Electrical Safety Tips for Homeowners (and a Simple Guide for Landlords in the UK)

Electrical safety is one of those things you rarely think about — until something goes wrong. The good news is that many serious problems give early warning signs: persistent tripping, burning smells, buzzing sockets, scorch marks, or flickering lighting.

This guide covers practical safety tips every homeowner can use, plus a clear section for landlords who need to understand inspections and reports.

1) Know the warning signs (and don’t ignore them)

If you notice any of the following, stop using the affected circuit or outlet and contact an electrician:

Burning smell near sockets, switches, or consumer unit
Buzzing, crackling, or sparking
Warm faceplates or discoloured plastic
Lights dimming under normal use
Breakers tripping frequently

“It stopped doing it” isn’t a fix. Intermittent faults can still be serious.

2) Avoid DIY electrical work

You can change a lightbulb or reset a tripped breaker — but beyond that, DIY electrics often create hidden hazards. Poor connections, undersized cables, or incorrect protective devices can take months to show symptoms.

A qualified electrician will test and confirm the work is safe, not just “working.”

3) Don’t overload sockets and extension leads

In older homes especially, a shortage of sockets leads to multi-plug adapters everywhere. That can create overheating risk, especially with high-power devices:

Portable heaters
Tumble dryers
Air fryers and kettles
Computer/gaming setups with multiple power bricks

If you find yourself constantly relying on extensions, it’s often safer (and neater) to have additional sockets installed professionally.

4) Keep your consumer unit accessible

Your consumer unit is the control centre for your home’s circuits. Make sure it’s not blocked by storage, and that someone in the home knows how to reset a tripped breaker safely.

If breakers trip regularly, don’t keep resetting them — that’s a sign a fault needs diagnosing.

5) Bathrooms, kitchens, and outdoors need special attention

Water and electricity don’t mix — so bathrooms, kitchens, and external electrics require correct product selection and installation. Outdoor sockets, garden lighting, and shed supplies must be suitable for weather exposure and installed safely.

If you’ve inherited outdoor electrics from a previous owner, it’s wise to have them checked — especially before winter.

6) Landlords: what’s an EICR and why does it matter?

An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a formal assessment of a property’s electrical installation. It identifies damage, deterioration, defects, or potentially dangerous conditions, and helps prioritise remedial work.

In England, landlords have legal duties around electrical safety inspections, including arranging periodic inspections and providing documentation to tenants. Many landlords work to a 5-year inspection cycle (or sooner if a report recommends it).

If you’re a landlord or manage rental property, keeping inspections organised protects tenants and helps reduce legal and insurance risk.