Electrical safety

Electricity can be really dangerous if you don’t use it safely

We’ve put together some advice on how you can help stop electrical accidents from happening in your home.

You’ll find some handy energy saving tips to help you get the most out of your electric and save some money.

Tips for staying safe

Don’t overload your sockets
Do visual checks and make sure your plugs, sockets and wires are all in good condition
Don’t take any mains powered items into the bathroom
Remember that water and electricity must be kept away from each other
Only use electrical gardening equipment outside when it’s dry
If your home has been flooded, don’t use any of the electrics as they could be damaged
If you’re using electrical heaters, make sure that they’re kept away from fabrics, paper and furniture to stop a fire from breaking out
Take special care with DIY
Don’t use the top of the microwave for storage.

There's lots more helpful advice on the Electrical Safety First website.

If you have any concerns about electrical issues in your home, please contact us.

Electrical Safety First Contact us

Get the My Coastline app

If you lose power

Check to see if a neighbour still has power, as it could be an outage just in your home. If so, check your consumer unit to see if a switch has been tripped.
If your neighbourhood seems to be without power too, you should phone 105 which will put you in touch with your local electricity network operator.
Make sure you have a torch to hand, and keep your fridge and freezer closed to help them stay cold.
Check on elderly or vulnerable neighbours if they are without power too.

Ask for permission

You must have our permission before any electrical work is carried out in your home. Read our making changes to your home page for more information on how to do this. Use My Coastline to send a message or contact us in any of the usual ways.

Electrical work must always be carried out by an electrician registered with the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC).

The NICEIC website allows you to search for registered electricians in your area, as well as providing safety advice for householders.

We'll need confirmation that the work has been done by a qualified person, so please send us a copy of paperwork and safety certificates.

NICEIC website Making changes

Safety checks in your home

Landlords are legally required to carry out some checks to make sure that electrical systems are safe. We do this every five years or before a new customer moves in.

We’ll let you know when your home is due to be tested and our trusted contractor, Blue Flame, will book an appointment. If you need the change it, please contact them using the details on the letter, or call 01209 200200 and choose the electrical repairs option.

It usually takes about around three to four hours to complete the checks, depending on how big your house is and how many circuits need testing. Blue Flame will have to turn off everything at the main supply, but they will remind you of that when booking the appointment so you can plan ahead.

If they find work needs to be done, Blue Flame will make another appointment with you for that to be completed.