Around 7,000 tenants will soon receive a letter with an appointment date and the council would urge them to keep this, or if this is not convenient, to reschedule as soon as possible. Details of how to do this will be in their letter.

North Lanarkshire Council is also reassuring tenants that all testing in their homes will follow strict government safety guidance.

These checks allow the council to examine the condition of the wiring against safety standards. The wiring can deteriorate or become damaged over time, which could result in electric shock, fire or burns. The council has a legal duty to carry out essential electrical inspections, and tenants are required to provide access when requested to allow these important works to be completed.

Raymond Boyd, project delivery manager, said: “These safety checks are vitally important for keeping our tenants and residents safe. This type of testing takes place every five years and is carried out with the minimal disruption to tenants.

“We’re asking tenants to work with us and provide access to allow us to protect them and their homes from fire and give them the peace of mind that their home remains safe.”

There is a small number of tenants who don’t provide access and seem unaware of their and the council’s obligations to maintain and keep them and their properties safe. As a last resort the council does have legal powers to enforce access if all attempts at co-operation are exhausted.