Electrical Testing and Inspection – What You Need to Know

As a supplier of property maintenance in London I’m often asked what landlords need to do in order to ensure their property is compliant with UK law. Usually I’m being asked with a view to saving money where possible – and with things the way they are right now I couldn’t be more sympathetic. There are some things though where “saving money” just doesn’t work. Electrical testing and inspection is one of them.

You’re legally bound to have your electrics tested before the commencement of a tenancy. The electrical testing and inspection has to be carried out by a part P qualified electrician. If you don’t comply with the legislation, you could face a fine of as much as £5k – so as you see, not so much of a saving after all.

My own experience with property maintenance in London is that the majority of landlords are honest and keen to keep their tenants safe. They just don’t know exactly what the law tells them they have to do – and more importantly, what they should do as a safe minimum. In my opinion you should be booking electrical testing and inspection on the appliances in your rented properties at least once a year. You can only do that by having a PAT test.

By having electrical equipment tested once a year you’re safeguarding your tenants from potentially faulty items, which they are unlikely to be able to spot themselves. If you leave your electrical testing and inspection to every five years, who knows what could have started to go wrong in the interim?

As I’ve said, the consequences for failing to comply with Regulations even by accident can be heavy. And of course no landlord wants an electrical accident on his or her conscience, nr yet an electrical fire in his or her property. Property maintenance in London isn’t simply something you have to do. It’s something you do to minimise the risk of long term damage to your investment, and to ensure the maximum quality of occupancy for the people who pay your bills.

New Site Aims to Demystify the Green Deal

The Green Deal Scheme gets easier to understand thanks to wide ranging energy efficiency site

London, UK, April 24 2012 – A new energy efficiency website is aiming to demystify the Green Deal Scheme. The site, which provides accredited information for homeowners; landlords; and partners; offers one of the UK’s first comprehensive and impartial resources on the Scheme.

With an associated advice line, a job board for Green Deal Scheme related jobs and a comprehensive FAQ section, Green-Deal-Scheme.org.uk delivers clear information on what homeowners can expect, how they can get it and how they are protected against mis selling.

Importantly for a scheme still in its fledgling stages, the Green-Deal-Scheme site also provides a clear explanation of the way in which the Scheme and its charges work – from appointing a Green Deal Assessor and Supplier to having the work carried out by a nominated Green Deal Installer. Homeowners can also learn how their electricity bills will be set up to repay their finance, and how liability for Green Deal repayments may be transferred to subsequent occupants of the property.

Landlords and Partners don’t miss out either. Landlords can find out how the Scheme applies to the non-domestic property; and how Green Deal Assessors may weight their savings estimates differently according to the different energy tariffs potentially employed by the property owner.

Partners are being encouraged to register their interest in becoming part of the Green-Deal-Scheme.org.uk site, with partnership opportunities for Green Deal Assessors, Green Deal Providers and Green Deal Installers. As information becomes available the site will provide links to training resources and courses for Green Deal Advisors and Green Deal Assessors.

Homeowners can also register their interest in the Green Deal Scheme through the site. Registration is a simple one-screen process. Once interest has been registered the interested party will receive regular updates and relevant news on the progress of the Scheme.

Newsletter

Dear Valued Customer

Many thanks for registering with us in what is to going to be a very exciting time for the Green Deal.

If you are not already aware the Green Deal is going full steam ahead with the first 22 Green Deal Providers already signed up last week, and according to DECC we are still estimated to be go live early October 2012. For those who have expressed an interest in the Green Deal we will be contacting you individually nearer the time to discuss your requirements.

New EPC

If you are not aware the new EPC rules began on the 6^th April 2012 which in simple terms means that the certificate has been designed to be more user friendly and informative.

"The Energy Performance Certificate has proved useful in putting the efficiency of our homes at the forefront of our minds, but homeowners can often struggle to know how to act on the advice it gives.

"That's why we're giving it a complete redesign, making it clearer and easier to understand and putting the recommendations for improvements into matters of pounds and pence by showing how much consumers could potentially save on their energy bills.

"And by making the national register of Energy Performance Certificates open to the public, each homeowner will for the first time be able to see how their property compares with others, and where changes could be made so their homes become as eco-friendly as possible."

The new legislation also states that EPC’s will be required for marketing of non-domestic rental properties as well as residential properties. Written particulars will have to include a copy of the first page of the EPC , it will no longer be acceptable to only include the asset rating.

Please see below for the latest update which was made by Greg Barker

http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/ecobuild/ecobuild.aspx

As one of the early movers in the Green Deal Scheme we have been approached by a variety of interested parties from homeowners to landlords, potential green deal advisors, installers and providers, asking us lots of questions as to what is going to happen next. Please continue to do so as we are here to help raise awareness as well as market to you, our Green Deal services.

This is the first of many updates we will be making and we encourage you to follow us on our various Social platforms some of which have already begun giving out information

Facebook (Green-deal-scheme)

Twitter (@greendealschem)

Linkedin (Join our Group on Linkedin - The Green Deal Scheme)

Blog (http://www.greendealscheme.blogspot.com/)

YouTube (www.youtube.com/GreenDealScheme)

Subscription on our website www.green-deal-scheme.org.uk to received regular updates

Please keep your feedback and comments coming in order to improve our service to you!