Electrical Safety First successfully lobbied for regular electrical safety checks for the private rented sector (PRS) to be included in the Scottish Housing Bill. Now, Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) – Scotland’s largest social landlord with almost 40,000 homes in the city – has decided to instigate similar checks in all its properties.
‘GHA is going above and beyond the rather vague electrical safety measures currently included in the Social Housing Quality Standard’, explains Phil Buckle, director general of Electrical Safety First.
As Lorraine Starrs, asset planning manager for GHA, explains: ‘Keeping tenants safe in their homes is paramount for GHA. That’s why we are going the extra mile to meet the highest of safety standards. By carrying out regular electrical safety checks, we can prevent people from getting hurt and reduce the risk of fire in our homes.’
Mirroring the safety requirements in the PRS, where electrical checks must be undertaken by a registered electrician, GHA has awarded its electrical safety contract to City Building, NICEIC’s biggest Scottish contractor. The contract will roll out from this December.