Written by
Emma Collins
Published on
Jan 27, 2026
The tenant calls: "My electrics keep tripping." It's one of the most common maintenance reports — and one of the most misunderstood.
In most cases, electrical trips are caused by a faulty appliance, not a wiring problem. The tenant can identify the culprit themselves in ten minutes, no electrician required. But without clear guidance, they either panic (thinking the house is about to burn down) or ignore it (resetting the switch repeatedly until something worse happens).
This guide explains how electrical trip switches work, walks through a safe diagnostic process tenants can follow, and gives you a ready-to-send template for handling these calls efficiently.
Why Electrical Trips Happen — And Why They're Usually Not Emergencies
First, some reassurance: a tripping switch is a safety feature working correctly. It's designed to cut the power when something's wrong, protecting the tenant from electric shock and the property from fire.
The two main types of protective device in a modern fuse box (consumer unit) are:
RCD (Residual Current Device) The big switch — often labelled "RCD" or with a "T" for test. It monitors for current leaking to earth (which could mean electricity going through a person or into water). If it detects even a small imbalance, it trips instantly.
MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker) The smaller switches — usually labelled by circuit (e.g., "Kitchen," "Upstairs Sockets," "Lighting"). Each one protects a specific circuit. If that circuit is overloaded or has a short circuit, the MCB trips.
What causes them to trip:
Device | Common Causes |
|---|---|
RCD | Faulty appliance, moisture in socket/wiring, damaged cable, too many small leaks adding up |
MCB | Overloaded circuit (too many appliances), short circuit in appliance or wiring, faulty appliance |
The most common cause by far: a faulty appliance. Washing machines, kettles, toasters, fridges, and anything with a heating element or motor are the usual suspects.
What Tenants Can Safely Do Themselves
Before you send an electrician, give tenants a simple diagnostic process. This identifies whether the problem is an appliance (tenant can stop using it) or wiring (needs professional investigation).
Step 1: Go to the fuse box
Ask the tenant to locate their consumer unit — usually under the stairs, in a cupboard, or near the front door. They'll see a row of switches.
If one small switch (MCB) is down: The problem is on that specific circuit
If the big switch (RCD) is down: The problem could be anywhere in the property
If everything looks normal: The trip may have already reset, or the problem is intermittent
Step 2: Turn everything off and unplug everything
This is important. Before resetting anything:
Switch off all the MCBs (small switches)
Unplug every appliance in the property — not just switch off at the wall, but physically unplug
This isolates the fixed wiring from all the appliances.
Step 3: Reset the RCD
With everything unplugged, try to switch the RCD back on.
If it stays on: Good news — the problem is almost certainly a faulty appliance, not the wiring
If it trips immediately: The problem is likely in the fixed wiring — stop here and call the agent
Step 4: Switch MCBs back on one at a time
If the RCD stayed on, now turn each MCB back on, one by one.
If the RCD trips when a specific MCB is switched on: The problem is on that circuit
If all MCBs come on without tripping: Move to the next step
Step 5: Plug appliances back in one at a time
On the problem circuit (or all circuits if you haven't isolated one), plug appliances back in one at a time. After each one, wait a few seconds.
When the RCD trips: You've found the faulty appliance
If nothing trips: The problem may be intermittent (moisture, loose connection) — monitor and report back
Step 6: Report back
Ask the tenant to let you know:
Did they identify a faulty appliance? (If so, they should stop using it)
Did the RCD trip with everything unplugged? (Wiring issue — needs electrician)
Could they not identify the cause? (May need electrician to investigate)
Template Message: What to Send Tenants
Here's a ready-to-use message for when a tenant reports tripping electrics:
Subject: Electrics tripping? Here's how to find the cause
Hi [Name],
Thanks for letting us know about the tripping electrics. This is usually caused by a faulty appliance rather than a wiring problem — and you can often identify it yourself in a few minutes.
Here's what to do:
Go to your fuse box (usually under the stairs or in a cupboard)
Switch off all the small switches (MCBs) and unplug every appliance in the property
Try to reset the big switch (RCD)
If it stays on → the problem is probably an appliance
If it trips immediately → stop here and let us know (likely a wiring issue)
Turn the small switches back on one at a time
If the RCD trips when you turn on a specific switch, that circuit has the problem
Plug appliances back in one at a time on the problem circuit
When the RCD trips, you've found the faulty appliance
Let us know what you find:
If you found a faulty appliance, stop using it and let us know what it was
If the RCD trips with everything unplugged, we'll send an electrician
If you couldn't identify the cause, let us know and we'll investigate
Stop immediately and call us if you notice:
Burning smell or scorch marks
Sparking from any socket or switch
The switch won't reset at all
You feel a tingling sensation from any appliance or surface
These could indicate a serious fault that needs urgent attention.
