While the majority of landlords kept their properties in a good condition, the checks had uncovered shocking and dangerous electrical conditions in some homes, it said.
After years of stress on a property that has been left unchecked, what I am seeing in these premises is deteriorated wiring and accessories. Landlords are generally very pleased to have the problem fixed. It keeps their tenants and property safe. Electrical Safety First said similar faults would be found in social housing, and it urged the government to expand to include these four million homes.
Lesley Rudd, chief executive of Electrical Safety First, said: "Our findings show how essential electrical safety checks are in identifying faults and preventing harm. They have protected thousands of tenants from potential faults that could have caused serious injury and fire, and helped maintain the condition and safety of landlords properties, in their first year alone.
A spokeswoman for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said everyone has the right to a safe and secure home. We are consulting on the best ways to protect social residents from the dangers of poor electrical safety, including mandatory testing every five years, and our Social Housing Regulation Bill contains a clause that will allow us to legislate for this.