The issue of electrical safety has been an important topic for landlords since Scottish Government statistics have shown that 69% of all accidental fires in Scottish homes (more than 3,400 annually) are caused by electricity.

The recently amended Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 includes statutory guidance on electrical installations and appliances in private rented property to ensure that a rented house meets the “Repairing Standard” at the start of and throughout any tenancy.

This includes a requirement for landlords to ensure that the installations in the house for the supply of electricity, the electrical fixtures and fittings and any appliances provided by the landlord under the tenancy are in a reasonable state of repair and in proper working order.

SELECT has more than 1,200 member businesses which operate all across Scotland. The vast majority of its members can carry out the work required under the new legislation.

Dave Forrester, head of technical services at SELECT, said: “SELECT is participating in the National Landlord Day event to highlight the changes to the law which will affect all private sector landlords from December 1.

“The government’s guidance states that these checks must be conducted by appropriately skilled persons and lists SELECT as one of the organisations whose members meet this requirement. We are encouraging landlords and tenants to find out more by visiting our website, www.select.org.”