Landlords and letting agents of student accommodation are putting tenants’ lives at risk by failing to fix serious safety hazards.

The charity Electrical Safety First says a worrying number of landlords and agents ignore safety concerns reported to them, leaving student tenants vulnerable to electric shocks fires and even electrocution.

Research commissioned by the charity suggests that 37% of agents and landlords failed to fix exposed wiring when reported, 35% never rectified damp, condensation or flooding around the electrics, whilst 30% left issues with scorching around sockets and light fittings unresolved.

Other electrical hazards reported that were not fixed despite being reported include: constant tripping of the fuse box (26%), broken sockets or light switches (24%), and broken, damaged or overheating appliances supplied with the property (23%).

Emma Apter, of Electrical Safety First, said: “These figures are unacceptable. Students should not have to compromise on safety.”

The research was conducted in June by the National Union of Students on behalf of the charity, with a sample of 1,161 students.

Electrical Safety First is calling for mandatory electrical safety checks every five years in private rented accommodation, and visual inspections between tenancies.

The Residential Landlords Association said that the report highlights lack of enforcement by local authorities.

Policy director David Smith said: “The dangers highlighted are already illegal.

“Rather than more regulations, the research again shows the importance of councils enforcing the wide range of powers they already have to tackle sub-standard accommodation.

“The sad reality is that many are too stretched to do so, leaving a minority of tenants vulnerable to sometimes unsafe accommodation.”