New rent and fire regs

red40

G_M wrote: »

The Gwynedd council website says:
(though why you can't find this yourself I'm not sure!)

Houses in Multiple Occupation
In addition to the above there are special standards for Houses in Multiple Occupation. A house in multiple occupation means a house in which the occupiers do not form a single household (e.g. bedsits, self-contained flats, hostels and holiday flats).
These standards state that a house in multiple occupation must possess the following:
(a) satisfactory facilities for the storage, preparation and cooking of food including an adequate number of sinks with a satisfactory supply of hot and cold water.
(b) an adequate number of suitably located water closets for the exclusive use of the occupants.
(c) an adequate number of fixed baths or showers and wash hand basins complete with a
satisfactory supply of hot and cold water.
(d) there are adequate means of escape from fire.
(e) there are other adequate fire precautions
Also, the Housing (Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation) Regulations 1990 make provision for ensuring that the person managing a house in multiple occupation observes proper standards of management
In addition to the above the Council operates a mandatory registration scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation. Has your property been registered?
Accomodation is not up to the standards?
The first point of contact is the landlord or his agent. You should allow a reasonable amount of time for the landlord to do the repairs. If the landlord refuses to do the work or agrees to do them but does not start or finish them within a reasonable time you can contact the Housing Enforcement Section.
A landlord of a house in multiple occupation may apply for a grant to assist with fire precaution work.

:rotfl: I'm not laughing at you G_M, that webpage is so out of date its untrue, the 'fitness standard' was replaced with Housing Health and safety Rating System. All the above relates to the old Housing Act 1985 and the old HMO Management Regs 1990. The management regs have been replaced with these 2006 Regs http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/wales/wsi2006/20061713e.htm

The planning permission issue has been altered again about 2 weeks ago http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/newsroom/1617158

HTH?

MyLocalElectrician

At looking at the picture you have taken what you have there is what is called an unswitched fused spur and an extractor fan. In this area of the bathroom, called "Zone 1, Special location" in the current 17th edition IET UK Electrical regulations, This means that the extractor fan that area of the bathroom must be Low voltage and there must be no mains power in that area. Being that there is an unswitched fused spur, and taking into account it has not been disconnected, there will be mains voltage behind it. I could write paragraphs about this problem and how many times as an electrician I have seem this, My advice would be to contact a Local electrician as soon as possible, in your area to have this put right. I would also recommend not to use the shower until an electrician has been to take a look.
If you need to find an electrician in your area I would suggest mylocalelectrician.co.uk
Good luck with your problems and I really do hope you get this sorted out!

Mankysteve

I thought I'd do a quick bump. with better pic. Also discovered today that we do have a single mains power alarm at the top of the stairs.

G_M

What exactly are you asking/looking for?

Have you written to your LL with your concerns and if so how has he responded?

Have you contacted your local council?

These are the actions you should be taking - in that order, since alienating your LL unecessarily is unwise. Give him every opportunity to rectify matters before bring in big guns.

Mankysteve

Just after a bit more calcification. I do have a certificate for the eleci that says it all up to spec including a specific note about the fan being fine
but it doesn't look right and its definitely not up to spec.

My other query was about fire protection. It no good me moaning at the ll if don't know what i should be asking for.

03022242

"minimum" fire precautions vary

if you are 4 people who are on one tenancy agreement then its less of a fire risk then 4 individual tenants, who dont know each other and have 4 contracts..

if you're the former, a landlord can get away with close fitting 'solid' doors if its the latter then they will have to be FD30s.

smoke alarms: wired for both, but longlife battery ones on both hallways would suffice the former but would always insist on a wired system for the latter

fire blankets yes in any case, but a fire extinguisher less so in the former scenario!

Mankysteve

Well we on a joint contract but where all student not related. It does have single Wired fire alarm at the top of the stair. The doors are of Lap and tongue joint I believe the correct name is.

tbs624

Stop posting about it on here and call the appropriate Council officer in.This is what they are there for.

tbs624

MyLocalElectrician wrote: »

At looking at the picture you have taken what you have there is what is called an unswitched fused spur and an extractor fan. In this area of the bathroom, called "Zone 1, Special location" in the current 17th edition IET UK Electrical regulations, This means that the extractor fan that area of the bathroom must be Low voltage and there must be no mains power in that area. Being that there is an unswitched fused spur, and taking into account it has not been disconnected, there will be mains voltage behind it. I could write paragraphs about this problem and how many times as an electrician I have seem this, My advice would be to contact a Local electrician as soon as possible, in your area to have this put right. I would also recommend not to use the shower until an electrician has been to take a look.
If you need to find an electrician in your area I would suggest mylocalelectrician.co.uk
Good luck with your problems and I really do hope you get this sorted out!

It's good that you're offering guidance to the OP but its a shame you took the opportunity to plug (no pun intended) your own website, both by your user name and by posting a direct link


Anyone who needs a decent electrician can try http://niceic.com/, http://www.eca.co.uk/FindAMember/search.asp
or in Scotland, http://www.select.org.uk/