Are my electrics illegal?

abby1234519

Basically.....the sockets in my house are single sockets, probably the original ones from the 70s when the house was built. I know thats not 'illegal'

BUT the oven (which is a gas oven, with a grill section and then hobs) is plugged into an extension. One of those cube extensions with the two ports. The cube is plugged into the one wall socket and then the oven and extractor fan are plugged into this extension.

Mum says that my landlord has been naughty and had the kitchen fitted cheaply (there are no drawers in the kitchen units!!) and that the oven shoukd a) not be plugged into an extension and b) be plugged into a 'special socket' the one with the red switch and light.

Add to that that the fridge is also plugged into an extension cord and so is the washing machine! There are literally 2 plug sockets in the kitchen that I can use to power, a steriliser, toaster kettle, phone, microwave and anything else I might need!

So my question is, should the oven be plugged into a different sort of socket, the information I can see is that it generally needs more than 13amps (or something)

And should my landlord do something about this. Is my rented house at risk of fire because I am overloading everything. I have no choice but to plug extension into extensions in the upstairs as there is one socket in each room.

dotchas

A gas oven doesn't use much electricity! Maybe just the lighting spark.
Is the hob gas or electric?
A whole electric cooker should be wired to a 30 amp switch on the wall.
Extensions and adapters are never ideal but as long as they are not overloaded are probably safe enough. You could ask for more sockets to remove the need for adapters etc. In the long run its better/safer for the landlord too

00ec25

there is nothing illegal about what you describe,

your mother is wrong in her assertion - what you appear to be describing is the power for the ignition to light the (gas) oven not the running of the oven itself - such ignition is actually safer powered off a 13amp socket rather than a 45amp cooker socket

running 2 appliances off a 2 port "cube" is no different to running 2 appliances off individual plugs

it may be inconvenient to you, but you have no grounds for complaining about the legality of the set up, my parents have 2 sockets in their kitchen and have managed to run everything like that for over 35 years, you may not like it, but you have no basis for complaining to your LL

borris89

what you are describing does not sound illegal, but i would be ensuring that all gas appliances are tested, as well as the electrics and electrical appliances that the landlord is providing for you to use, i would also be checking that the person who checks these are properly qualified (you can google these for each trade), if they are not tested then i believe that this might be illegal for private rented houses. If you look on google you can search for help with private rented houses as it is different for different parts of the country. I would also be ensuring that the landlord has installed at least one smoke detector on each floor, if more than one floor then this should be mains powered and also interlinked so as if any go off, the all sound.
Forgot to add that any extension or cube should have a maximum 13 amp fuse fitted, some old ones do not have any fuse at all and should be binned as the could allow far to much power to be used and potentially cause a fire.

lynneinjapan

Not illegal, but it sounds as if it's probably overdue for a re-wire! If it was an electric cooker then it would be very worrying, but I don't think it's an issue with a gas one. The LL is legally obliged to get an annual Gas Safe certificate covering all gas appliances in the house (and you should be given a copy) but there's no obligation on the LL re the electrics, other than a responsibility to make sure they are safe. If you got electrocuted because they were unsafe then he could be sued, but that may not be of much comfort to you!

If you're not happy with it, you could ask your LL to get an electrical safety report done (technically the relevant document is called a Periodic Inspection Report; there's no such thing as a landlord's electrical safety certificate) but about the only leverage you have is to threaten to move out, and I don't suppose you want to do that. No doubt the LL would be reluctant to get one done, as not only does a PIR cost money (£120ish) but it would probably also say that the whole place needs rewiring and a new consumer unit (another £2K+, depending on size of property).

Battery operated smoke alarms are fine, they only have to be mains-wired if it's an HMO. You do need at least one though.

jc808

borris89 wrote: »

what you are describing does not sound illegal, but i would be ensuring that all gas appliances are tested, as well as the electrics and electrical appliances that the landlord is providing for you to use, i would also be checking that the person who checks these are properly qualified (you can google these for each trade), if they are not tested then i believe that this might be illegal for private rented houses. If you look on google you can search for help with private rented houses as it is different for different parts of the country. I would also be ensuring that the landlord has installed at least one smoke detector on each floor, if more than one floor then this should be mains powered and also interlinked so as if any go off, the all sound.

