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.