UK IS A NATION OF NEGLECT AS RESEARCH REVEALS WE PUT HOMES IN DANGER

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  Posted by: electime      26th February 2019

  • Over half of Brits (52 per cent) do not know how to test their smoke alarm
  • Over a quarter (26 per cent) of British adults are unaware that their boiler requires an annual safety check
  • Further dangerous oversights in the home include: 62 per cent of Brits don’t check if their hob is turned off before going to bed, 55 per cent leave electrics switched on overnight, and almost a quarter (22 per cent) don’t even check if the front door is locked
  • 42 per cent claim they don’t know how to check their electrical appliances, 34 per cent don’t know which need checking and 23 per cent simply ‘can’t be bothered’
  • Consumer Protection Alliance (CPA) is urging Britain’s homeowners and landlords to arrange annual safety checks, to guarantee the safety of the nation

When it comes to basic home safety, Brits are falling short and leaving their families open to potential dangers, with a lack of basic action putting their homes in peril.

According to new research by the Consumer Protection Alliance – a group made up of Dispute Resolution Ombudsman, Gas Safe Register, NICEIC and Which? Trusted Traders, with the aim of promoting consumer safety and protection in the UK – over half of Brits (55 per cent) do not unplug electric appliances that are not designed to be left on, whilst some 52 per cent do not know how to test their smoke alarm for functionality. Shockingly, 22 per cent don’t check that the front door is locked before turning in, leaving them open to potential disaster – yet over half of the nation (51 per cent) would check that the curtains are closed at bedtime. A staggering 62 per cent of Brits admit to not checking the hob is turned off before going to bed; risking appliance damage, or worse.

Despite the importance, 44 per cent of Brits admit that they do not carry out annual safety checks on the electrical appliances in the home. Of those, 42 per cent don’t know how to check them, over a third (34 per cent) are not aware of which appliances need checking and almost a quarter (23 per cent) ‘can’t be bothered’ to organise the check.

Aligned to this, 28 per cent would wait until an appliance had completely broken down before being prompted to get it assessed, meaning what could have been a simple check develops into a major issue. More than a quarter (26 per cent) would only organise a safety check-up when they heard about a friend’s misfortune, such as a boiler breaking down or the hob conking out.

Cheryl Cox, Public Affairs Manager at NICEIC and member of the Consumer Protection Alliance, comments: “It’s worrying that the nation is turning their attention away from safety in the home, and that some wouldn’t even consider using the professionals in times of need.

“Gas and electrical safety is important year-round, but especially during the winter months when an extra strain is placed on our appliances in the home. We tend to forget that our appliances such as the boiler, gas hob and hot water cylinder are used so frequently that they need extra maintenance. Everyone needs to be aware of the dangers and we believe that safety is paramount, and education is key.”

Worryingly, the survey of 2,000 British adults also reveals a lack of knowledge and understanding when it comes to home safety:

  • 64 per cent have ended up paying a professional to fix a botched job that was carried out by a ‘cowboy’ tradesman, which has resulted in spending up to an extra £500 on average
  • 26 per cent were unaware that a boiler requires an annual safety check
  • 17 per cent believe they could carry out a check on gas appliances themselves, with over three in five (63 per cent) taking instructions and guidance from online resources such as Google, YouTube or social media
  • 22 per cent don’t know how, or simply wouldn’t bother, to check if their chosen tradesperson is registered in their profession

In response, the Consumer Protection Alliance has launched a national consumer safety campaign warning homeowners and landlords about the dangers lurking in the home. Brits are advised to think safety first with these five top tips to ensuring your home is safe:

  1. Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors where appropriate and test them on a regular basis.
  2. Arrange for an annual safety check on the following gas appliances:
    • Boiler
    • Gas fires
    • Gas cooking hob
    • Hot water cylinder
  3. Carry out your own annual visual checks on plugs, sockets, cables, leads and light fittings and seek help from a registered electrician if you find any issues.
  4. Arrange for an inspection and test of electrical installations every five years, regardless of whether the property is owned or rented.
  5. When having a gas or electrical safety check carried out, always hire a registered, professional tradesperson such as those on the Gas Safe Register or those registered with NICEIC.

Each year, 350,000 serious injuries are caused by electrical faults. There are as many as 250,000 illegal gas jobs carried out each year and 40 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning annually.

The Consumer Protection Alliance was founded by Dispute Resolution Ombudsman, Gas Safe Register, NICEIC and Which? Trusted Traders with the aim of promoting consumer safety and protection in the UK.

For further information about the Consumer Protection Alliance, please visit http://consumerprotectionalliance.org/.