Why is my home at risk of electrical fire?

Why Is My Home at Risk of Electrical Fire? Electrical fires account for around 20,000 house fires per year in the UK, and the worrying part is that most start inside walls or behind accessories — completely out of sight. Understanding the risk factors in your own home is the first step to protecting your family. The Most Common Causes Old or deteriorating wiring — Homes wired before 1970 may still have rubber-insulated cables that have become brittle, cracked, and potentially arcing inside walls Overloaded sockets and extension leads — Plugging too many appliances into one socket is a leading cause of fire, especially in kitchens and home offices Loose or corroded connections — Inside sockets, switches, and the consumer unit, connections can work loose over time, creating heat and sparking Outdated consumer units — Older fuse boards without RCDs (Residual Current Devices) offer very limited protection against faults DIY electrical work — Incorrectly installed sockets, light fittings, or extended circuits increase risk significantly Damaged or poorly rated cables — Extension leads used under rugs or with too high a load are a common hidden hazard What You Can Check Safely Yourself Look for scorch marks, discolouration, or melted plastic around plug sockets and switches Notice whether lights flicker or circuit breakers trip regularly without obvious reason Check your consumer unit — does it have RCD protection (a button marked 'Test' on a wide switch)? Smell for burning or a 'hot' plastic odour anywhere in the home Avoid running extension leads under carpets or through doorways What You Should Never Do Never ignore a burning smell — turn off the power at the consumer unit and call an electrician Do not attempt to investigate inside sockets, switches, or the consumer unit yourself Do not overload circuits with multiple high-wattage appliances on one circuit When to Call an Electrician Call immediately if you notice burning smells, scorch marks, or sparking. Book an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) if your home is over 25 years old, you have recently purchased the property, or you have no record of a previous inspection. An EICR is the only way to formally assess the safety of your entire electrical installation.