Electrical Safety Policy

1.1 This policy establishes how Stonewater Housing Group (Stonewater and its subsidiaries) will ensure compliance with its legislative duties in relation to Electrical Safety, and in particular, the duty to ensure that all electrical equipment, fittings and appliances are safe and in good working order in all properties, owned, leased or managed by Stonewater.

1.2 Stonewater will endeavour, at all times, to ensure that it operates an effective system of maintenance and management, in order to ensure compliance with regulations relating to electrical safety. And will undertake an effective system of periodic inspections of its electrical installations and electrical equipment by suitably qualified electrical engineers.

1.3 This policy applies to all residential buildings and associated structures either owned, leased or managed by Stonewater.

2.1 The overall objective of this policy is to ensure that all electrical wiring and equipment identified within Stonewater’s residential properties and associated structures, are managed and maintained in accordance with relevant legislation.

The following Acts and Regulations (list not exhaustive) are applicable to this policy.

• Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

• Approved code of current Practice and Guidance – IEE regulations edition as amended.

• Landlords and Tenants Act 1985

• The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013

• Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005

• Hazards in Social Housing (Prescribed Requirements) (England) Regulations (Awaab’s Law)

• Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016

• Electricity at Work Regulations 1989

• The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998

• Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015

• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

• Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) 2006

• Part P of the Building Regulations (England & Wales)

• Occupiers Liability Act 1984

• HCA Regulatory Framework – Home Standard (meet all applicable statutory requirements that provide for the health and safety of the occupants in their homes).

3.1 Stonewater will ensure that at the start of every tenancy and before a mutual exchange, the electrical system is safe and compliant via completion of an EICR.

3.2 In accordance with the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 Stonewater will ensure that all fixed electrical equipment that it owns and supplies for use by customers and employees, is regularly tested and maintained.

3.3 In accordance with the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, Stonewater will ensure that any work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, working order and in good repair including all work equipment (fixed, transportable or portable) connected to a source of electrical supply.

3.4 Stonewater will undertake a periodic inspection of the electrical fixed wiring installations in all communal areas of residential blocks of flats, commercial units and community facilities in management, at five yearly intervals

3.5 Stonewater will undertake electrical installation certificates of customer’s homes at 5 yearly cycles (from April 2026)

3.6 Stonewater will ensure all customers receive a copy of the EICR for their home within 28 days of a compliant EICR being completed

3.7 Stonewater will investigate emergency hazards within 24 hours of receiving a report from a customer (where it is within Stonewater’s scope to do so) and where practicable the hazard will be made safe.

3.8 Stonewater will provide emergency accommodation for Customers where it is confirmed that a hazard cannot be made safe within 24 hours, until such time as the home is habitable.

3.9 Stonewater will keep customers informed of follow-up investigations, safety and follow-up works required to address significant or emergency hazards and aim to commence works within statutory timescales.

3.10 Stonewater will ensure that any portable electrical appliances which are not hard-wired (via spurs) or are the property of Stonewater are subject to regular portable appliance testing. The frequency being defined by risk assessment.

3.11 Stonewater will ensure that any work carried out to electrical mains installations will be undertaken by competent and fully trained people.

3.12 Stonewater will take all reasonably practicable steps, to ensure that customers, colleagues, and other relevant persons, are not exposed to any risks from electrical equipment or wiring, through their normal day to day activities or from any works undertaken on behalf of Stonewater.

4.1 During Quarter 4 of each financial year, the Head of Data Intelligence will audit and reconcile Stonewater’s asset list with the servicing register to identify any areas where changes to ownership, systems or appliances may have occurred.

4.2 Where changes are identified, the servicing list will be adjusted to reflect these changes and ensure all carbon fuel heating appliances are serviced annually.

4.3 For the purpose of identifying whether newly built and developed properties require being added to the servicing program, this will accord directly with Stonewater’s handover procedures.

5.1 Ensuring the safety of Stonewater’s homes is a strategic objective. As such, landlord compliance, which incorporates electrical safety, forms part of the Groups suite of Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s), with a performance target of 100%.

5.2 Risk tolerance for all compliance areas has been set at 98.5%. Performance below this level will result in a service improvement plan being implemented.

6.1 The following Quality Assurance (QA) activity will be undertaken and reported in line with the Management Plan:

• The quality of EICRs will be subject to independent external audit, by Stonewater’s Compliance auditor. Ten percent of all EICRs completed will be subject to physical audit.

• The quality of electrical work, undertaken by Stonewater’s suppliers, will be inspected and audited.

• Stonewater’s internal auditor will provide independent assurance on the operation and effectiveness of the electrical safety management system. The frequency of audit will be agreed by the Groups Risk and Audit Committee as part of the Internal Audit Programme.

7.1 The following associated documents outline the detailed procedures regarding how Stonewater will deliver the electrical safety policy’s objectives and outcomes:

• GS-PR-048 Electrical safety management plan

• The % of homes with a valid EICR will be greater than 98.5%

• The % of communal areas of blocks of flats with a valid EICR will be greater than 98.5%

9.1 The Electrical Safety Management plan details the roles and responsibilities for operational delivery of this policy.

10.1 Stonewater shall ensure that adequate information, instruction and training is made available to all colleagues and will undertake regular training of managers and colleagues, regular building users and contracted third parties, where necessary to ensure that the information is effectively disseminated and to ensure that training has been undertaken.

11.1 This Policy shall be reviewed and updated by Stonewater biennially or if there are any major changes to current Legislation, HSE or IEE approved codes of practice and guidance.

11.2 Approved documents are valid for use after their approval date and remain in force beyond any expiry of their review date until a new version is available.