NAPIT Trade Association has given its full support to a report launched by Electrical Safety First, Shelter and British Gas. The joint industry report, entitled 'Home Improvement: Tackling Poor Electrical Safety in the Private Rented Sector', calls for the government to legislate for five yearly inspections of electrical installations and appliances supplied with private rented properties.

According to figures from the latest English Housing Survey, a third of homes in the private rented sector fail to meet the government's Decent Homes Standard. The findings are attributed to the high number of electrically unsafe private rented properties leased every year.

The report released yesterday (24 June) sets out what can be done to eliminate electrical hazards to ensure tenants are provided with safe homes. It also includes guidance on how to speak out if this is not the case.

NAPIT Trade Association believes electrical safety must be given proper attention by government. A survery carried out by NAPIT shows 66% of members said campaigning for it to become mandatory for landlords in the private rented sector to have an electrical safety check every five years is one of the most important issues that faces the industry at the moment.

Frank Bertie, chairman of NAPIT Trade Association, said: “It is vital that this important issue is addressed and we strongly support the publication of this detailed report which highlights the dangers electrical safety poses to householders and suggests improvements.

"We hope this report will provide a catalyst for significant change in current policy and will result in ensuring the safety of homes in the private rented sector by guaranteeing that electrical safety checks become mandatory.

"We propose the checks are carried out in the form of an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) carried out every five years by a competent electrician experienced in carrying out EICR’s, and will be supported by an annual visual inspection, using an industry designed and agreed checklist.”