The Executive Member for Housing and the Local Plan, Councillor Stephen Conway, approved the Housing Landlord Service Electrical Safety Policy. This policy establishes a framework for managing electrical risks within council-managed homes to ensure tenant safety.

Housing Landlord Service Electrical Safety Policy

Councillor Stephen Conway, the Leader of the Council and Executive Councillor for Housing, Partnerships and the Local Plan, approved the new Housing Landlord Service Electrical Safety Policy. This policy aims to ensure that all fixed electrical installations and electrical appliances within homes managed by Wokingham Borough Council are maintained in a safe and compliant condition. The policy was developed in response to a compliance health check by Pennington Choices in September 2023, which identified the absence of a dedicated electrical safety policy.

The policy outlines the legal and regulatory obligations the Council must meet, including those from the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 and strengthened consumer standards introduced in April 2024. It defines roles and responsibilities for ensuring electrical safety, from the Chief Executive down to tenants, and establishes governance arrangements for monitoring and reporting on electrical safety performance. The policy will be supported by an Electrical Safety Management Plan, which details operational procedures.

The approval of this policy does not require changes to existing budgets for electrical safety operations. It is intended to strengthen the Council's governance framework and complement the Housing Landlord Service Assurance Framework. The policy will be effective from 17 July 2026, with a call-in period expiring on 16 July 2026. The policy itself was developed following consultation with various internal teams, including Asset Management and Compliance, Repairs and Maintenance Consultative Panel, Local Housing Companies, Legal Services, Housing Leadership Team, and the Housing Innovation Partnership. An Equality Impact Assessment was conducted, concluding that a full assessment was not required as the policy is expected to have a neutral or positive impact on all equality groups.

The policy applies to all residential properties owned and managed by Wokingham Borough Council, including tenanted dwellings, temporary accommodation, communal areas, and Gypsy, Roma, and Travellers sites. It covers employees, contractors, and agents acting on behalf of the Council. A comprehensive list of relevant legislation and regulatory requirements, including the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, is detailed within the policy. The policy mandates regular inspections and testing of electrical installations, with Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs) to be provided to tenants. It also specifies requirements for portable appliance testing and the reporting of electrical incidents. The policy is scheduled for review every three years, or sooner if legislative or regulatory changes occur.