Housing tenants: electrical safety

Electrical safety checks

We will check electrical installations before you move in and carry out further checks at regular intervals.

By law, we must carry out a safety check of all our electrical installations. We do this every five years to ensure the safety of our customers. We will write to you to arrange this, and it is important that you allow us into your home to carry out this inspection. If you do not, we may take legal action to gain entry.

What you can do to keep safe

The main cause of electrical problems at home is the misuse of electrical equipment. Keep an eye on your appliances every day and do not use anything that looks damaged.

Here are some tips to keep your home safe:

• do not overload sockets or adapters by plugging in too many appliances into one place
• check that your microwaves, fridges and freezers have enough space around them
• switch off appliances at the socket and unplug at night
• do not charge e-bikes or e-scooters to charge while you are asleep or away from home

If you have concerns about electrical wiring or safety, please contact us.

Report a repair

Find out how to report a repair.

What to do in a power cut

If you think there has been a power cut to your home or area, you should first check to see if it's a power cut or a problem with your fuses.

• speak to your neighbours, or during the night, check the street lights. You'll soon know whether it's a power cut or not
• find your fuse box and check that the trip switch is set to ‘on’
• don't open your freezer; most power cuts are short, and your freezer will keep the contents protected for up to 12 hours
• check on your neighbours, especially those who are elderly, very ill, or disabled; ensure they're warm, have enough food, drink, and medicine, and that any medical equipment is working

If you are experiencing a power cut call 0800 6783 105, or 105.