I'm afraid of my house :-(

CMcW

Right so I'm not being melodramatic. This house is actually starting to scare me. Short version of the story is we've been renting this house five months and had nothing but problems. Some major, some minor. At the minute the electrics are terrifying me. We had sockets hanging off the wall which, after three months of complaining, were fixed by a joiner.

Now the horrible burning plastic smell is back (it comes from a dodgy light fitting which this guy apparently fixed) and today when the plasterer was here repairing the ceiling after a leak, a different light fitting just disintegrated and dropped to the floor, smashing the bulb to pieces.

The EA came today and said he'll get someone to fix them - I've told him I want an electrician as I also want an electrical safety inspection but he won't agree to that without the OK from the LL. She's worse than useless, refusing to spend money on anything so he doesn't think she'll agree.

When I add that to the cupboard door which fell on my head last week, the leaky bathroom and all the other stuff, I'm just about demented with it. We're only 5 months into a 12 month agreement and I can't stand this for another 7 months. What can I do?

dimbo61

Write and that means a letter,pen,paper and stamps to the letting agent informing them of the problems and a time scale of when they will be fixed.
If its an electrical problem you want a qualified electrician and not a plumber.
Check out the shelter website for advice and speak to the local council about safety checks

CMcW

He has the time scale already, in triplicate, but is saying that it is entirely down to the LL and there's nothing he can do to make her do it.

I've spent a long time today on various sites from Govt ones to CAB but they all seem to say that unless the house is deemed uninhabitable they can't intervene or force her to get on with it.

I tried Shelter earlier but it doesn't cover us here in Northern Ireland -and there's no legal requirement for any safety certificates or inspections - it just says the LL should ensure all electrical and gas appliances are safe and in working order. The HSE will only intervene if there is a serious building fault, no water or no drainage - something really major like that. I don't know why suspicious electrics aren't included but they aren't as far as I can tell.

anselld

As dimbo61 has suggested you can invite an inspection by the Environmental Health Officer at the Council. They can issue enforcement notices on any defects which are deemed unsafe. It is not mandatory to have an electrical inspection, but obvious defects such as socket hanging of the wall will certainly receive an enforcement notice.

G_M

Environmental Health.

Stress the sockets off walls, the electrical smell etc etc and stress that the LL is sending non-electricians in to fix it.

EH are over-worked, so you need so get their attention by indicating seriously dangerous conditions that are being ignored.

CMcW

If the socket was "repaired" by a joiner as opposed to an electrician (I repaired the light switch, he did the socket and nobody has done the light fittings yet) would that still warrant some some of enforceable action do you think?

CMcW

G_M wrote: »

Environmental Health.

Stress the sockets off walls, the electrical smell etc etc and stress that the LL is sending non-electricians in to fix it.

EH are over-worked, so you need so get their attention by indicating seriously dangerous conditions that are being ignored.

The Director of the EA was here today and I went through him like a bullet. I followed up with an email giving deadline dates in red.

He says all the right things but then she just walks all over him with excuse after excuse.

I just want her to let us out of the contract, I can't take the hassle anymore. I hate feeling intimidated in my own home by inanimate objects!

anselld

CMcW wrote: »

If the socket was "repaired" by a joiner as opposed to an electrician (I repaired the light switch, he did the socket and nobody has done the light fittings yet) would that still warrant some some of enforceable action do you think?

The EHO will only inspect and enforce as they find the current situation. They cannot go on hearsay of what has been done and by who in the past.

If it has been repaired properly fine. If it is still unsafe it should get enforcement action.

Yorkie1

Have you checked whether you have a break clause in the contract?

Have you broached the idea of an early surrender of the tenancy on the grounds that the LL is refusing to repair the dangerous condition of the electrics or take any steps to ensure their safety?

anselld

CMcW wrote: »

The Director of the EA was here today and I went through him like a bullet. I followed up with an email giving deadline dates in red.

He says all the right things but then she just walks all over him with excuse after excuse.

I just want her to let us out of the contract, I can't take the hassle anymore. I hate feeling intimidated in my own home by inanimate objects!

The EA is powerless to act without authority, they are just the agent of the LL. The EHO is pretty much the only authority who can force the LL to complete repairs.

CMcW

anselld wrote: »

If it has been repaired properly fine. If it is still unsafe it should get enforcement action.

I don't know if it was done properly or not, that's part of my worry.

Have you checked whether you have a break clause in the contract?

Unfortunately there isn't one :-(

Have you broached the idea of an early surrender of the tenancy on the grounds that the LL is refusing to repair the dangerous condition of the electrics or take any steps to ensure their safety?

That's what we want to do but I don't know if we have enough grounds to do so - and she doesn't usually "refuse" specifically, she spends months telling the EA she'll sort it but then nothing happens.

My husband is working away at the moment and due home at the weekend, I think I need to let him deal with that side of it because they've got me so agitated about it I'll end up negotiating us into a silly deal somehow.

Thanks for all your answers.