In less time than you may think, the electrics in
your home can become damaged or worn through
general wear and tear. It’s important to get them
inspected and tested to check they’re still safe to
use.
You should get checks done at least every ten
years. If the electrics in your property have been
checked before, a notice will usually be fixed on or
near the fuse board recommending the next
inspection date.
This might all sound dull but government statistics
show unsafe electrical installations cause more
than 750 serious accidents and 12,500 fires in
homes each year.
If you are moving home, you need to know about
the electrics in your new property. Be extra
cautious if the property is old as it runs a higher
risk of having faulty wiring. Don’t put your life or
your investment at risk; get an electrical survey on
your new home before you sign on the dotted line.
According to the Royal Institution of Chartered
Surveyors (RICS), property surveys that do look at
electrics only include a visual inspection of the
electrics that are on show. RICS advise clients to be
very cautious if the electrics look suspicious
because of the potentially high costs of putting
things right. You can’t see what’s behind the walls
so it’s best to get a trained electrical engineer to
inspect and test it.
An electrical survey, also known as a Periodic
Inspection, looks for possible electric shock risks
and fire hazards. The electrician will carry out tests
on wiring and fixed electrical equipment, identify
any faulty electrical work and highlight if safety
measures (such as bonding) are present in the
bathroom. After the inspection, you will be given
an electrical survey report (Periodic Inspection
Report). The report identifies the overall condition
of all the electrics, stating whether it is satisfactory
for continued use and any work which might need
to be done.