Alongside your legal obligation to carry out a regular EICR, keeping your property electrically safe, upgraded and well maintained improves value and saves any costly major works further down the line.
We offer a full range of services to Landlords & Letting Agents including electrical installation, upgrades and maintenance.
The technological demand of modern life has increased dramatically over the last 20-30 years and, as a result, you may find your property’s electrical setup is no longer adequate for your tenants’ needs and/or safety. Our most popular upgrade options include:
- Fuseboard Upgrades & RCD Protection
- Electric Shower Installation
- Extractor Fan Installation
- Lighting Upgrades
- Additional/Replacement Sockets & Switches
- EV Charger Installation
Fuseboard Upgrades
DO I NEED TO UPGRADE THE FUSE BOARD?
Providing your electrical installation is safe and meets the current BS7671 requirements for an electrical installation then you won’t need to upgrade. Of course, it’s very difficult to ascertain this information just by “looking” at your installation. An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) will indicate whether you need to replace the existing fuseboard in your rental property.
There are some other tell-tale signs that you may need to upgrade:
- An old fusebox with a wooden back, cast iron switches, or a haphazard mixture of both – these will need replacing, for your tenants’ safety.
- You don’t have any provision of residual current devices (RCDs). An RCD (Residual Current Device) is designed to automatically switch off electricity if it detects a fault. It protects against the risk of electrocution and fire in the fraction of a second. Old style fuse boards do not have RCD protection built-in.
- You are planning a building or improvement project such as a new electric shower, Solar PV, an extension or an attic conversion and additional wiring and new circuits will need to be installed.
Electric Shower Installation
An electric shower is a sensible choice for a rental property because if the boiler fails, your tenant is not without a source of hot water.
You should never attempt to wire an electric shower yourself, Part P regulations state they must be installed by a competent person. Improper installation could cause electric shocks, explosions, burns or even fires. An electric shower will require its own circuit, MCB and must be connected to an RCD due to the high demand of electricity.
Extractor Fan Installation
Poor ventilation in your rental property, particularly in areas with a high risk of condensation such as the bathroom and kitchen, can lead to costly and harmful mould issues. Eradicating damp is a lot harder than simply preventing it. Regardless of whether you’re looking to replace an old fan or install a new one, we can help.
Lighting Upgrades
Light fittings deteriorate with time and may need replacing. You may also consider upgrading your rental properties to LED lighting to save tenants costly electric bills.
Popular fittings include:
- Pendant Lights
- Ceiling Lights
- Wall Lights
- Downlights
- LED Strip Lighting
- Outdoor/Security Lighting
Replacement Sockets & Switches
Ensuring your rental property has adequate switches and sockets for modern electrical load keeps tenants happy, minimises the risk of dangerous extension cord use and improves the resale value of the property.
As sockets & switches age the plates will weather and crack which not only look unsightly but can result in a build-up of debris inside the unit, causing a fire hazard. Old sockets & switches may also not be up to modern safety standards.
EV Charger Installation
With the ban on the sale of petrol/diesel vehicles from 2030, the electric car will become the future of every British household. The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) is currently offering Landlords a 75% grant towards the cost of installing EV charging points at their rental properties. You can find out more about the grant here.
Installing an EV Charging Unit will not only make your rental property more attractive to potential tenants but will increase property value and ensure you are doing your part in reducing carbon emissions.
Contact Us
Want to book an installation or upgrade or find out more about our Landlord Services? Call us on 01684 607030 or drop us a message below:
