EICR, PAT TESTING, SMOKE DETECTOR INSTALLATION, GAS SAFE, LEGIONELLA RISK ASSESSMENT, EPC Certificate Glasgow.
With new legislation for landlords coming into effect in 2015, Landlords in Scotland must have an EPC Certificate and Legionella risk assesment carried out on their property aswell as the Electrical installation condition report and PAT Testing. This must be carried out by a competent person. At Ccertificates 4 Landlords we have EPC and Legionella surveyors that can come to your property as well as fully qualified electricians. The EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings came into effect progressively from 2007 and is an important part of government strategies for tackling climate change. The principle underlying the Directive is to make energy use in buildings transparent by the issuing of a certificate showing the energy rating of a property, accompanied by recommendations on how to improve efficiency. This energy performance certificate (EPC) must be provided whenever a property is constructed, rented out or sold. The EPC shows the energy efficiency rating (relating to running costs) of a dwelling. The rating is shown on an A–G rating scale similar to those used for refrigerators and other electrical appliances
When the construction of a new building is completed, the builder or person responsible for the construction is responsible for obtaining the certificate and providing it to the owner. This is a duty under Building Regulations. This will also apply if a building is converted into fewer or more units and there are changes to the heating, hot water provision or air conditioning/ ventilation services.
Domestic properties require an EPC on construction and some commercial buildings will require an EPC on construction or conversion.
(formerly known as Periodic Inspection Reports and also referred to as Fixed Wiring).
The important purpose of an Electrical Installation Condition Report Electrical installations degrade over time. For example, switches and sockets can sustain damage, cables deteriorate, infrastructure, connections can also become loose – in fact, this is frequently visually noticed during our PAT Testing inspections and we ensure that our clients are notified of this completely free of charge. The severity of degradation is even more marked in installations where adverse elements are involved, i.e. corrosive chemicals, construction waste, extreme temperatures or poor maintenance on the part of tenants or landlord. To maximize the safety of the user(s), it is imperative that every installation is periodically inspected and tested as recommended by BS 7671: 2008 (Regulation 135.1).
The Electricity at Work Regulation (1989) Regulation 4 (2) states: "As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent danger, so far as reasonably practicable such danger." Although, there is no current legislation which stipulates that you must be in possession of an Electrical Installation Condition Report, from a liability and safety perspective it is advisable. Rented properties and certain types of public places, such as theatres, restaurants, cinemas, clubs and hotels are generally required to have an Electrical Installation Condition Report in order to obtain insurance. Also, if you are a landlord and your tenant were to be harmed due to poor internal wiring or faulty fittings, the tenant could sue. In the event of death or serious injury, resulting from failure to maintain the electrical integrity of your premises – which could be deemed as negligence – legal action could be lodged against you.
As its title suggests, it is a report not a certificate. It relates to an assessment of the in-service condition of an electrical installation against the requirements of the issue of BS 7671 current at the time of the inspection, irrespective of the age of the installation. An Electrical Installation Condition Report differs greatly from PAT Testing and Fixed Appliance Testing because it is an in-depth inspection on the internal wiring of the building not appliances. The results and measurements and values taken during the Electrical Installation Condition Reports are clearly recorded in a report and appropriate recommendations, if applicable, are made for any damage, deterioration or defects observed that may give rise to danger to be remedied, such that the installation may continue to be used in safety.
Portable appliance testing (PAT) is the term used to describe the examination of electrical appliances and equipment in the home, office or anywhere there can be portable appliances, To ensure they are safe to use. Most electrical safety defects can be found by visual examination but some types of defect can only be found by electrical testing. It is essential to understand that visual examination is an essential part of the process because some types of electrical safety defect can't be detected by electrical testing alone. Landlords in Scotland are required by law to have items that they have in their property PAT Tested on a yearly basis. Items must be tested, pass or fail sticker applied and documented in a PAT Testing record certificate.
Currently for Landlord Certificates in Scotland they require to be completed every year with certificates issued and pass or fail stickers for the tested items.
By law, under the Gas Safety cp12 (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, it's your responsibility to get a Gas Safety Certificate every twelve months. You must get this from a Gas Safe Registered engineer for all pipe work, gas appliances and flues installed at your property.
If you use an agent to manage your property, you need to make sure your contract clearly states in black and white whose responsibility it is to carry out maintenance on gas appliances. You must also keep copies of all the paperwork. You'll need to keep a record of the safety inspection for two years, and give a copy to all of your tenants within 28 days of the inspection. If your tenants change, they'll need a copy of the Gas Safety Certificate before they move in. If your contract says the agent is responsible, then the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 are passed on to them.
Legally you only have to carry out a Gas Safe inspection every twelve months, but it's a good idea to get appliances checked between tenants too. Then you'll be sure your appliances are in tip-top condition before your new tenants move in.
Installing a Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarm comes highly recommended – not just by us, but by HSE too. It's the best way to make sure your tenants are safe from dangers of Carbon Monoxide poisoning. But an alarm should never replace regular maintenance and safety checks.
Since the 1st October 2013, it has been a legal requirement in Scotland to have a CO alarm installed in the same room as a new or replacement fixed fossil fuel burning heating appliance - this includes gas appliances. Whilst a legal requirement has existed in England & Wales since 1st October 2010 to have a CO alarm installed in the same room as a new or replacement fixed solid fuel appliance this does not include gas appliances. However it is still recommended when gas appliances are present to help ensure safety. The alarm may be hard wired or battery powered to comply.