Introduction of Electrical Safety Checks

“The Assembly notes the work of Electrical Safety First and supports the Government in their introduction of electrical safety checks to the private rented sector.

London Fire Brigade figures show that although there has been a downward trend in the numbers of fires in London, the proportion with an electrical source of ignition has been slowly increasing.

Furthermore, the Assembly acknowledges that the provisions in the Housing and Planning Act to introduce electrical safety checks would align electricity with gas safety in the PRS and that mandatory electrical safety checks are conducted every five years in Scotland and are due to be brought in in Wales.

As London has the largest private rented sector in the UK, the Assembly believes it is right for the Government to introduce mandatory electrical safety checks to be conducted every five years.

The Assembly therefore calls on the Mayor to make representations regarding the introduction of electrical safety checks to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, highlighting the important contribution they would make to improving housing standards in London’s PRS and for these checks to be both mandatory and conducted every five years in line with the rest of the Great Britain.”