EICR for an Airbnb Property in Totnes – Why Electrical Safety Matters in a Holiday Let

We recently carried out an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) at an Airbnb property in Tuckenhay, near Totnes, and fortunately the electrical installation was generally in reasonable condition. There were, however, a couple of issues that needed attention, including a damaged outside socket and a consumer unit that was missing modern RCD protection.

Neither finding made this one of the worst electrical installations we have inspected, but it was a good reminder of why an EICR for an Airbnb or holiday let in Totnes is so important.

In some ways, we believe electrical inspections can be even more important in holiday accommodation because of the sheer number of different people who may use the property throughout the year.

Why Is an EICR Important for an Airbnb in Totnes?

Think about the difference between your own home and a busy holiday let.

At home, the same family normally uses the electrical installation every day. You know which sockets are where, how the appliances work and whether something has recently become loose, damaged or stopped working properly.

In an Airbnb or holiday cottage, you could have completely different guests arriving every few days.

One family checks out on Friday morning and another arrives Friday afternoon. Over the course of a year, potentially hundreds of different people could use the sockets, switches, lights and other electrical equipment throughout the property.

People plug in phone chargers, laptops, hairdryers, straighteners, travel adapters and all sorts of other equipment.

Sockets get used far more frequently, particularly around beds, kitchens and living areas.

Guests are also unlikely to know whether something has recently changed. They simply expect the electrical installation to be safe when they arrive.

That is why having the fixed wiring properly inspected by an experienced electrician in Totnes can be an important part of looking after a holiday rental property.

Our Recent EICR in Tuckenhay, Totnes

This particular inspection was carried out at a holiday let in Tuckenhay near Totnes.

As with every Electrical Installation Condition Report we carry out, we weren't simply looking at whether the lights switched on and the sockets worked.

An EICR involves inspection and electrical testing of the fixed electrical installation to establish its condition and identify defects that could affect safety.

This includes looking at areas such as the consumer unit, protective devices, earthing, bonding, socket circuits, lighting circuits and the general condition of the installation.

Fortunately, this property wasn't hiding a huge list of electrical problems.

There were, however, two findings worth discussing.

A Broken Outside Socket at the Holiday Let

One of the problems we found was a damaged outside socket.

Outside electrical accessories have a harder life than sockets inside the property.

They are exposed to rain, moisture, sunlight and changes in temperature, as well as being used for garden equipment and other outdoor electrical appliances.

At a holiday property they can also be used by many different guests, and the owner may not immediately know when something has been damaged.

A guest might notice a cracked cover or a socket that doesn't look quite right but simply not report it when they leave.

This is exactly the sort of problem an EICR can bring to the owner's attention.

An outdoor socket needs to remain in suitable condition so that its enclosure and electrical connections continue to provide the protection they were designed to provide.

Consumer Unit Missing RCD Protection

The other significant point identified during the EICR was the consumer unit.

The property had an older arrangement where parts of the electrical installation did not have the level of RCD protection we would expect from a modern installation.

An RCD is a protective device designed to disconnect the electrical supply very quickly when certain types of electrical fault occur.
Modern consumer units provide much better additional protection than many older fuse boards and consumer units, particularly where individual circuits are protected by RCBOs.

It is important to point out that simply having an older consumer unit does not automatically mean that an electrical installation is dangerous

That is exactly why an EICR involves inspection and testing rather than simply looking at the age of the fuse board and recommending that everything is replaced.

However, where RCD protection is missing, particularly on circuits where additional protection is important, this needs to be properly assessed and recorded.

With a busy holiday let, it becomes particularly relevant because you have no control over what guests may plug into the electrical installation during their stay.

An EICR Is More Than Looking at the Consumer Unit

One misconception we regularly come across is that an electrical inspection is mainly about looking at the fuse board.
It isn't.

The consumer unit is obviously an important part of the inspection, but an EICR also involves carrying out electrical tests on the circuits throughout the property.

Testing helps us assess things that cannot necessarily be seen during a normal visual inspection.

A socket can look perfectly good from the outside while there could still be a problem elsewhere on the circuit.

Likewise, a property can have a relatively modern-looking consumer unit without automatically meaning that everything connected to it is in good condition.

For this Totnes holiday property, the overall electrical installation tested reasonably well, which was good news for the owner.

The inspection simply highlighted the areas that now need attention rather than uncovering widespread electrical problems.

High Guest Turnover Makes Regular Electrical Checks Even More Valuable

This is probably the biggest point we would make to anyone operating an Airbnb or holiday let.

The property might only be one house, but it doesn't necessarily experience the same usage as an ordinary family home.

If you have guests changing every week during busy periods, dozens of different families could use the electrical installation during a single year.

Every guest brings different electrical equipment with them and uses the property differently.

Sockets are repeatedly plugged into and unplugged from. Outside electrical points are used. Switches and accessories receive normal wear and tear.

Between bookings, cleaners and maintenance contractors may also be using electrical equipment around the property.

Having a proper electrical inspection therefore provides the owner with a useful snapshot of the condition of the fixed electrical installation and can identify problems before they become more serious.

Testing and Electrical Safety at the Totnes Property

Once the inspection and electrical testing had been completed, the findings were recorded within the EICR so the property owner had a clear record of the condition of the installation.

The damaged outside socket and lack of suitable RCD protection could then be addressed as part of the required electrical remedial work.

That is exactly what an EICR should do.

It shouldn't be about creating a huge list of unnecessary work.

It should provide an honest assessment of the electrical installation, identify genuine safety concerns and help the owner understand what needs doing.

Do You Own an Airbnb or Holiday Let in Totnes?

If you own an Airbnb, holiday cottage or short-term rental property in Totnes, it is worth making sure the electrical installation isn't simply being forgotten because everything appears to work.

Electrical problems are not always obvious until the installation is properly inspected and tested.

At A.M Electrics Devon Ltd, we carry out EICRs for homeowners, landlords and holiday property owners, providing clear reports and straightforward advice about anything we find.

If your holiday let is due an electrical inspection, or you are unsure about the condition of the consumer unit, sockets or fixed wiring, contact A.M Electrics Devon Ltd on 01626 299105 to arrange an EICR in Totnes.