Electrical Safety
It is important that you allow us inside your property to carry out necessary electrical checks. Electrical checks of South Essex Homes properties are carried out by our electrically competent contractor Sureserve Compliance Central every 5 years, and when our properties become vacant. A regular electrical inspection will reveal if any electrical circuits are overloaded, find any potential electric shock risks and fire hazards, identify any defective electrical work, and highlight any lack of earthing.
Sureserve Compliance Central will then issue an Electrical Installation Condition Report detailing any observed damage, deterioration, defects, dangerous conditions, and anything that might give rise to danger. If anything dangerous or potentially dangerous is found, remedial action will be organised to rectify the hazard.
It is important that you allow us access to carry out these inspections as it is for the safety of not only yourself and your family, but also your neighbours. Any damaged or defective electrics pose a serious fire risk for all if not checked and remedied. If you refuse to allow us access to your property to complete an electrical check, we may have to take further action against you to ensure your home remains safe.
Keep your Home Safe
Do...
- Check your sockets regularly – if you see burn marks or they feel hot, report this to us to check if they need repairing or replacing.
- Turn off any electrical appliances that you are not using, particularly at night, when a fire can quickly spread unnoticed and cause more damage.
- Check flexible cables to appliances before plugging them in to use – check for damage, and wear and tear, and that the plug is fastened securely to the cable. Don’t use the appliance unless the cable is in good condition.
- Be careful when using hand-held electrical appliances, such as hair dryers and straighteners, and make sure that you switch them off and unplug them when you have finished. If you leave them on, they can easily cause any combustible material that they are in contact with to catch fire.
Don’t...
- Overload electrical adaptors by plugging too many appliances into one socket, especially appliances with a high electrical current rating such as kettles, irons, and heaters.
- Put electric heaters near curtains or furniture, or dry clothes on them.
- Cover the air vents on storage heaters or fan heaters.
- Trail flexible cables under carpets or rugs.
- Carry out any electrical repairs yourself, please call us if you have any concerns.
Keep your electrical appliances safe
It is important to make sure that your electrical items are safe and are purchased from reputable retailers who you can trust. It’s not worth the risk of buying a cheaper product from an untrustworthy site or from social media if it puts your family in danger – you can check for recent recalls here: Product Recalls & Safety Notices | Electrical Safety First
It is unsafe to run electrical appliances such as the washing machine and the tumble dryer overnight whilst you are asleep as it is possible for them to catch fire. All energy will cost the same whether it is day or night unless you are on a time specific tariff.
You can also register your appliances here so that you can be contacted if a safety repair is ever needed: http://www.registermyappliance.org.uk/