New research reveals electrical safety knowledge gap putting homeowners at risk, warns NICEIC

A poll of 2,000 adults who own a property found 22 per cent have a "I'll worry about it tomorrow" attitude to such problems.

With 22 per cent not having had their electrics checked by a professional in more than a decade – if at all.

While 16 per cent have no idea if their property has ever been looked over by an expert.

Other common electrical issues left for prolonged periods by homeowners included damaged sockets, appliances which cut out – and even unusual or burning smells, all of which are potential signs of an issue with the wiring.

The research was commissioned by NICEIC, the UK’s leading certification and training body for the electrical contracting industry, to highlight the importance of having an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) to ensure everything’s in good working order and keeping everyone safe.

It found 69 per cent have no idea what an EICR is, with 48 per cent who are familiar unaware it's recommended the check is carried out at least every 10 years for homeowners.

Paul Collins, Technical Director at NICEIC, said: "An EICR is effectively an MOT for the electrical systems in your home, which with a growing reliance on this resource thanks to modern heating systems, heat pumps, EV chargers and more, is more important than ever before.

“In privately owned homes, it is recommended that an EICR is carried out at least every 10 years, whereas in rented properties it is a legal requirement to have one at least every five years.

"Many consumers are familiar with the recommendation we replace our mattresses every 10 years or less but perhaps don't think about electrical checks in the same way.

“These results prove there is clearly a knowledge gap when it comes to keeping up with electrical safety.”

The research found 64 per cent of homeowners get their boilers serviced at least once every year and 41 per cent replace their carbon monoxide alarm at least every five years.

Whereas 30 per cent change the batteries in their smoke alarm at least once a year, while 67 per cent replace their mattress every 10 years or less.

Yet only half of participants believe electrical checks are essential when considering electrics in their house.

Cost concerns are the biggest barriers to booking an electrical safety check (32 per cent), while 23 per cent don’t think it’s necessary and 12 per cent are unsure who to contact.

In total, 49 per cent said they were not confident in identifying a dangerous electrical fault in their home, while 47 per cent are concerned about their property’s electrical safety.

Despite this, the research found 24 per cent have attempted to fix an electrical issue by themselves.

Paul Collins added: “The guidance is simple: prioritise your safety, your home and your investment by getting your installations checked by a registered electrician.”

To help householders find a trusted registered electricians in their area, NICEIC has developed its Find a Trusted Tradesperson tool.

There are currently over 40,000 NICEIC-registered electricians across the UK, all regularly assessed to ensure they deliver work in line with up-to-date electrical regulations. To find a registered electrician near you, visit: niceic.com/find-a-tradesperson/