Does your electrical wiring meet the right standard? | When was it last inspected by an electrician?
Do you know what your insurance requirements are?
Discover our FREE Guide to Electrical Reports.
While an ‘olde worlde’ thatched cottage or impressive listed manor house is wonderful to own, inadequate wiring often comes as part of the property package.
Electricity started to be installed in homes throughout Britain in the 1930s1. Most thatched and listed homes were built before time, and would not have been designed to feature the same wiring found in more modern houses. This means character homes feature more nuanced electrical setups than standard construction properties.
Fire and explosions are the second most common cause of home insurance claims, with flood and water damage sitting at the top of the list and theft coming third2. Recent data shows a 40%3 increase since the UK lockdown in the amount of submissions claiming for fire damage. According to the Association of British Insurers, £1.3 billion4 was paid out in claims related to fire in 2018. Electricity is a primary cause of accidental fires in UK homes with over 20,0005 reported each year. From 2020 to 2021 there were 24,2966 accidental dwelling fires (fires in a place of residence) reported in the UK.
“It works, so why do I need to change anything?”
One thing you do not want in your thatched property are quirky, vintage electrics or a multitude of electrical wiring ‘sins’ hiding behind the façade of your magnificent manor house.
Adopting the approach of, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” is often tempting in today’s bid to save time and money, but good working electrics keep you safe and help you save money in the longer term.
Did you know?
Although an up-to-date Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a requirement for thatched property insurance, many insurers now request an EICR for non-thatched listed properties which, in turn, has caused a drop in the number of fires caused by electrical faults.
The recommended precautions in an EICR may seem strict, but electrical faults are the second largest cause of fires in thatched homes7. They also ensure your insurance fully covers you because if your electrical report doesn’t meet certain criteria, you could face difficulties at the time of a claim.
Although technically it is not a legal requirement to have an Electrical Installation Condition Report, they have become a standard requirement of many insurers of thatched homes over the last ten years.
The ‘ins’ and ‘outs’ of an EICR
An EICR must be provided by a qualified electrician who is a member of one of six approved bodies. You can find out more in our FREE guide: “Thatch property owner’s guide to electrical reports” – simply click the link here: https://lloydwhyteheritage.com/advice-zone/a-guide-to-electrical-reports
The EICR will test the safety and adequacy of the wiring in your property, and list any areas of concern as ‘coded items’, of which some, if not all, will need to be addressed for your insurance policy. Find out what the three ‘coded items’ mean in our guide to electrical reports (link above).
Want to discuss more?
To discuss how an EICR affects your home insurance policy, get in touch with us today.
For specialist advice on your listed and/or thatched insurance, contact our helpful team.
Email: heritageclientsupport@lloydwhyte.com
Discover the world of Lloyd & Whyte Heritage: https://lloydwhyteheritage.com/
1.https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/everyday-wonders/electric-lighting-home
2.https://www.morganclark.co.uk/about-us/blog/uk-home-insurance-claim-statistics/
3-4.https://www.bhibinsurance.co.uk/data-shows-40-increase-fire-claims-since-uk-lockdown-began/
5.https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/media/1592/fire-factsheet.pdf
6.https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/detailed-analysis-of-fires-attended-by-fire-and-rescue-services-england-april-2020-to-march-2021/detailed-analysis-of-fires-attended-by-fire-and-rescue-services-england-april-2020-to-march-2021
7.https://www.thatchline.com/fire-in-thatch-properties-and-how-to-avoid-it/