Safety checks in short-term lets

Call for electrical safety checks in short-term lets

Industry charity Electrical Safety First has welcomed the Scottish government’s plan to regulate shortterm lets (STLs).

“We warmly welcome the commitment, given in the Programme for Government, to legislate for STLs, such as those listed on Airbnb, which have dramatically increased in recent years,” said Wayne Mackay, public aff airs manager for Scotland and Northern Ireland at Electrical Safety First.

“However, we believe it is imperative that the proposed licensing scheme includes a requirement for mandatory electrical safety checks. Th ree-quarters of Scotland’s fi res are caused by electricity. In fact, it is the number one cause of fi re in Scottish homes. And the risk of fi re is likely to be NICEIC and ELECSA, in association “Many people now want and need to increased if a property has a high turnover of residents and lacks regular electrical checks.”

Electrical Safety First is calling for STLs to be required to have mandatory fi ve-yearly electrical safety checks, carried out by a registered electrician, so that it is on par with the private rented sector.

“Th e Scottish government led the UK in protecting tenants by requiring regular electrical safety checks, by a registered electrician, in all privately rented homes,” added Mackay. “But the legislation doesn’t cover tenants in owner occupied homes.

“As the majority of STLs are in owner-occupied properties, with research fi nding that a quarter of Scotland’s STL guests had experienced an electrical safety issue,

CAMPAIGN PROMOTES USE OF REGISTERED ELECTRICIANS

A new Scotland-wide campaign has launched to encourage consumers to check that they are using registered electricians.

The initiative – Be a Bright Spark, Choose the Right Spark – has been developed by groups including the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), NICEIC, Electrical Safety First, the Scottish government, Trading Standards Scotland and Advice Direct Scotland. It encourages people to access fi ndanelectricianscotland.com to fi nd electricians from recognised industry bodies such as NICEIC.

SFRS group commander David Dourley said: “Poorly installed electrical work can put consumers at risk. We want to help the public to avoid electrical fi res by asking them to consider if they are using a registered electrician.”

The campaign will be launched on social media during October. New fi gures from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have revealed there were 1,123 electrical fi res in Scotland during the past fi scal year (2019/20). The category ‘Wiring, cabling and plugs’ accounted for almost half of all electrical fi res.

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City & Guilds 18th Edition remote City & Guild assessment. Th assessmen is means you can now undertake the BS 7671:2018 now un qualifi cation exam from your quali own home or offi ce.ow this shortfall must be addressed.”

update skills remotely,” said Sam Egerton, sales manager at City & Guilds. “For some, it comes down to timing and not being able to take time away from the day job, for others it is a preference and, of course, in light of the current situation for many, it is about necessity and safety.”

Neil Vincent, NICEIC and ELECSA’s head of training, said: “Having had the remote exam in our portfolio for two months now, I am encouraged by the feedback from delegates who are relishing the convenience of being able to sit the assessment remotely.” To book your 18th Edition remote assessment, please contact the NICEIC Training administration team on 0333 015 6627.