http://www.jmelectricalservices.com/ You must conduct regular visual safety checks of all the electrical installations in a property, in order to make sure that they are functioning properly. Building 2 Twinwoods Business Park, Thurleigh Road Milton Ernest, Bedford Bedfordshire MK44 1FD

1. WHAT ELECTRICAL TESTING STANDARDS ARE
REQUIRED FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES?
As a landlord, there are some very strict legal obligations that must be fulfilled in terms of
both domestic and commercial properties. Whilst such requirements can feel like
inconveniences, they are put in place to protect your own interests as well as those of the
tenant. With around 20% of all housing in the UK now being used as rented property, it is
more important than ever that landlords guarantee the safety of their real estate
investments.
Why are landlords required to complete an electrical inspection?
There are two laws which make it clear that landlords must guarantee the safety of all
electrical outlets, devices, and components which are installed in a commercial property
before it is rented to a tenant. They cover all commercial properties and electrical
inspections in Bedford.
1. The Consumer Protection Act (1987)
2. The Health and Safety at Work Act (1974)
Electrical Installations
You must conduct regular visual safety checks of all the electrical installations in a
property, in order to make sure that they are functioning properly. These checks are
designed to spot broken components (such as cracked light switches and sockets), burn
marks around outlets, and damaged from overloading or broken cables.
According to the Institute of Electrical Engineers, installations should be professionally
tested by an expert at least once every five years, unless components have shown a
tendency for instability. The only time that this rule changes is if the property is vacated
and rented to a new tenant – a professional test must be conducted before the start of all
new commercial leases.
Electrical Appliances
In regards to temporary or portable devices, the only legal obligation that a landlord has is
to the safety of any appliances which were included as part of the property when rented.
You have no responsibility for the safety of electrical devices which a tenant chooses to

2. operate inside the building.
As with the electrical installations, you are obliged to carry out regular visual checks of all
appliances. They must come with a CE safety marker – if a portable device does not have
CE, British Standard Guidance or BEAB certification, you may be held liable if it
malfunctions and a tenant is injured. You are obliged to provide tenants with instruction
manuals for all electrical appliances, and make sure that loose screws and damaged parts
are repaired as soon as identified.
Smoke Detectors
It is important not to forget the presence of fire alarms and smoke detectors during
electrical inspections in Bedford properties. These emergency devices do need to be
checked regularly, but this does not require any outside help, and can be included as part
of tenant responsibilities.
In order to make sure that you are always legally protected in the event of a fire at a
commercial property, conduct tests regularly AND keep a log book detailing these
procedures. If a tenant is made responsible for conducting the tests, it is a good idea to
send reminder letters as proof that you are keeping track of the situation.
Emergency Lighting
If your commercial property does contain emergency lighting designed to operate in the
event of a power failure, the installations will need to be routinely checked by a qualified
electrician. There is no enshrined legal frequency for this, because emergency devices are
hardly ever in use, so defer to the advice of the manufacturer.