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Anyone who lets residential accommodation (such as a house, flat and bedsit, holiday home, caravan and boat) as a business activity is required by law to ensure the electrical equipment that they supply as part of the tenancy is safe to use.

The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 requires that all mains electrical equipment (cookers, washing machines, kettles, etc), new or used, which is supplied with the accommodation must be safe. All landlords therefore need to ensure a regular maintenance schedule for the electrical equipment they supply to ensure it is safe to use.

The supply of goods under a tenancy agreement occurs at the time of the tenancy contract being signed. It is essential, therefore, that the property is thoroughly checked prior to the tenant occupancy to ensure that all electrical goods supplied are in a safe condition.

A formal register should be made of all the electrical goods supplied as part of the tenancy agreement and when the checks are carried out. The register should indicate who carried out the checks and when they did it.

It is strongly advised that the electrical equipment is checked prior to the start of each let.

It is also good practice to have the equipment checked at regular intervals thereafter.

Let us take the stress out of keeping you and your tenants safe.