Electrical Fault in house, what are my rights?

Gray-Fox

I live in a houseshare with 4 others. The electric in the kitchen has just gone meaning we have no hot water and the fridge/freezer have stopped working. Is my landlord liable for my spoiled food?

This problem occurs every so often and he has seemingly done nothing to sort it out permanently. I'm now going to have to shell out £30 I don't have on food because of his incompetence.

tbs624

Have you notified your LL of the repair/maint issue, in writing?

LL has strict legal liability under S11 LL&TAct 1985:

(1)In a lease to which this section applies (as to which, see sections 13 and 14) there is implied a covenant by the lessor—

(a)to keep in repair the structure and exterior of the dwelling-house (including drains, gutters and external pipes),
(b)to keep in repair and proper working order the installations in the dwelling-house for the supply of electricity and for sanitation (including basins, sinks, baths and sanitary conveniences, but not other fixtures, fittings and appliances for making use of the supply of water, gas or electricity), and
(c)to keep in repair and proper working order the installations in the dwelling-house for space heating and heating water. (my bolding)

There is other relevant legislation on electrical safety - see this link .

If you cannot get anywhere with the LL contact the Env Health Officer at the local Council and ask them to assess the property under HHSRS (Housing Health & Safety Rating System) .

You may also want to have a look at Shelter's pdf "Getting Repairs Done" - google it)

ILW

What do you mean, it could just be a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker.

Gray-Fox

If it's not sorted when he comes round to look at it "in a few hours" so he says, then what do I do?

He isn't an electrician so why isn't he getting someone qualified to come and look at it?

dancingfairy

If it is a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker one has to ask why this has happened several times as the OP stated - either missue by the tenants (plugging too many things in) or a wiring problem.
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poppysarah

Iron plugged in shortly before it happens?

Had this many years ago - and people would swear blind they not used anything recently... until you point out the ironing board is out ... "oh yeah I was just going to do the ironing"...

evoke

OP: I suggest all of you threaten to leave. That should give the landlord a well-needed kick up the backside.

bebewoo

It sounds like tripped circuit breaker or fuse if it happens on a regular basis, why don't you go and look in the electricity cabinet and see if one of the breakers is up and/or the fuse wire is broken. It's probably one of your kitchen appliances is dodgy.
If you don't know how to do the above, watch what the electrician does what he comes then you can do it yourself when this happens next time. It's probably not the kitchen wiring itself.

xtra_time

We have just moved into rented and when plugging our iron in it trips the RCD - Is there any way to get round this or is a new iron needed?

Gray-Fox

poppysarah wrote: »

Iron plugged in shortly before it happens?

Had this many years ago - and people would swear blind they not used anything recently... until you point out the ironing board is out ... "oh yeah I was just going to do the ironing"...

No. We all live in separate rooms. No one irons in the kitchen lol.

@evoke - The nephew of the LL (a good friend of mine) lives here too lol. It's damn awkward when I even get political with my LL!

Gray-Fox

bebewoo wrote: »

It sounds like tripped circuit breaker or fuse if it happens on a regular basis, why don't you go and look in the electricity cabinet and see if one of the breakers is up and/or the fuse wire is broken. It's probably one of your kitchen appliances is dodgy.
If you don't know how to do the above, watch what the electrician does what he comes then you can do it yourself when this happens next time. It's probably not the kitchen wiring itself.

This has been done, hence why we know its the kitchen! If we go to the outside electrical cabinet, we can't put one of the breakers up without tripping the whole system - that breaker happens to be the kitchen breaker