The Electrical Safety Council (ESC) argues landlords have the power to improve safety in their homes for millions of tenants, but many don’t bother.
New research reckons 1.7 million tenants in buy to let homes have made complaints about electric safety, but landlords have either ignored them or not acted quick enough to put the problem right.
Another 1.3 million tenants are waiting for landlords to carry out electrical safety work, the survey revealed.
The ESC is concerned as many landlords have no insurance to cover claims from injured tenants – and tenants in buy to lets are seven times more likely to have a fire at home than any other householder.
Around of fifth of buy to let landlords are unaware of the law about electrical safety in rental homes and that breaking the law voided their insurance.
By law, the landlord must keep a buy to let home safe throughout a tenancy and should commission a safety certificate every five years.
ESC director general Phil Buckle said: “Many landlords are ignorant of their responsibilities. In the long term, we’d like to see tighter guidelines for landlords on electrical safety but with the number of non-professional landlords increasing every day, we also need to address this now. “
The Association of British Insurers, the trade body for landlord insurance firms, confirmed buy to let insurance would be invalid if a property investor did not properly maintain a rental home.
“While the specifics of each insurance policy will vary, all insurers will expect landlords to comply with any current laws or regulations in regard to electrical safety - failure to do so may result in voiding their policy,” said a spokesman.
