We, the undersigned residents, tenants, property owners, and concerned members of the Trenton community, respectfully petition the City of Trenton to require an Electrical Safety Certificate as part of the inspection and certification process for all rental properties.

WHEREAS

The City of Trenton requires rental properties to meet various health, safety, and housing standards before they can be occupied; and

 

WHEREAS, inspections and certifications addressing issues such as roofing, heating systems, lead hazards, and chimneys help identify conditions that could threaten the health and safety of residents; and

 

WHEREAS, electrical systems are a critical component of residential safety, and defective, damaged, overloaded, or outdated electrical systems can create serious risks, including electrical shock and residential fires; and

 

WHEREAS, older properties may contain aging wiring, electrical panels, outlets, fixtures, or other components that warrant professional evaluation; and

 

WHEREAS, preventing electrical hazards before a fire or other emergency occurs is in the best interest of Trenton residents, property owners, first responders, and the community as a whole; and

 

WHEREAS, tenants should have the reasonable expectation that the homes they are renting have been evaluated for fundamental electrical safety;

 

THEREFORE, WE PETITION THE CITY OF TRENTON TO:

1. Require an Electrical Safety Certificate as part of the rental property inspection process.

2. Require the electrical system to be inspected by a properly licensed and qualified electrical professional, consistent with applicable New Jersey laws, regulations, and local requirements.

3. Require inspection of appropriate electrical components, which may include the electrical service, panel, wiring, outlets, switches, grounding, and other safety-related components.

4. Require identified electrical hazards to be corrected before a rental property receives final approval for occupancy, when required by applicable code.

5. Establish a reasonable inspection and recertification schedule that takes into consideration the age, condition, and electrical history of the property.

6. Require landlords and property owners to maintain documentation of electrical certification and make the applicable certification available as required by law.

7. Provide clear standards and procedures so that landlords, tenants, inspectors, and electrical professionals understand what is required.

8. Consider whether properties with significant electrical deficiencies, repeated violations, or a history of electrical-related incidents should receive additional inspections.

 

OUR POSITION

 

Electrical safety should not be an afterthought.

A rental property may have a safe roof, functioning heating system, and other required certifications while still having potentially dangerous electrical conditions.

We believe Trenton should take a proactive approach to fire prevention and tenant safety by ensuring that electrical systems are included in the rental inspection process.

We are asking the City of Trenton to put electrical safety on the inspection checklist and make Electrical Safety Certification mandatory for rental properties.

 

SIGNATURES

 

By signing below, I support requiring an Electrical Safety Certificate as part of the rental property inspection process in the City of Trenton.