is this right?

[lister]

Just read somewhere on this forum and i quote (on the subject of pat testing) that appliances etc in rented accomodation needs testing
is this correct?

 

[Mr Mark Sparks]

i think it good practice along with a periodic test however its not the law

 

[acat]

Yes mate the landlord has a duty of care to the tenants and as he is renting the property out that is part of his business.



Chris

 

[ajelec10]

it is the responsability of the owner of the appliance to ensure they are safe to use, say if a landlord supplies applinaces they have a duty of care to pove that they are safe to use for the tenats the only reconised way of donig this is by getting them tested by a comptant person, tenats don't uasualy bother.
hope this helps
Aj

 

[lister]

thanks for the replys chaps

but correct me if im wrong (please do as i often am) i was under the impression that in a domestic situation the rcd would protect againsed the type of faults we pat test for ie; we test in a commercial enviroment as mostly no rcds fitted and we test earth leakage etc etc thus verifing the equiptment is safe, i hope you see what im trying to get at.?
(providing of course there is a rcd)

so with this in mind do you all still think that pat testing in rented accomodaton is required

(if any one has any legal refrences etc to back up a yes it would be appreciated as this could lead to more work than i first thought)

 

[baldsparkies]

The rcd will cover live to earth faults true enough, but what about over current protection.
An overated fuse in the plug top could cause an electrical fire under overload conditions, and often does, as any fire officer will confirm. So, no an rcd can't be expected to take the place of pat testing. A combination of the two would be a far better practice.

 

[pushrod]

All depends if accomodation is let furnished or unfurnished, if it is the latter all the appliances will be provided by the tenant and are their responsibility. If let furnished, then any appliances included are the landlord's responsibility and then there would be a need to show that they are safe.

 

[acat]

Type of protection at the CU would not be relevant PAT Testing is a totally seperate issue besides the property may still have one of those CUs that noah used when he built the arc and a PAT Tester is not an electrician unless he has taken the relevant exams to qualify. So you can have a PAT Tester who dosent know the difference between an RCD and pushbike



Mind you I dont know the difference either


Hope that helps



Chris