Tenant has questions

[ElectriciaNot]

We're definitely calling an electrician tomorrow.

We'd asked for some lights to be fixed which weren't working and it turned out the landlady has a BG monthly schemem thing so they were called to look at it. Turns out you can only switch the upstairs light switch on downstairs when the upstairs switch is in a certain position and vixce versa. Some incorrect wiring there but not unsafe, unless you count a dark stairway unsafe due to poor lighting.

Anyway, he noted there were no back boxes in the light sockets and made a note along with one about the 16th thing and one about earthing. I personal yesterday looked behind a power socket and saw no back box.

I think it all needs proper checking, but the landlady won't do it and has no legal requirement to do so I don't think, and there's no regulations when it comes to the maintaining agency.

So, we'll sort it ourselves and if something arises we'll go staight at them for our money back and do take action, and if nothing does, it's money well spent on alaying any fears.

Appreciate all your professional advice, thanks.

 

[lister]

Hi,
Im with looneylen on this one it needs a good looking at.

heres a rant on your first point;

your lanlord has a responsibility to your safetey as " a duty of care" and also there is a government guidance document entitled "repairs - a guide for landlords and tennants" this states that under "the lanlord and tenant act 1985" he must ensure the installation is safe when the tennancy begins and maintained throughout the tennancy.
It is also a requirement of the electricity at work regulations (wich is a legal document unlike bs7671) that the electrical system is maintained to prevent danger.
None of the above criteria in my opinion anyway can be met without a full periodic inspection being carried out.

hope this helps

 

[Des 56]

The landlord /tennant relationship with regard electrical safety is a government fob off because it does not want this issue regularised because of litigation implications
At the moment the landlord has a duty to ensure that the installation and any supplied appliances do not present a danger of shock or injury to the tennant

It does not state how that duty shall be conformed with other than gtuidance on having these things checked at prescribed intervals
The local authority can issue standards of the electrics that they can enforce by restricting aproval to these landlords if they dont comply,but in the end the only restriction on the landlord is if something tragic occurs,they have to show that they did all that was recomended to ensure the safety of their tennant

The actual problems that you describe can only be gauged by a competent electrician reporting on the installation If the report showed present danger,the landlord would be a fool to say the least to allow the situation to continue after such a report
Some of the concerns that you describe do not seem to be related to safety rather to complying with current regs
It would be standard advise that for instance a 60/70s lighting circuit that was wired without a cpc(earth)should be rewired to protect for the use of metal (class 1) fittingsbut if it is not viable to do so for whatever reason, then the advise that yoiu suggest you were given about using only plastic fittings is correct
In a nutshell If you are concerned and the landlord is not co operative then the Periodic inspection report by the electrician will inform you of any present dangers,however it wont force the landlord to anything other than what he considers is his duties

 

[ElectriciaNot]

Hi Des. Thanks. Some very good points. I understand about the legislation and landlords responsibilities. Hence my question at the beginning was am I safe?

One of my concerns is these metal power sockets with plastic bits at the holes. Are they ok to use?

Can someone tell me when 16th changed to 17th please?

 

[gunner]

i seem to recall that before you lease a property the consumer unit must be in line with current regs,anybody heard this and if so has this one been upgraded.

 

[Spudnik]

i seem to recall that before you lease a property the consumer unit must be in line with current regs,anybody heard this and if so has this one been upgraded.

Nope not heard of that.

See Des's post above.

There is no law regarding electrical installations in rented properties, although there is a duty of care, which can be translated into all sorts.

 

[johnnyb]

Sounds like the best thing to do, is get a grip of your landlord, after printing off all these posts above, tell him to put you up in a 5 star hotel, while he rewires the place and shows you a valid electrical test certificate, that place you are in mate is a death trap, if as you state you have no earth cpc anywhere.

 

[mrloy99]

I personal yesterday looked behind a power socket and saw no back box.

.

I wonder how he attached them to the wall???

 

[Guest123]

Can someone tell me when 16th changed to 17th please?

17th edition came into force on 01-07-2008.

 

[kung]

I wonder how he attached them to the wall???

Prob gorilla glue !
Just tell landlord somebody has recieved a shock ! that should get them moving.

 

[Mac]

Hi Des. Thanks. Some very good points. I understand about the legislation and landlords responsibilities. Hence my question at the beginning was am I safe?

One of my concerns is these metal power sockets with plastic bits at the holes. Are they ok to use?

Can someone tell me when 16th changed to 17th please?

I'm sure it was July 2008