Forced to re-wire

Davesnave

tim123456789 wrote: »

But decorating them is at the tenant's expense

IMHO It's not the slightest bit reasonable to expect to be allowed to trash tenant's decoration on a whim

tim

If they were renting in the private sector, the tenant would have no right to decorate in the first place, and with less security of tenure, little motivation to do so.

And is it really a whim for a council to update wiring in its properties as part of their duty of care?

Do tenants who decide to alter part of the house, like the wiring, not have a similar duty to inform the council at the time, to have it signed-off properly?

If anything, it's the surface mounting that's an issue here, but the alternative would be more invasive and involve pulling up carpets & floors etc.

Sponge

Can you offer to pay the difference to have a proper job? Or get someone in yourself, with prior permission, to prepare the walls for the council to rewire and then again to finish off?

Ulfar

Or they could pay an electrician who is certified to come in and examine current wiring and get it signed off, then go to council and show changes are not necessary.

Surface mounting is just lazy and an eyesore. Also on this point ask the electrician if the current wiring has conduits installed in the walls, if they have been put in no plastering is required as the new wiring can be pulled through.

scaredlady

throwing my pennysworth in. One would assume if the council are doing all the properties, then they are not going to want no 2 not having it done cos of xxx and no 7 not having it done cos of yyy .

As has been pointed out if someone wants to have complete control over any work
done in a property, then they should buy the property

. Then they will have that control. As it is they are on a reduced rent, with probably a secured tenancy , so me thinks they will have to accept what the council wishes to do. I come from council stock and my mother is in sheltered council accommodation,so I do have an idea of how things work.
When my mother moved into her sheltered flat it had a very deep bath she could not get into,due to her age. She knew if she asked the council they would put in a shower tray and curtain (as others had ) which she did not want. We asked the council and she paid to have a very nice shower /cubicle put in privately. Whoever gets that property when she is no longer there will be very very lucky. Thinking about it all of her wiring is surface. Not something that hits you straightaway.

newbie1980

the reason for surface mounting pipes and cabling is down to cheapness but is also down to future maintenance as its easier to get to if there are any unforseen issues

Shelldean

newbie1980 wrote: »

the reason for surface mounting pipes and cabling is down to cheapness but is also down to future maintenance as its easier to get to if there are any unforseen issues

This is the reason we was quoted when the kitchen was replaced two yrs ago and they did all the electrics right back to the fuse box.
We now have very fetching trunking on three walls in the hall. Though that doesn't look too bad, as it it close to ceiling and once they masticed the gaps it does actually blend in.
Unlike when they did the bathroon and replaced the wiring in the light and extractor fan. I now have trunking going right round the ceiling and then across the ceiling to the light... that doesn't look so pleasant.


Wouldn't minf but the HA ended paying for a plasterer cos the sparky when replacing the socket in the kitchen actually used too long screws. These came right through into the hall ( you could feel the points) and meant the whole wall had to be redone, and I insisted they pay for the paint to make the whole hall match ( now same colour as kitchen) but least they paid after a bit of abattle

tim123456789

Davesnave wrote: »

If they were renting in the private sector, the tenant would have no right to decorate in the first place, and with less security of tenure, little motivation to do so.

And is it really a whim for a council to update wiring in its properties as part of their duty of care?

It is if there's nothing wrong with it

ATM we don't know because they wont have checked. They will just be using a tick box form to decide.

I agree that if it needs doing it should be done, I am just saying that if tenant can show that it doesn't need doing they should be allowed to decide not to have it.

tim

martinsurrey

tim123456789 wrote: »

It is if there's nothing wrong with it

ATM we don't know because they wont have checked. They will just be using a tick box form to decide.

I agree that if it needs doing it should be done, I am just saying that if tenant can show that it doesn't need doing they should be allowed to decide not to have it.

tim

What happens if one of the concealed cables in the wall has had a joint put in it? In 2 years time the joint fails, starts a fire and kills everyone in the house?

Who’s insurance would be liable? That’s right the council.

Without sight of every cable it’s impossible to be sure the work is done to the required standard and as it’s the council’s house, the council’s responsibility and their duty of care, they should make sure that they are happy that they are compliant.

Which means doing the work themselves.

Ulfar

Shoddy workmanship as compared to the council's, you certainly don't have any expereince of the level of the work undertaken by my local council.

They have just had to refit double glazing and doors for a second time as their contractor cut every corner possible. They used internal doors as external ones, they left 2 inch gaps around windows where you could see daylight. They still managed to inflate the costs to the council though.

Their record on boilers is even worse with them using unqualified fitters.

So I think the OP has every right for them not to do work that isn't necessary and as a taxpayer I would rather they didn't anyway.