What you should know about electricity and your home
You might not have known that as a homeowner you are at risk of having your insurance claims rejected, if it is discovered that you don’t possess a valid Electrical Certificate of Compliance for your property.
What you should know about electricity and your home
According to Marike van Niekerk, Legal and Compliance Manager at MUA, “Legislation requires a homeowner to be in possession of an ECOC, as proof that the home’s electrical installation is safe. Insurers expect the same.”
She says that in the event of an electrical fire in your home, insurers may ask for proof that the home’s electrical connections had been examined and certified by a qualified electrician. “The most important thing to remember, is that a Certificate of Compliance is not indefinitely. In terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) anyone selling a home is required to present an ECOC (that is no older than two years) before they can transfer a property to a new buyer. If any changes had been done to the home’s electrical connections since the issuing of the last ECOC, the seller will have to apply for a new certificate before the transfer,” she says.
Van Niekerk further advises that homeowners should see to it that their electrical risks are proactively managed. To lessen the chance of a claim being rejected, Van Niekerk advises property owners to look for registered installers who can conduct maintenance on all installed electrical appliances, such as ovens, as well.
