Electrical safety in your home

We use electricity every day to access entertainment and help keep our homes warm and bright. It’s so accessible and makes our lives so much more enjoyable that it’s easy to take it for granted and forget how dangerous it can be.

Published: 31/01/2024

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Every year, faulty electrics or electrical equipment cause around 70 deaths and 350,000 injuries in UK homes. But there are simple steps you can take to keep you and your family safe. 

Electrical safety inspections

We undertake a full periodic inspection of all installations and equipment owned by us, every five years. 

Electrical inspections are mandatory. As part of your tenancy agreement, you must legally provide access to your home for your electrical inspection to be undertaken. It's not just the law though. We want to make sure your home is safe - any installation left unchecked could leave you at risk of serious injury. 

Other ways to make sure your electrical equipment is safe 

• Please don’t reconnect any electrical installations that have been disconnected. They’ve been isolated for your safety.  
• Don’t do it yourself! DIY wiring can lead to electrical parts overheating, causing fires, electric shocks and serious injury.  
• Avoid overloading sockets. Plugging too many devices into one socket and over-using extension leads can cause fires by appliances overheating.  
• Ensure you buy reputable electrical goods. Cheaper unofficial electrical products, such as phone chargers, may not meet safety regulations and can increase the risk of fire. If you do buy a second-hand electronic item, you can register it online to make sure you’re the first to hear about any appliance recalls. 

Learn more 

You’ll find lots of electrical safety tips on making sure electrical equipment is safe on our electrical safety page.  

You can also visit our winter-ready page for lots of other ways to help you keep safe and well and be a little more sustainable this winter.