London borough self-refers to regulator over conduct of electrical safety tests

Southwark Council has become the latest local authority to refer itself to the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) amid concerns with how it conducted electrical safety tests.

The London borough said that as part of an ongoing review of its housing service, it had identified that a new regulatory requirement to undertake an electrical safety test of each home “has not been implemented in the way it should have been”.

It added that it had now begun a major programme to carry out the required outstanding tests, which are known as Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICR).

The council is to write to its tenants to explain what happens next and when to expect their property to be tested.

“While this work is underway, tenants should continue to take the usual care when using electrical appliances and devices in their homes,” it said.

Tenants can call a dedicated electrical safety number (020 7525 5999) or email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) to seek advice, and where necessary, book an appointment. They can also visit a dedicated webpage (southwark.gov.uk/electrical-testing) for further information and answers to frequently asked questions.

Cllr Kieron Williams, Leader of Southwark Council, said: “We take residents’ safety extremely seriously and are determined to keep raising the quality of our council homes.  Whilst we have made real progress – improving our repairs service, tackling damp and making our homes safer from fire – we also have work to do. This includes completing these important electrical tests. I apologise for this delay. We have started a major programme to do the required tests. In the meantime, we are making this self-referral to, and working with, the Regulator of Social Housing, as the independent organisation responsible for driving improvements in social housing through robust regulation."

Last month North Yorkshire Council self-referred to the RSH after a review undertaken after the unitary’s establishment found that work needs to be done to meet all elements of the Social Housing (Regulations) Act 2023.

In March this year the Regulator found that the London Borough of Lewisham and Kirklees Council were not meeting the required outcomes of the consumer standards. The findings both followed self-referrals.