That last one (I think) may be only for HMOs

borris89

00ec25 wrote: »

there is nothing illegal about what you describe,

for over 35 years,

the average electrics are designed to last around 25 years, they can last an awfull lot longer but any descent electrician would recommend this to be replaced, or at the very least, a full electrical inspection by a properly qualified electrician, this should show up any problems, and also advise of any weak points in the system.

abby1234519

dotchas wrote: »

A gas oven doesn't use much electricity! Maybe just the lighting spark.
Is the hob gas or electric?

Its gas so I shall assume I am safe. As you can see I know nothing. At least I admit it

00ec25 wrote: »

running 2 appliances off a 2 port "cube" is no different to running 2 appliances off individual plugs

it may be inconvenient to you, but you have no grounds for complaining about the legality of the set up, my parents have 2 sockets in their kitchen and have managed to run everything like that for over 35 years, you may not like it, but you have no basis for complaining to your LL

I have no problem if its safe. This is the first house I have rented by myself so I plead ignorance. I have researched, through leaflets from the council and the internet and basically have no idea what is safe and what isn't. I know that a fridge can blow an extension because of when it has a power surge (has happened in my student accomodation previously) so I was just worried. And I also thought that a kettle shouldn't be plugged in with everything else as its something like 3000 watts?

borris89 wrote: »

what you are describing does not sound illegal, but i would be ensuring that all gas appliances are tested, as well as the electrics and electrical appliances that the landlord is providing for you to use, i would also be checking that the person who checks these are properly qualified (you can google these for each trade), if they are not tested then i believe that this might be illegal for private rented houses. If you look on google you can search for help with private rented houses as it is different for different parts of the country. I would also be ensuring that the landlord has installed at least one smoke detector on each floor, if more than one floor then this should be mains powered and also interlinked so as if any go off, the all sound.
Forgot to add that any extension or cube should have a maximum 13 amp fuse fitted, some old ones do not have any fuse at all and should be binned as the could allow far to much power to be used and potentially cause a fire.

I was there when the gas inspection was done so I know that happened! there are smoke alarms, well one of them broke and she promised to drop one off as a replacement but never did. Didn't want to bother her so went and bought one myself. It was intermittently beeping which was waking the baby up.

the average electrics are designed to last around 25 years, they can last an awfull lot longer but any descent electrician would recommend this to be replaced, or at the very least, a full electrical inspection by a properly qualified electrician, this should show up any problems, and also advise of any weak points in the system.

Could I ask her to get an electrical inspection? Or would I need to do this.

Surely having lots of appliances running off one socket in every room can't be good. Not that I would know, I should really find out!

For instance in the living room, I have an xbox, tv, speakers, virgin box, telephone, router and lamp running off one socket. the socket on the other side of the room just has a lamp.

Kitchen, I can't work out what is on one side, washing machine and fridge are somehow plugged in somewhere. But then I have a kettle, toaster, radio on one. then a microwave and steriliser on another.

Upstairs in my room there is a socket with an extension. in that extension is a lamp and phone charger, i have an extension running from that extension to the other side of the bed with a lamp and a charger. I then have a plug behind the wardrobe with an extension with a tv and xbox. Joshuas room just has a lamp and baby monitor. Study has lots printer, computer and monitor plugged into an extension.

If this is actually all ok I won't worry, I just really have no idea what I am talking about when it comes to electrics. You can't tell me off if I admit I know nothing!

chris_m

Provided the extension leads are good quality (i.e. not cheapies from a pound shop), are rated/marked for 13 Amps and the plug where they are plugged into a socket is fitted with a 13 Amp fuse, I can't see a problem TBH.

I would be wary about running a full 13 Amp load on a plug-in adapter block (a plug-in cube with 2 or 3 sockets on the top and/or sides) even if 13 Amp rated because all the power and, therefore, heat is contained in a small space but an extension lead with several sockets side by side in a line should be fine as there's more space for any heat to dissipate.

bungle4by4

why did you move into this house with its cheap kitchen and no sockets? as its rented, take full advantage and move.

jamie11

It was intermittently beeping which was waking the baby up.

Err! That's what smoke alarms are designed to do when the battery starts to get low. It's to remind you to change the battery.