Moving into a new student house? Expert shares key warning signs of faulty electrics

Below, Dan Robson, Operations Manager at Hexo, offers guidance on the potential signs to be aware of that something may be wrong with your rented property’s electrics, in order to alert your landlord or lettings agent to any concerns you have:

“It’s a shocking statistic to digest, but more than half of household fires here in the UK are due to electrical faults. We therefore believe it’s imperative for any students moving into new rented accommodation this Autumn to understand the risks of living in a property that is not compliant with the recommendations that meet the safety standards put in place by leading industry bodies such as the NICEIC and NAPIT.

“Often, individuals moving into a student house won’t have had the opportunity to view or take a proper tour of their new dwellings before officially moving in, so it’s even more important to check thoroughly for any signs of electrical issues to ensure they don’t become perilous liabilities in the future.

“Outlined below are some of the most important signs to be aware of within your new home, which may signify an electrical test is required in order to ensure the safety of all inhabitants and visitors.

Faulty electrical wiring

If the wiring in your new home appears old or damaged in any way, or looks as though it has visually degraded, this could lead to electric shocks, or even electrical fires.

Frayed wires could indicate that previous work on the home has been carried out by an amateur or underqualified electrician, while wires that look as though they have been chewed on may indicate that pets previously living in the home have compromised the safety of the electrical wiring. Chewed wires may also be due to the presence of a new or past rodent infestation within the property.

Fuse box tripping

Residential fuse boxes have been designed to disconnect the electricity being supplied into a property upon detection that a circuit has become overloaded or faulty, so these incidences should not be ignored.

Flickering/dimming lights

As we move closer towards October and the clocks going back, you will no doubt find yourself turning on lamps and lights more often, and during earlier times of the day. If the bulbs within your home are noticeably dimming, flickering, or emitting a buzzing sound, this could be a sign that electrical wiring in the property may require replacing.

Damaged plug sockets

Upon moving into your new place of residence, be sure to check all of the plug sockets. The presence of smoke, scorching or discolouration around these areas may be indicative of a problem with electrical wiring, socket outlet, or that an appliance previously used within the socket was overheating.

Notable odours

Stay vigilant for any distinctive burning smells that can be located to parts of your electrical installation, such as plug sockets, switches or a fuse box. This could signal the warning that fire damage may have already started within the property, and will need to be investigated by an electrician or the fire service as a matter of urgency.