SELECT launches radio campaign on electrical safety

Since December last year, landlords have been required to conduct five-yearly electrical checks of the fixed wiring and any electrical appliances in privately rented homes. As well as landlords being compliant, tenants should ask for a copy of the electrical safety check when it’s done.

SELECT has chosen radio as the medium for the campaign to get the message across to tenants as well as landlords and will run a series of adverts across the Scottish independent radio network - including Radios Clyde, Forth, MFR, Northsound 1, Borders, Tay, and Westsound - advising of the changes and directing landlords to its website, needanelectrician.scot.

The campaign is backed by Scottish Minister for Local Government and Housing, Kevin Stewart MSP, who recently met SELECT managing director Newell McGuiness and Alan Wilson, SELECT’s Head of Communications and Member Services.

Mr Stewart said: "Government statistics have shown that 69% of all accidental fires in Scottish homes are caused by electricity. It is most important to continue to deliver the safety message to landlords.

"SELECT is at the forefront of safety initiatives in the electrical sector in Scotland and this new campaign is a very helpful tool in ensuring that rented homes meet the Repairing Standard during tenancies."

The legislation, under the Housing (Scotland) Act, covers installations for the supply of electricity and electrical fixtures as well as detailing who is competent to carry out an electrical inspection.

Landlords are required to ensure that the installations in the house for the supply of electricity, the electrical fixtures and fittings and any appliances provided by the landlord under the tenancy are in a reasonable state of repair and in proper working order.

SELECT has more than 1200 member businesses which operate all across Scotland. The vast majority of its members can carry out the work required under the legislation.