Report Electrical Fault Letter

What is it?

A report electrical fault letter is a formal notification from a tenant to their landlord or letting agent reporting one or more electrical faults or hazards in the rental property. It describes the nature and location of the fault, the potential safety risk, and requests that the landlord arrange for a qualified electrician to inspect and repair the issue within a reasonable timeframe. The letter is documented evidence that the fault was reported, which is essential if the landlord fails to act and the matter needs to be escalated to the local authority or used in a disrepair claim.

About this template

When you discover an electrical fault in a rented property. Whether it is a socket that sparks, a persistent burning smell from a light fitting, a tripping consumer unit, or exposed wiring. Your landlord has a legal obligation to investigate and repair it promptly. Under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (Section 11), landlords must keep the electrical installation in repair and proper working order. The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 further requires that properties are fit for habitation, which includes being free from electrical hazards. This letter template helps tenants report electrical faults clearly, create a documented record, and set appropriate expectations for the landlord's response.

When to use

• When you notice a specific electrical fault such as sparking sockets, flickering lights, burning smells, or exposed wiring in your rental property
• When the consumer unit or fuse box is frequently tripping and the issue has not been resolved despite verbal reports to the landlord
• When you have reported an electrical issue verbally but the landlord has not taken action, and you need to create a formal written record
• When an electrical fault poses an immediate safety risk and you need to communicate the urgency to the landlord in a documented way
• When you are preparing to involve the local authority's environmental health team and need evidence of prior reporting to the landlord

Tips

1. 1For immediate dangers: such as exposed live wiring, a burning smell from the consumer unit, or electric shocks from an appliance or fitting: do not wait to write a letter. Call the landlord immediately, switch off the affected circuit at the consumer unit, and if there is a risk of fire, call 999. Follow up with this letter to create a written record
2. 2Always send the letter by a method that provides proof of delivery: email with read receipt, recorded delivery post, or hand delivery witnessed by another person. Screenshots of WhatsApp or text message notifications also work as evidence
3. 3Be specific and factual in your description of the fault. Instead of 'the electricity is not working properly', write 'the double socket in the kitchen next to the sink sparks when I plug in the kettle, and I noticed a burning smell on 15 January 2026'. Specific descriptions help the electrician diagnose the issue more quickly
4. 4If you have young children, elderly household members, or anyone with a medical condition that relies on electrical equipment (such as a powered wheelchair or medical device), mention this in the letter as it increases the urgency and the landlord's duty of care
5. 5Keep a log of all electrical faults you report, including dates, how you reported them, and the landlord's response. This is invaluable if you later need to make a disrepair claim or request a rent reduction