hi all, a little help with landlord rules?

barnaby-bear

Pepzofio wrote: »

Are you sure the council checked the electrics annually, not just the gas? AFAIK there is no requirement for annual electricity safety testing.

And YES you will need to get LL permission before changing the fusebox - not to mention getting a qualified electrician to do it/get it Part P tested (I think it's called).

And it's illegal to cut the seal so the 'leccy board' people have to do this before the electrician comes out - and you have to arrange reseal afterwards.... I wouldn't want to do a consumer unit live.... and a sparky won't - it should cost about £350

rach!_3

G_M wrote: »

Told by who?
No. The electrics must be safe, but age or design does not mean the fuse box (or indeed any other part of the electrical system) is unsafe.
There is no requirement for the LL to check/inspect the electrics annually.
If you have reason to believe a particular item is dangerous, either write to the LL explaining what you fear, explaining why and asking for it to be checked, or ask an electrician to check it for you (and then you can approach the LL with definitive proof).

The reason electrics are not subject to the same requirement as gas for an annual check is that electrics are inherently much safer - unless of course you fiddle with them by, for example, trying to replace a fusebox yourself!

OMG is that what it came across lik i meant? i woud never do it myself, i cant even change a plug, lol.
no i didnt mean i would do it myself.
and the tenant before me hs told me that when her husband tried to change a fuse he was thrown across the kitchen by it

rach!_3

barnaby-bear wrote: »

Of course it isn't. Why are you worried about an old fuse box... I advise on IEE regulations - a modern trip switch is more convenient and probably slightly better at reducing the chance of property damage but stick your wet fingers in a socket and a brand new consumer unit isn't going to help - faulty electrics really are a minimal risk, a faulty washing machine/dishwasher/toaster/bed side light/mobile charger/CRO telly far more likely to spontaneously combust - your real concern is gas safety and the LL is obliged to do an annual gas safety check, personally I always had my own Carbon Monoside detector £10-15 from B&Q, the LL is legally oblied to give you this within a few weeks of moving - start asking questions....

i have one of these, i bought it when we were in our last house
we dont have gas here though, is it still a risk?(its up anyway, but i wondered if its needed)

rach!_3

clutton wrote: »

Landlords have a "duty of care" under Health and Safety regs and Electrical regs to maintain the electrics to a safe standard. Some electrics which are 30-40 years old are still very safe. There is no compulsion to have a Certificated inspection done.

what exactly are you worried about ?

im worried about a house fire, because i know these old boxes arent always right, when my mum had hers changed she was told it was a fire hazard and also my sister has had a house fire due to dodgy electrics maybe im just going through "one of those phases"

adg1

The council work very differently to private landlords. They require additional safety checks done to property then rent out. For example, a private LL would not require an NIC/EIC periodic electric test (which seems to be what you want doing) but a property rented through the council usually does.

Gas is the only certificate that has to be done annually, by law. Portable Appliance Testing (PATs) are not required by law but should be done annually under the landlords duty of care, and again each year. They don't check built-in appliances though.

NIC/EIC Periodics are every 5 years and, though not required by law, are the only test that will check the properties whole system to ensure that all down to the fuse box is safe.

If you are worried, speak to your landlord and see if he is willing to get a Periodic done. He may well say yes and they are about £100 - £160+vat depending where you go. If he says no, suggest that you pay for one to be done and that he pays for any remedial works that need doing.

Essentially, you want something that he doesn't have to legally have and which will cost him money to get hold of. Given your family's history you mentioned above I would speak to him and explain why you want it and that you could help with the costs if he wants.

Hope that helps

clutton_2

a Periodic~Inspection report could be renewable in 10 years - it is up to the individual Electrical engineer as to how long he thinks the system can go on without further checks

Jewel_2

It all sounds as though people with council houses are looked after better :rolleyes: