complex, or student housing, your HMO needs to be kept safe, and your legal obligations need to be met. As a HMO landlord, you have to ensure that you follow all electrical safety guidelines. Including PAT testing and electrical inspections. But what about your residents themselves? Well, if they do not follow correct procedures, they could be putting themselves at risk of an electrical fire. From overloading sockets, to wet tea towels, the risks are endless. Here at Walker Electrical, we are Preston’s leading electrical experts. As a result, we have produced this guide, detailing how to keep your HMO safe from electrical fires.
How to keep your HMO safe from electrical fires
There are several things you can do to help lower the risk of electrical fires in your HMO. These include:
- PAT testing
- Electrical inspection testing
- Alternative safety measures
PAT Testing
PAT testing on a regular basis will provide documented evidence of your commitment to electrical safety. And evidence that you have upheld your legal responsibility. This will make it easier for you to claim on the insurance, should an electrical issue occur. This is because PAT testing involves testing all the electrical appliances to make sure they are fit for purpose, and replacing those that are not. This means that any items with loose or exposed wires for example, would be identified before they became a fire risk.
Electrical Inspection Condition Report
An electrical inspection can also help prevent electrical fires in your HMO by identifying any issues with the wiring in your property. Loose wires, short circuits and old wiring can all be identified and you will have the opportunity to replace this, before an electrical fire can start.
Alternative safety measures
You should also consider:
- installing more sockets in your property to decrease the risk of socket overloading. This is where many plugs are plugged into an extension cable because of a lack of sockets.
- Asking your tenants to report any electrical issues they notice including funny noises or sparking
- Hiring a cleaner for the property to make sure that hobs and electric cookers are in good working order at all times
- Ask your tenants to practice electrical safety and provide a print out for the kitchen
For more information about how to keep your HMO safe from electrical fires get in touch with the professionals today, here at Walker Electrical.