Electrical Safety Policy

6.1 We acknowledge and accept our responsibilities with regards to electrical safety under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (opens new window), the The Housing Act 2004 (opens new window), the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (opens new window) and the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 (opens new window) (see Section 4).

6.2 We will deliver a comprehensive programme of electrical testing and inspection to properties on a five-year cycle (as set out in Section 7).

6.3 We will ensure that all electrical installations are in a satisfactory condition following the completion of an electrical installation inspection and test and will require the production of a condition report or other certificate which confirms that the installation is safe.

6.4 We will ensure that a full electrical installation inspection and test is undertaken in the case of a change of occupancy (void properties, mutual exchanges, and transfers), and when completing planned works within domestic properties; this will be evidenced through a satisfactory EICR or other report.

6.5 We will test (as required) battery/hard-wired smoke/heat detectors and carbon monoxide alarms are installed as part of the annual gas safety check visit (or at the void stage). We will ensure that all domestic properties have appropriate systems installed to meet the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (amendment) Regulations 2022 (opens new window) within a period of no longer than 18 months following the approval of this policy.

6.6 Under the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (amendment) Regulations 2022 (opens new window), we will test and replace out of date or non-working detection when properties are void, during major works schemes or when highlighted by a tenant, internal staff or via a gas service. Battery smoke and heat detection (Grade F) systems will be replaced/upgraded with a suitably specified hard wired LD2 system at void stage or major works.

6.7 We will operate a robust process to gain legal access should any tenant or leaseholder refuse access to a property to carry out the electrical safety check or remediation works. Where tenant vulnerability issues are known or identified, we will ensure that we safeguard the wellbeing of the tenant.

6.8 We will ensure that there is a robust process in place for the management of immediately dangerous situations identified from the electrical safety check.

6.9 Any unauthorised electrical installations will be disconnected from the  supply, a warning notice will be issued, or it will be removed with the tenant's permission.

6.10 We will operate effective contract management arrangements with the contractors responsible for delivering the service, including ensuring contracts/service level agreements are in place, conducting client-led performance meetings and ensuring that the contractors' employee and public liability insurances are up to date on an annual basis.

6.11 We will operate measures to identify, manage and/or mitigate risks related to portable electrical appliances in the properties we are responsible for.

6.12 We will establish and maintain a risk assessment for electrical safety management and operations, setting out our key electrical safety risks and appropriate mitigations.

6.13 To comply with the requirements of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (opens new window) (CDM) a Construction Phase Plan will be in place for all repairs work to void and tenanted properties (at the start of the contract and reviewed annually thereafter), component replacement and refurbishment works.

6.14 We will ensure there is a robust process in place to minimise any potential non-compliance by ensuring processes are effective and have appropriate control measures in place to mitigate any risks.  We will analyse any non-compliance that do occur, and take action to prevent recurrence.  For example, we will investigate and manage all RIDDOR notifications made to the HSE in relation to electrical safety and take action to address any issues identified and lessons learned, to prevent a similar incident occurring again.  This includes amending our processes to reflect best practice and ensure that service improvements are implemented.

6.15 The document will be strictly controlled in accordance with ISO 9001 (Quality Management) and maintained by the Service Manager Building Safety, in conjunction with the Quality Manager.