It's essential to ensure all the electrical wiring, sockets and switches in your rental property are in good working order for your tenants. One of the ways you can do this is by making sure the electrical wiring and any equipment is regularly inspected by a properly qualified electrician. They should be able to provide you with a Periodic Inspection Report which will point out any possible defects which could be dangerous, and which may need immediate attention.

Any electrical equipment supplied in a furnished privately rented home is covered under the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994. These regulations were put in place to ensure that all electrical equipment such as vacuum cleaners, refrigerators, electric fires and other equipment are safe to use. All new electrical equipment sold nowadays conforms to British Standards, but if you choose to buy any second-hand equipment or have electrical equipment that predates 1997 then it should be thoroughly checked by a qualified electrician. Your electrician will also be able to give advice as to how frequently electrical tests should be carried out. Obviously careful records should be kept of all checks which are being carried out, whether it's just a visual check or full electrical testing.

There are also a number of simple checks which you can carry out including ensuring plugs are correctly wired and have the correct fuses, cables are not damaged, and light fittings have the correct wattage of bulb. If you have multiple tenants in a property then ensure that plug sockets are not being overloaded with adapters.