I have used Tyne Electrical Services for several jobs over past couple of years.
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When you own a holiday let, keeping guests safe is one of those things you simply can’t afford to overlook.
An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is a great way to check that the electrics are safe and identify any issues that need attention. At Tyne Electrical Services, an EICR for a typical holiday let can cost around £150–£250, depending on the size and complexity of the property. If you own a holiday cottage in Lyme Regis, the end of the season is also a great time to arrange one, giving you plenty of time to deal with any repairs before your next guests arrive.
Why is electrical safety in holiday lets so important?
When you’re staying in a holiday cottage, you expect everything to be safe and working as it should. As an owner, that means making sure the electrical installation is regularly checked and maintained.
Electrical safety in holiday lets can be particularly important when you’re dealing with older or period properties. You might have beautiful original features and plenty of character, but the electrics could be considerably newer – or, in some cases, not!
An EICR gives you the opportunity to have the installation properly inspected and tested, rather than waiting for a problem to appear.
We recently carried out an EICR on a Grade II listed, early 19th-century terraced cottage in Lyme Regis.
The owners have three holiday rentals across Dorset and were keen to make sure they had all the boxes ticked when it came to electrical safety, particularly because all three properties are period homes. And that’s something we completely understand. When you’re responsible for properties that are regularly occupied by paying guests, you want to know that everything is safe and in good working order.
What did we find during the inspection?
Thankfully, there weren't any major electrical problems at this particular property, but we did find a couple of things worth addressing.
Upstairs, one of the bedroom sockets was loose. It looked as though it had gradually been pulled away from the wall over time, most likely because a hairdryer had been used with a cord that wasn't quite long enough to reach the mirror.
It’s an easy thing to overlook when you live in a property yourself. The owners hadn't considered that guests might be stretching the cable to reach the dressing table, so they’re now looking at rearranging the furniture and moving it closer to the socket.
This is a great example of why electrical safety in holiday lets isn't just about checking the wiring itself. It’s also about thinking about how guests are likely to use the property.
We also found a faulty smoke alarm in the living and dining area. It appeared to have been tampered with, most likely in an attempt to silence it, and it was no longer working correctly.
Why the end of the season is a good time for an EICR
If your holiday let has had plenty of use over the summer, the end of the season can be a really good time to arrange an EICR. You've got a quieter period ahead, meaning there's plenty of time to arrange any repairs or remedial work before the property is busy again.
Regular checks are an important part of electrical safety in holiday lets, especially when you're looking after older properties with plenty of character.
If you own a holiday let in Lyme Regis and need an EICR or simply want some advice about electrical safety in holiday lets, we’re happy to help. Contact Tyne Electrical Services today by phone on 01297 807125 or via our contact form.