To ask the Minister for Communities (i) whether checks of electrical installations are carried out in dwellings in the social rented sector; (ii) what legislation or regulation requires the checking of electrical installations; (iii) whether these are provided by both the Housing Executive and registered housing associations; (iv) how often these checks are conducted; and (v) whether an Electrical Installation Condition Report is completed as part of these checks.

In respect of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, it has responsibility for electrical wiring in relation to its tenanted dwellings under Schedule 4 of the General Conditions of Tenancy 1989 Edition, which sets out the rights and duties which must be observed by the NIHE and the tenant in all secure tenancies. Since 1992 the NIHE has carried out fixed electrical inspection testing to all its domestic properties on a 10-year cycle and at every change of tenancy. Whilst there is no specific, direct legislative requirement to undertake electrical safety inspections on domestic properties, the NIHE in 2017, reviewed its processes for delivering fixed electrical testing and, in line with established “best practice” as recommended in IET Regulations Guidance Note 3, decided to migrate from the 10-Year cycle of inspection to a new reduced 5-Year cycle which it is currently working towards. On completion of each electrical inspection an Electrical Installation Condition Report is completed and is uploaded onto the NIHEs electronic database for the relevant NIHE dwelling.

In respect of registered housing associations, checks of electrical installations are undertaken as per the guidance set out in the IET Wiring Regulations in that all fixed electrical installations within properties should be inspected and tested on a 5-year cycle in line with best practice.

Currently there is no specific/dedicated legislation in Northern Ireland compelling anyone or any organisation to undertake electrical checks on the social rented sector. However, most Associations should have a policy in electrical safety to protect tenants.

Best practice recommends a frequency of every 5 years for domestic rented properties (as indicated above) or otherwise directed in the EICR. The EICR is part of the inspection process. In the Housing Association Guide, the frequency of electrical inspections is stated as 5 years.