Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of domestic fires in the private rented sector caused by electricity; and if he will make it his policy to introduce five-yearly electrical safety checks.

All landlords are required to keep their property safe and we expect that to include regular checks of the electrics.

The Department’s Fire Kills campaign promotes electrical fire safety messages to all households. This campaign includes Electrical Fire Safety Week which this year ran from 10-16 November. The week is specifically designed to raise awareness of the importance of electrical safety and endorse the message that installations should be checked every five years.

Electrical hazards are also included in the health and safety rating system. Under the system local authorities have strong powers to inspect properties and make sure they are safe, healthy and free from harm. Powers are available to local authorities where serious hazards are found in properties, including prohibiting use of the dwelling; undertaking the works directly themselves; and prosecuting the landlords, if necessary. The system provides an important safety net, ensuring that homes are safe and decent.

In addition we are currently looking into the related issue of whether to require the installation of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

The Government is committed to ensuring that tenants have confidence that the homes they are renting are safe and decent. We are using, and will continue to use, a variety of approaches to improve standards in the private rented sector.