What progress is being made to improve electrical standards in Welsh homes for increased electrification of heat to meet climate change goals?
Assessing the risk of fire is a matter for the Fire and Rescue Service, not the Welsh Government. However, there is no evidence to suggest that the age of a property alone creates a greater risk of fire.
No collective assessment has been made of the age of wiring in Welsh Homes. It is for individual residents and landlords to ensure the wiring in their homes meets the appropriate legislative standards. Free guidance on electrical safety in the home is available from Electrical Safety First, this includes information on how to identify older installations and recommendations on testing. It is available at:
https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/media/1591/how-safe-is-your-home-a5-leaflet-2014.pdf
The current advice for owner occupied homes recommends to:
- have an electrical inspection at least every ten years, or when you move into a property
- look for danger signs and make sure all electrical equipment is maintained and used properly
- ensure all repair and installation work is carried out properly, and always use an electrician who is listed on the Registered Competent Persons This means that they are registered with a Government-approved scheme and can issue a certificate to prove that the work has been done properly and is safe.
The current Part P of the Building Regulations also places a statutory requirement on any notifiable works to the electrical installation to be completed by a ‘competent person’ or inspected by the Local Authority Building Control. Further information, including of definitions for ‘notifiable works’ is available at:
https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2019-05/building-regulations-guidance-part-p-electrical-safety.pdf
Social and private landlords must comply with all legislative requirements, including electrical checks. Health and safety in tenant’s properties is of the utmost importance. In the social sector, the housing Regulator has taken regulatory action taken where compliance with standards has been shown to be an issue. In the private rented sector, the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 requires landlords to ensure the property they rent is fit for human habitation throughout the life of the contract. This will apply to landlords in the private and social rented sectors, including those in high rise residential buildings. It will include a specific duty on landlords to ensure the electrical installation in their property is inspected and tested at intervals of no more than five years.
I am committed to implementing this Act as soon as possible in 2022, and publishing all key requirements, including those relating to electrical safety testing, at least six months before implementation.
As climate change mitigations move Welsh homes from gas to electric heating sources, I am considering the implications on home electrics as part of the revised WHQS technical requirement for existing social homes. Formal consultation will be undertaken on the standard in autumn 2021.