Certificates,Testing & Surveys

Landlord Safety Inspections

According to electricity at work regulations, the liability for ensuring that the electrical installation in let premises are safe, is on the persons leasing or letting the properties, including landlords, letting and managing agents.

The liability for any injury to occupiers or damage to these premises, will not be on the companies, which may avoid prosecution, but on the persons letting or managing the premises.

The let premises should be inspected periodically in order to ensure that the installations initially comply, and that they will continue to comply with BS7671 throughout their life.

The report issued by the Inspecting company is called a Periodic Inspection Report (PIR) and is also known as “Landlord Electrical Safety Certificate”. If you are unsure as to your duties, under insurance regulations, please contact your insurer and request further information (usually found in the small print of the policy).

The recommended interval between inspections of let premises is 5 years or change of tenant/occupier (the earliest of the two).

Bounds Electrical Services Ltd will provide you with a full written report on the findings from the Landlord’s Safety Inspection along with a full quotation for any possible remedial works required to bring the installation up to the current standards.

Visual condition report

Visual Inspections are an inspection of the fixed wiring electrical installation, complete with a full written report. The report is intended to be issued only for the purposes of reporting on the condition of an existing electrical installation. It is important to carry out regular visual inspections on properties and installations especially properties that are rented as many alterations, damage and DIY work can go on which will affect the wiring installation.

A visual electrical survey is carried out to identify any defects, damage and wear and tear of the electrical installation. These visual inspections are usually carried out with a BS7671 test that ensures the electric wiring meets the required level of compliance in line with the national safety standard. A visual inspection alone does not involve circuit testing so it is only in part able to determine if the installation is safe for use. Visual Inspections are ideal as an interim between formal periodic testing to find any damage or deterioration that may cause a potential hazard in properties like rented homes.

Bounds Electrical Services Ltd will provide you with a full written report on the findings from the Visual Inspection along with a full quotation for any possible remedial works that are required to bring the installation up to current standards.

Periodic Inspections

The Wiring Regulations, BS7671, demand that any electrical installation, whether it is residential, commercial or let, requires a periodic inspection.

The compliance of an installation with BS7671 in its latest addition is established during an Inspection and Testing.

The document supplied by the inspecting/testing company is called a Periodic Inspection Certificate (PIR). This document is the equivalent of an MOT and carries a unique serial number.

Failure to ensure that the premises are electrically safe may invalidate the building insurance (besides putting the occupier of the premises at risk from electric shock or electrical fire).

The standard interval between inspections is 5 years, but there are exceptions (high risk or public premises such as bars, pubs, clubs) which will shorten the interval accordingly.

If you are unsure as to your duties, under insurance regulations, please contact your insurer and request further information (usually found in the small print of the policy).

Bounds Electrical Services Ltd will provide you with a full written report on the findings from the Periodic Inspection along with a full quotation for any possible remedial works required to bring the installation up to the current standards.