The Importance of EICR Checks: Keeping Your Property Safe
At The Gallery Properties, we prioritize the safety and well-being of our residents above all else. That’s why we take electrical safety extremely seriously and ensure all our managed properties undergo regular Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs). Recently, the importance of these checks was highlighted in one of our managed buildings.
Our in-house maintenance team, Spectro Property Solutions, identified a faulty MCB breaker during a faulty finding inspection. This could have potentially posed a serious electrical hazard if left unaddressed. Thankfully, the issue was quickly diagnosed and rectified by a qualified electrician, preventing any potential danger to our residents.
However, it’s important to acknowledge that this incident serves as a stark reminder of the critical role EICRs play in ensuring electrical safety. In this specific case, the EICR for the property was due but hadn’t yet been completed by our electrician. While the swift action of our maintenance team prevented any immediate risks, it underscores the crucial role of EICRs in proactively identifying and addressing electrical issues before they become serious problems.
What are EICRs?
An EICR is a comprehensive inspection conducted by a qualified electrician to assess the condition of a property’s electrical installation. It identifies potential hazards like faulty wiring, overloaded circuits, and outdated equipment, ensuring they comply with current safety regulations.
Why are EICRs important?
EICRs offer several crucial benefits, including:
- Preventing electrical fires: Faulty wiring, overloaded circuits, and other electrical issues are leading causes of house fires. EICRs identify these issues before they can spark a fire, protecting both property and lives.
- Ensuring tenant safety: Landlords in England and Wales are legally obligated to ensure the electrical safety of their rental properties. EICRs play a vital role in fulfilling this obligation and protecting tenants from potential electrical hazards.
- Peace of mind: Knowing your property has a recent and satisfactory EICR certificate brings peace of mind to both landlords and tenants.
The Gallery Properties and EICR commitment:
At The Gallery Properties, we are committed to the safety of our residents. We ensure that all our managed properties undergo EICRs at the recommended intervals, typically every five years for residential properties. We also recommend that tenants familiarize themselves with the location of the fuse box and main switch in their homes and report any electrical concerns immediately.
Maintaining electrical safety is a shared responsibility. By working together and prioritizing EICRs, we can create safer and more secure living environments for everyone.
If you have any questions about EICRs or your property’s electrical safety, please don’t hesitate to contact The Gallery Properties or Spectro Property Solutions – www.spectropropert.co.uk
