The Death of the Local Repairer?
It was reported that The Electrical Safety Council (ESC) has joined forces with a number of other charities and organisations to promote better electrical safety in the Scottish private rented sector (PRS). Article HERE
We think that its great they have urged a series of improvements to electrical safety within the Scottish Private Rental Sector. We support them on this initiative, however we have concerns.
Home Truths for Landlords and Tenants Infographic by Electrical Safety Council
The ESC has called for mandatory, five yearly checks, by a registered electrician, of both the electrical installation in a property and any electrical appliances supplied with it. You may have guessed that its the Electrical Appliances bit that interested us.
As a representative of EEESafe (White Goods Repair Standard) and the Trade Association of independent repairers DASA, we have written to the Scottish Housing Minister to express our concerns in allowing Electricians to undertake PAT Tests. Although they may not be advocating this yet, it is unclear and we hope to find out. Furthermore, because of the lack of understanding of appliance construction and components of many appliances, we don’t believe that it is safe to allow a Qualified PAT Tester to assure a Landlord or a consumer, that an Appliance is safe to use.
We have recently informed the Government of this also, and recommend they get an Appliance Repair Competent Person, such as an EEESafe DAT, to ensure appliances are safe. Particularly when they come from an unknown source, such as you find in Charities and their suppliers.
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