Best, [Your name]
When to Send an Electrician
Not every trip needs a professional. But some definitely do. Escalate to a qualified electrician if:
Immediate escalation (urgent/emergency):
RCD trips with everything unplugged → wiring fault
MCB won't reset at all → potential short circuit
Burning smell, scorch marks, or visible damage → fire risk
Sparking from sockets, switches, or the consumer unit → serious fault
Tenant reports tingling or shock sensation → earth fault, danger of electrocution
Trips immediately after rain or flooding → moisture in wiring
Investigation needed (schedule within 7 days):
Frequent trips but tenant can't identify cause
Trips at specific times (e.g., when heating comes on) → may indicate failing component
Trips only affect one circuit but no faulty appliance found
Older property with dated wiring (pre-1990s consumer unit)
Tenant uncomfortable doing the diagnostic process
Tenant responsibility:
Faulty appliance identified and it belongs to the tenant → they need to replace or repair it
Overloaded circuit (too many appliances on extension leads) → tenant to reduce load
Common Culprits: What Usually Causes Trips
When a faulty appliance is to blame, these are the usual suspects:
Appliance | Why It Fails |
|---|---|
Washing machine | Heating element degrades, motor faults, water ingress |
Dishwasher | Same issues as washing machine |
Kettle | Element fails, water gets where it shouldn't |
Toaster | Crumb buildup, element faults |
Fridge/freezer | Compressor or thermostat failure, especially in older units |
Electric shower | High power draw, heating element faults |
Outdoor lights | Moisture ingress, damaged cables from weather/gardening |
Extension leads | Overloading, damaged cables, poor quality units |
Phone/laptop chargers | Cheap chargers with poor insulation |
If the tenant identifies a landlord-provided appliance as the culprit, that's your responsibility to repair or replace. If it's the tenant's own appliance, they need to deal with it — but you may want to confirm this with your own electrician if there's any doubt.
Classifying Electrical Trip Repairs
Use the same framework as other repairs. For full guidance, see our emergency vs routine maintenance framework.
Emergency (same-day response):
Complete loss of power to the property
Burning smell, smoke, or visible fire damage
Sparking or arcing from any electrical point
RCD/MCB won't reset at all
Tenant reports electric shock or tingling
Exposed wiring visible
Urgent (respond within 3–7 days):
Frequent trips affecting habitability (e.g., can't use kitchen)
Trips on essential circuits (heating, hot water controls)
Cause not identified after tenant diagnostic
Tenant vulnerable or uncomfortable with the situation
Routine (within 14–28 days):
Occasional trip traced to tenant's own faulty appliance
Single trip that hasn't recurred
Minor issue on non-essential circuit
Tenant responsibility (no landlord action):
Tenant's own appliance causing the trip
Overloading from too many devices on one circuit
Electrical Safety: The Legal Context
Landlords have specific legal obligations around electrical safety:
Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, landlords must have the electrical installations inspected and tested by a qualified electrician at least every five years. The EICR must be provided to tenants before they move in and to the local authority on request.
If an EICR identifies urgent remedial work, landlords must complete it within 28 days (or sooner if specified). If your property has a recent EICR with no issues, that's good evidence the fixed wiring is sound — which makes an appliance fault more likely when trips occur.
PAT Testing Portable Appliance Testing isn't a legal requirement for landlords, but it's good practice for any appliances you provide. A failed PAT test on a landlord's appliance means it should be repaired or replaced immediately.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms Under the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022, landlords must install smoke alarms on every floor and carbon monoxide alarms in rooms with fixed combustion appliances. These are typically connected to the lighting circuit — if the lighting circuit keeps tripping, check the alarms are working.
Documentation Checklist
Even if the tenant resolves the issue themselves, keep a record:
Date and time tenant reported the issue
Symptoms described (which switch tripping, how often, when)
Guidance sent to tenant (save a copy)
Tenant's diagnostic findings
Outcome: appliance identified / electrician required / issue resolved
If electrician attended: findings and work completed
Confirmation issue is resolved
For recurring electrical issues, good documentation helps identify patterns. If the same circuit trips repeatedly across multiple tenancies, there may be an underlying wiring issue worth investigating proactively.
For more on building robust records, see our guide on creating an audit trail for property repairs.
Preventing Electrical Issues
A few proactive steps can reduce the frequency of electrical calls:
At the start of each tenancy:
Show tenants where the consumer unit is
Explain what the RCD and MCBs do
Provide a simple guide (or link to this article)
During the tenancy:
Ensure EICR is up to date (every 5 years minimum)
PAT test landlord-provided appliances annually
Check for overloaded sockets during inspections
Replace any damaged or outdated extension leads you spot
For older properties:
Consider upgrading the consumer unit if it predates RCD protection
Budget for rewiring if the property hasn't been rewired in 30+ years
Pay attention to EICR recommendations even if not classified as urgent
When Electrical Issues Overlap With Other Problems
Electrical trips sometimes indicate — or cause — other issues:
Damp and moisture Water and electricity don't mix. If trips coincide with wet weather, or you've had reports of damp and mould, check for moisture ingress near sockets, outdoor junction boxes, or the consumer unit itself.
Heating and hot water Modern boilers and heating controls are electrically powered. If the heating circuit trips, the tenant may also report no hot water — check whether it's an electrical fault or a boiler fault.
Pest damage Rodents chew cables. If you've had pest reports and now have electrical issues, they may be connected. An electrician can check for damaged wiring in accessible areas.
The Bottom Line
Electrical trips are common, usually not dangerous, and often tenant-resolvable. The key is giving tenants clear guidance so they can identify the cause safely — and knowing when to escalate to a professional.
A simple diagnostic process, a ready-to-send template, and clear escalation criteria turn a stressful late-night call into a manageable process.
And if the RCD trips with everything unplugged? That's when you call the electrician.
Lanten sends diagnostic guidance automatically when tenants report electrical issues, collects their findings, and routes genuine faults to your contractors — with every step documented. Book a demo to see how it works.
