This Isn't Right is it?

[acvc]

This morning I went round to a flat in central/north Bristol , a friends son, girlfriend and friend have just moved in, he wanted me to have a look at the electrics. So, this is what I found .......

First floor flat with a car repair garage below.

Mains head couldn't be located - don't know general characteristics.

Entering the flat is a 10mm 6242Y, into a 100mA RCD isolator, 16mm tails from isolator to c/u (old Wylex BS3871).

the rcd has a
10x20mm opening cut on the top where the tails come out;

the (4mm) earth from the 10mm doesn't enter the RCD enclosure but is twisted together and taped round, with a 6mm single core earth conductor to the c/u.
the water heater over the bathroom sink trips the rcd when used;
there is no supplementary bonding to the shower;
no supp bonding to the water heater over the sink in the bathroom;
there's a non IP light fitting 400mm from the shower;
there's a pullswitch for the light in zone 2 also;
there's a smashed up socket with live exposed parts and a Zs of 2.04ohms;
four sockets/fcu's loose on the wall, a couple with 4mm min gaps;
socket for washing machine is directly under the washmachine waste pipe-hooky thing;
no PAT test labels on any appliances;
control knob broken off wall heater in sitting room;
no smoke detector in kitchen or any bedrooms;
only smoke detector is top of stairwell in flat - no detector between flat door and front door to street ( a corridor of 15m plus a staircase);

(This is apart from the fridge door not closing, none of the room doors closing properly, the toilet cistern broken).

Apart from the broken socket, all Zs were within limits and the RCD tripped within times as well.

These poor kids had to pay a month's rent (£600), a month's rent in advance, and an agency fee of £200 for this!

The person from the agency clearly stated that all of their dwellings had up to date electrical safety checks done and were safe.

OK they are all young and foolish and have got themselves in to a bit of a situation. I've given them a written list of 'observations' made at the flat to give to the agency, stating that I am a registered domestic installer and politely stating that there are "issues" in relation to the Wiring, Fire and Building Regulations. As I was not asked by the landlord or agency to look at the installation as I thought I'd keep it polite and friendly in the first instance, saving the threats for if they don't act on the probs.

Any suggestions or comments ladies and gents?

 

[calv68]

get them to contact the national landlords association and explain the situation make sure your there to give any technical advise on the installation. some of these private landlords and housing associations want stringing up, all they are bothered about is money and couldnt give a ---- about peoples safety.

 

[Notsosmart]

The flat sounds poorly maintained; the agency and landlord should be called to account.
Code 1 the rcd
The broken socket is a code 1.
Pull-cord I would code 2 (only because there isn't an immediate danger).
Washing machine outlet code 3 ~ normal operation shouldn't see water gushing out but a blockage is possible (if not likely)
Smokes and emergency lighting needs further investigation (surely a survey & certificate by a competent person is required)
Supplementary bonding not necessary if the CU has 30mA rcd's ~ seperation also required to satisfy the reg: 314.1 (iii) (pg 39) "take account of danger that may arise from the failure of a single circuit"

Have a look at this document it may also offer some extra leverage.

 

[acvc]

CALV68

Cheers for that. I called them and they say they're not an advice line and only deal with landlords.

Thanks anyway mate.

Notsosmart, yeah there's only a 100mA isolator protecting the whole flat, then via a BS3871 board.