Householders who are letting out their home to tenants must be aware of the importance of electrical safety.

Indeed, when becoming a landlord it is vital that individuals know the laws and regulations surrounding electrical systems and are up to date on what responsibilities they have towards their tenants' safety.

As part of SAFEagent Awareness Week, letting agent Leaders has urged landlords and tenants to read up on their rights and responsibilities, pointing out that being a good landlord is not just about safeguarding tenants' deposits.

Leaders' technical and compliance director Carole Charge commented: "Getting it wrong can have dire consequences for landlords, including huge legal expenses, loss of rent, financial penalties and even custodial sentences for not complying with legislation.

"For tenants it can literally be a matter of life and death if legislation regarding the safety of the property and its contents is not complied with, for example gas, electrical and fire safety regulations."

One of the most common causes of house fires is faulty electronic equipment, so landlords must check that their switches and sockets are in good working order and pose no threat to tenants' health and wellbeing.

According to the Electrical Safety Council, almost 4,000 injuries a year are caused by electrical accidents and fires in the home. These tend to involve faults in, or misuse of, domestic appliances, plug, connectors and flexes.

In order to cut the number of incidences incidents , the council has launched an iPhone app designed to show electricians and engineers how to safely isolate an electrical source through a series of illustrations and instructions.

Martyn Allen, the head of technical development at the organisation, said: "There is no excuse for inappropriate live working, or inadequate safety precautions.

"By routinely and invariably following a simple, step-by-step approach to safe isolation, injuries and fatalities can be prevented."

The app is available to download for free from the App Store now.