Does my home need an electrical safety test?
We’ve spoken previously about the importance of electrical installation condition reports; the crucial electrical safety tests that help business owners and landlords protect their staff/tenants and ensure compliance with health and safety legislation.
Which is all well and good – but if you’re a homeowner, do you need to worry about EICRs and electrical testing?
The law surrounding EICR reports for homeowners
For this article, we’ll be ignoring business and commercial properties entirely. Of course, if you’re a landlord, you’ll likely own and rent out residential properties; and the law definitely requires you to ensure those properties are safe for your tenants.
That means getting an electrical installation condition report for each of domestic property once every five years and every time you acquire new tenants. (That includes all property types, by the way – not just HMOs.)
But what about homeowners? Are you legally required to carry out an EICR for your own home?
The short answer is no – but it’s absolutely a good idea.
Why bother with home electrical safety tests?
The importance of home EICRs cannot be overstated. If you’re not getting your home’s electrics regularly checked by a qualified and accredited electrician, you’re effectively risking you and your family’s lives.
Faulty appliances and wiring were the second biggest cause of accidental dwelling fires between 2019 and 2020. A house fire can be truly devastating; not only claiming lives but also your possessions, finances and long-term emotional wellbeing.
Meanwhile, electrical shocks can cause long-term life-affecting injuries or even death.
Domestic electrical safety testing can uncover faults in your home’s wiring or electrical appliances which may be putting you and your family in imminent danger.
It’s recommended to arrange a test once every ten years at the very least; though it’s far safer to get them tested every five years.
And your safety isn’t the only reason to carry out regular home electrical testing:
- If you, your family and/or your home are affected by fire or shock due to faulty electrics, some home insurance and life insurance policies may refuse to pay out if you don’t have an up-to-date EICR.
- Left unchecked, small electrical issues can evolve into larger problems for your property’s entire electrical system; eventually requiring expensive rewiring. Home electrical testing and inspection can help catch and fix any small issues early; extending the life of your home’s electrics and saving you money in the long run.
- If you plan on moving home in the near future, an EICR can make your property more attractive to buyers and help you negotiate the best price.
Can I do my own EICR?
Last time in our electrician myths article, we spoke about why doing your own electrical installation work is generally a very bad idea.
It’s a similar story with DIY EICR testing. Legally, you can do it yourself if you can prove your competence; but unless you’re already a qualified and accredited electrician, it’s unlikely that you’ll have the skills and knowledge to carry out safe and accurate testing.
It’s much safer, faster and cheaper to seek out a qualified, registered electrician for your home’s EICR test – and for that, you’ve come to the right place.
JC Electric UK are NICEIC-accredited electricians in West London who can provide a complete domestic EICR test across your entire home for complete peace of mind. For more info on homeowner EICRs or to book a testing appointment, get in touch on 0208 839 9561 or email info@jcelectric.co.uk today.
NICEIC Approved Electricians + Registered Competent Person
