(Extract from a guide to landlords handbook ODPM)

" Landlords should ensure that the electrical system and any electrical appliances that they supply such as cookers, kettles, toasters, washing machines etc are safe to use. The systems can only prove to be safe if it is inspected and tested at regular intervals."

Periodic Inspection Reports (PIR) and Portable Appliance Testing (PAT)

Portable Appliances and Electrical installations come under the “The Electricity at Work Regulations” 1989.
It applies to anything that uses electricity, transmits it, or stores it.

The duty holder is the person responsible who may be designing, fixing, working or maintaining the systems.
The duty holder has a legal responsibility for the safety of all who may use, or have contact with, any part of the system.
The regulations require the systems to be maintained in a manner that will not cause danger.
The inspection and testing can only be undertaken in law by a competent person.
The law holds the inspector as a duty holder and takes legal responsibility for the parts of the system tested.

From October 2008 Landlords will have to provide Energy Performance Certificates for every property that they let.