Our commitment to you
- We check the electrical systems in all our rented properties every five years. This tells us whether the systems are safe or if we need to make any necessary repairs.
- We also need to carry out tests on any item of electrical equipment owned by Transform in your home. These are called PAT (Portable Appliance Tests).
Generally testing is carried out every two years (although for a small number of properties its annually). Our contractors will contact you to arrange any appointments needed. It is a legal condition of your tenancy that you allow contractors access to your home to ensure your electrical appliances are safe.
Further details are set out in our Electrical Safety Management Plan, please contact our Health and Safety Lead for a copy.
Further information on electrical safety can be found at here.
What you can do to keep yourself safe
A large number of domestic fires are caused by electrical faults. It’s vital to look after electrical equipment – just because something works doesn’t mean it’s safe. To make sure your home is safe, you should inspect electrical fittings and equipment to ensure they’re in good condition. Look out for the following:
Plugs
- Plugs should fit tightly into sockets.
- Their casing should be free from cracks.
- Watch out for burn marks or signs of overheating.
- The cable should be firmly secured in the plug.
- None of the pins should be bent.
- The cardboard label on the bottom of the plug should be removed.
- Plugs shouldn’t rattle.
Electrical leads
- Leads should be free from cuts, fraying and damage.
- Don’t use two or three-way multi-way adaptors.
- If you’re using an extension lead, make sure it’s fully uncoiled.
Sockets
- Sockets should be free from cracks or other damage.
- Check them for burn marks and signs of overheating.
- Make sure they’re properly secured to the wall.
- Make sure the switch works properly.
Lighting
- Check that your light fittings are not visibly damaged and that lamp holders are not damaged, scorched or corroded.
- Check downlighters and their surroundings for signs of overheating such as curled labels and discolouration or scorching.
Consumer units and electricity meters
- Check the consumer unit (fuse box) and electricity meter.
- Check that you are not storing combustible materials around your consumer unit and electricity meter.
- Test the residual current devices (RCDs) in your consumer units regularly by pressing the “test” button every three months. Press and release the “test” button on the RCD/RCBO and the power should “trip”. If the RCD/RCBO fails to operate correctly please report this to Transform by contacting our Repairs team Repairs Team on 0800 389 5224 or email repairs@transformhousing.org.uk.
Carrying out electrical work yourself
- You must have our permission before any electrical work is carried out in your home and we’ll need confirmation that the work has been done by a qualified person.
- Electrical work must always be carried out by an electrician registered with the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC). The NICEIC website allows you to search for registered electricians in your area, as well as providing safety advice for householders.
Find out more by reading the Electrical Safety Council’s guide ‘How Safe is Your Home?’ and look at the guidance provided by the Electrical Safety Council.