The one-stop electrical safety resource for you and your clients
Guest column from the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA)
We know how important it is for you to help ensure the best protection possible for your clients, especially when they’re making one of the most important and often largest investments in their lives.
These four tips from the Electrical Safety Authority will help ensure you’ve done your due diligence on your client’s behalf for their home’s electrical system:
Do a records search. Before the sale is final, recommend that your clients have their lawyer request a Search of Records from ESA to determine if there are any open permits on the property. An open work order automatically transfers responsibility to the new homeowner for any outstanding permits and corrections of any defects that may exist.*
Know the home’s electrical history. This is especially important if your client is planning to renovate. Advise them to submit a Request for Information to ESA. This will provide them with a record of electrical work that was done previously under permit, and whether the renovations were inspected by ESA.
Hire the right professionals. If your clients are planning on renovating, remind them that by law in Ontario only Licensed Electrical Contractors (LECs) can do electrical work for hire. LECs are the only companies that can take out electrical permits and provide an ESA Certificate of Inspection when the work is complete. This is important for resale and insurance, as well as peace of mind. Your clients can find an LEC in their area using the Contractor look-up tool on ESA’s website.
DIYs: know your obligations! Virtually all electrical work requires an ESA permit and is subject to review or inspection by ESA. Inspections are there for your clients’ safety to help ensure electrical work complies with the Ontario Electrical Safety Code. Remind your clients to retain their Certificate of Inspection for insurance and resale down the road, not to mention peace of mind.
For more important electrical safety tips, visit ESA’s Home Buying, Selling & Renovating web page.
*Please note ESA records date back to the year 2000.
