The government’s announcement that it will bring in mandatory electric checks in the private rented sector has been welcomed – perhaps predictably – by the Electrical Safety Roundtable, which has been campaigning for the change for several years.

Housing Secretary James Brokenshire last week gave notice of the forthcoming changes in a speech which also detailed a number of measures designed to strengthen building safety, based on recommendations made in the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety.

The inspections are intended to bring the overall state of privately rented properties into line with other tenures, with government figures showing that 40 per cent of properties in the sector were missing at least one of the recommended five electrical safety features.

This compares with around 25 per cent of properties in other rented sectors.

“These inspections will provide an extra level of protection for tenants from faulty electrical installations, which can lead to injury or death. We’re glad to see that the government agrees with our stance that these checks should be carried out every five years, and hope they also share our view that inspections must only be carried out by registered electricians who are competent to carry out inspection and testing work” says Chris Bielby, chair of the ESR.

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