In the UK landlords hold full responsibility for ensuring the properties of electrics and consumer units are in line with current electrical safety standards, in 2020 an EICR every 5 years becomes mandatory for landlords - one very key aspect of an EICR is the current condition and age of the fuseboard/consumer unit.
Fuseboards also have to be considered accessible, not hidden away up high or unreachable and they must contain RCD Protection. If your property is due a consumer unit upgrade, keep reading as we have put together a useful guide for landlords wondering what to expect during a consumer unit upgrade.
Ensuring the consumer unit is legally complaint
We were recently contacted by a Landlord who owns a rental property on Freemantle Road, Bristol. They were currently in the process renovating the property in preparation for some new tenants that would be moving in shortly. Whilst taking care of the cosmetic side of things they also wanted to be sure that they booked in a consumer unit upgrade to ensure the house meets the current legal requirements for rental properties.
We ensured the customer that the new modern consumer unit we would be installing would meet all current safety standards, including RCD (residual current device) protection, a metal enclosure and legally correct positioning, to ensure this was accessible and reachable for tenants, landlords and electricians alike.
After installation and the relevant testing prior, we issued an installation certificate for the landlord so that he had the relevant paperwork to show this was carried out by a qualified NICIEC Registered electrician and meets safety requirements.
What happens during a landlord consumer unit upgrade?
Before we go ahead with the upgrade, we initially perform a safety inspection of the current wiring, earthing, and bonding - just to be sure this is actually safe to be connected to the upgraded unit.
Once we’re ready to go ahead with the removal of the old unit and start with the upgrade, we ensure the power is completely disconnected, usually you should expect to go without power for 4-6 hours on average, 8 at a maximum.
We then go ahead and install the new unit, once this is done we have to conduct critical testing on the new unit to check for any faults which may not be visible to the eye.
After installation and the relevant testing prior, we issued an installation certificate for the landlord so that he had the relevant paperwork to show this was carried out by a qualified NICIEC Registered electrician and meets safety requirements.
Why contact EMC Electrical Group for a Consumer Unit Upgrade?
Here at EMC Electrical Group, we are experienced and knowledgeable when it comes to ensuring your rental properties are safe and legal - we have worked with landlords all over Bristol, leaving the city a little safer than we found it. We’ve built a reputation with the local community for our high standards and our integrity.
To enquire about a consumer unit upgrade for your rental property, either fill out our contact form or give us a call on 0117 422 7222 - we will be happy to offer you a free no obligation quote.
