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Plug sockets don't work in my rented house
Laury
Posts: 2 Newbie
My partner and I have just moved into a rented property and we have just discovered that half of the plug sockets don't work.
We contacted our lettings agent to see whether we could get the problem fixed but it turns out that the landlady had the property re-wired a few years ago and half of the sockets are 'dead'. They haven't been blocked up in any way shape or form and the agents weren't informed about it until they spoke to the landlady either.
It sounds like a silly problem to be upset over, but we have a lot of electrical equipment, and the number of sockets was a big factor in us deciding to take up the tenancy there. We can no longer put my OH's computer anywhere near a socket and I'm worried that we are going to overload the ones that are left.
Is there anything we can do about this? In an ideal world, I'd like to have the dead ones reinstated but I have a feeling that it's too late and a case of having to put up with it...
We contacted our lettings agent to see whether we could get the problem fixed but it turns out that the landlady had the property re-wired a few years ago and half of the sockets are 'dead'. They haven't been blocked up in any way shape or form and the agents weren't informed about it until they spoke to the landlady either.
It sounds like a silly problem to be upset over, but we have a lot of electrical equipment, and the number of sockets was a big factor in us deciding to take up the tenancy there. We can no longer put my OH's computer anywhere near a socket and I'm worried that we are going to overload the ones that are left.
Is there anything we can do about this? In an ideal world, I'd like to have the dead ones reinstated but I have a feeling that it's too late and a case of having to put up with it...
0
Comments
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The cost/complexity of re-instating the sockets depends
* why they were isolated
* whether the wiring is still in place/safe
My guess is it will not be cheap or the LL would have included them in the re-wiring at the time, so the LL is unlikely to want to spend the £ now.
However, you can always write to her, explain, and make the request. Use the address on the tenancy agreement.
You might be able to make a legal claim that by their presence they led you to believe they would work, and thus formed part of the contract, but it's a dodgy argument to take to court.
I'd strat with polite request/negotiation and see where you get.
The alternative is lots of extension cables/adapters - not ideal.
I suppose you've checked the Consumer Unit/fuse box? It's not just one circuit that's tripped is it? :rotfl:0 -
Thanks for the reply!
It's a Victorian house so there are probably good reasons for it needing to be re-wired. Could I go down the route that the 'dead' sockets are faulty and therefore in dis-repair?
The sockets were included in the inventory and the agents have told me that they are now going to amend it. Are they allowed to amend the inventory after we have signed and agreed it?0 -
Never ceases to amaze me how "cheap" SOME LL's areBlackpool_Saver is female, and does not live in Blackpool0
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Ah! That is different!
No - they cannot alter the agreed inventory. Do you have a copy? If they try to alter it, put your objection in writing to the landlord at the address on the tenancy agreement "for the serving of notices".Thanks for the reply!
It's a Victorian house so there are probably good reasons for it needing to be re-wired. Could I go down the route that the 'dead' sockets are faulty and therefore in dis-repair?
The sockets were included in the inventory in that case, unless the inventory lists them as non-functional, they should work. and the agents have told me that they are now going to amend it. Are they allowed to amend the inventory after we have signed and agreed it?
Given that the sockets are on the inventory, I would write to the LL requesting she fix them.
Bear in mind, if you alienate a LL too much they may decide not to renew your tenancy when the fixed term ends.0 -
I'd be asking for an electrical check.
I cannot see how a competent & qualified electrician would agree to only rewire half the sockets in a house AND be allowed to leave them as sockets. If they had agreed to do a [STRIKE]bodge[/STRIKE] job, they would put blanking plates on the dead sockets?0 -
If the sockets are not wired up, there is no danger, so no need for blanking plates - from a safety perspective. Though I agree good practice would be to remove/blank them.I'd be asking for an electrical check.
I cannot see how a competent & qualified electrician would agree to only rewire half the sockets in a house AND be allowed to leave them as sockets. If they had agreed to do a [STRIKE]bodge[/STRIKE] job, they would put blanking plates on the dead sockets?0 -
Depends what you want to do. There is a disrepair procedure listed on Shelter's site and arguably you could use this to get the sockets wired up. On the whole, I would say that this is disrepair and I would not buy the idea that it is legitimate to claim that they are just unwired rather than in disrepair if this was not made clear at the time of the viewing.
The threat of the disrepair procedure may be enough to negotiate an early exit ....You might as well ask the Wizard of Oz to give you a big number as pay a Credit Referencing Agency for a so-called 'credit-score'0 -
Ah! That is different!
No - they cannot alter the agreed inventory. Do you have a copy? If they try to alter it, put your objection in writing to the landlord at the address on the tenancy agreement "for the serving of notices".
Given that the sockets are on the inventory, I would write to the LL requesting she fix them.
All fine in theory. but good luck with forcing a change of mind when LL says no!
tim0
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