Safety first as homes face wiring checks
Thousands of council homes in North Lanarkshire are to have their electrical circuits and wiring tested.
The local authority is continuing with its programme of essential safety testing and around 7000 tenants will soon receive a letter with an appointment for this to be carried out.
The safety of tenants and residents is paramount and the five-yearly checks allow North Lanarkshire Council (NLC) to examine the condition of the wiring against current safety standards.
Some wiring can deteriorate or become damaged over time, with the result of electric shock, fire and burns.
The works form part of the council’s legal duty to carry out inspections, and tenants are required to allow these to take place.
Tenants are being urged to keep their appointment, or if it’s not convenient, to reschedule as soon as possible.
Details of how to do this will be detailed in the letter.
If a tenant refuses to provide access and seems unaware of their, and the council’s obligations to maintain and keep them and their properties safe, as a last resort the council does have legal powers to enforce access if all attempts of cooperation are exhausted
Project delivery manager Raymond Boyd explained: “These safety checks are vitally important for keeping our tenants and residents safe.
“This type of testing takes place every five years and is carried out with the minimal of disruption to tenants. So, if you receive an appointment please keep this and ensure access is provided.
“We’re asking tenants to work with us and provide access to allow us to protect them and their homes from fire and give them the peace of mind that their home remains safe.”
NLC are also reassuring tenants that staff will continue to wear face masks, maintain social distancing and carry out the checks with tenant safety in mind.
If, on the day of an appointment, a tenant displays symptoms of coronavirus they should cancel and reschedule.