Electrical safety for tenants

By law, your landlord must ensure that electrical installations and wiring are maintained in a safe condition throughout the tenancy.

As a tenant, you have a responsibility to maintain any electrical items you bring into the house, but under no circumstance should someone who is not qualified attempt to fix a problem themselves.

If you notice an electrical problem, you should first inform your landlord immediately and give them an opportunity to put the problem right.

If you have reported a problem to your landlord and they have refused to put the situation right or ignored your request, you should contact Barnet Council’s Environmental Health Team who may be able to help you. They ensure a landlord is meeting their legal obligations and can take enforcement action against them if they are not.

To help you to carry out basic visual checks in your rented home, you can download Electrical Safety First’s free Home Electrical Safety Checks smartphone app, available for iPhone and Android: www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/visualchecks