NEWS

Inspect older homes for safety, says cable leader

In the absence of any electrical safety check in the Home Information Packs set to be launched in June, leading UK cables manufacturer AEI Cables is calling for all homes more than 25 years old to be inspected.

As part of the HIP, the Home Condition Report is designed to be an objective assessment on the condition of the property that can be relied upon by buyers, sellers and mortgage lenders. However, it will not include an electrical safety inspection.

Derek Mansfield, managing director of AEI Cables, said; “Safety is a key priority for any home and we are disappointed that electrical safety is not a consideration in the Home Condition Report.

“However, another option of dealing with electrical systems is to put something into place where any houses which are more than 25 years old are inspected and validated as being in a safe condition.

“Electrical wiring in homes more than 25 years old are subject to degradation and can be rendered unsafe if left unchecked for long periods of time.

“We hear far too often of cases of accidents involving faulty wiring which may have been prevented had there been a regulation in place to test the system.”

The Home Condition Report element of the HIP is a new report format which has been developed by the Government with the help of organisations such as the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. It will cover the general condition of the property bearing in mind its age, character and location and highlight any defects requiring action.

The Home Condition Report will be a 'mid range' survey similar in detail to the current Homebuyers' Survey and Valuation Report, but excluding the valuation.

The Government has placed new requirements through Part P which puts domestic electrical installation work in England and Wales under the legal framework of the Building Regulations on new homes. This is not compulsory on older homes.

NOTES TO EDITORS
AEI Cables, part of the worldwide TT electronics group of companies, serves markets worldwide including mining and quarrying, oil, gas and offshore industries, defence, railways, telecommunications and power, commercial, construction and military shipping.

For further information contact:
Paul Tustin
Acumen PR
01772 811310
paul@acumenpr.com