Excessive light-bulb issues...

greensalad

Yes this is a weird one.

I live in a modern flat which has those fancy spotlights bloody everywhere. In the kitchen (including under the cupboards, bathroom and ensuite.

When we moved in they were all fine but within a few months loads of them went out, so we purchased some more. I couldn't find them any cheaper online than £2 a pop. So we bought about 6 and replaced them.

Next month, a load more went. So we repeated and replaced them. You guessed it, a month later even more went including some of the original ones.

I let the management know that I thought there might be an issue with the wiring. Considering these are LED lights they shouldn't be going so quickly. They sent over an electrician who indeed said that the lighting was done "wrong" and that it was causing the bulbs to go. And it had also caused a couple of the sockets to go completely so even with a fresh bulb we have no lights in some places. I should have pressed him for more information but he said he would just relay to the management so I didn't think anything of it.

I didn't hear a peep so I spoke to the management again but that was weeks ago and not heard any response.

Meanwhile, since the beginning of our tenancy about 14 months ago we've replaced all 32 light bulbs 3 times over and then some. That's about 100 bulbs and over £200 spent on bulbs in just over a year.

What can I do? Am I crazy for thinking this is unreasonable and something needs to be done?

Red-Squirrel_2

1st thing I'd do is stop replacing them all every time! I've got tons of those annoying spotlights too, there are 9 in the kitchen alone for some strange reason, but I only ever keep 2 working and that's plenty of light.

I take it you own the place as a leaseholder? I think I'd be getting back onto the management company, it sounds like an issue for their building insurance.

squeeks

If you have lots of halogen bulbs, you will feel like you are forever changing them.

We swapped ours out for cheap led's and haven't had one fail in couple of years.

They are a lot more expensive, but swap them out for the cheapest you can find when you leave.

greensalad

I know I have now stopped replacing them. But we're now down to 2 in the kitchen out of 10! (that's 6 in the ceiling and 4 under the cupboards). So I'm having to use the cooker light on darker days and in the evening. I finally gave in in the en-suite and put all four back in as it was so dark in there. And eww, I can see all the cleaning I need to do.

Sorry I should have been clear, I'm a tenant but all my maintenance issues go through a building management company. I don't have direct LL contact.

greensalad

I'm replacing them with LED ones, that say they last 20 years! And the electrician said the place is wired incorrectly and that's causing the issues.

I've tried a few different brands (some from online and some from in town) too to check it's not the type I'm replacing them with being duds.

Red-Squirrel_2

Ah, as a tenant you need to make this your landlord's problem I'd say. You should have their address, and you need to make them aware. As the leaseholder they'll have more clout with the management company.

Do you have anything in writing that confirms the problem with the installation? If not, try to get something.

greensalad

I don't have anything in writing unfortunately. Foolish me assumed the management company would listen to the electrician they hired and do something about it. I'll write to the landlord, though we usually discuss things with the letting agent or the management company so I hope I don't !!!! him off.

Red-Squirrel_2

greensalad wrote: »

I don't have anything in writing unfortunately. Foolish me assumed the management company would listen to the electrician they hired and do something about it. I'll write to the landlord, though we usually discuss things with the letting agent or the management company so I hope I don't !!!! him off.

If I owned a property with dodgy wiring and the management company weren't acting to sort it I'd be grateful for somebody letting me know! I would provide the contact details of the electrician who made the 'diagnosis' to your LL if you have them.

maninthestreet

So when was the last electrical safety certificate issued for the property?

G_M

Any fault r repairing issue in a tenancy should be reported to the landlord properly, in writing, to the address provided 'for serving notices'. This is usually on the tenancy agrement.

It may be c/o someone else (eg a letting agency etc) but that is the place to write formally.

Explain how many lights have blown, the date you first reported it and how, the date the elecrtrician came, and what he said. Request a date by when the LL will deal with the issue.

If you have not been given, in writing, such an address, you do not need to pay rent.

Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 s48

Whether the LL or the building's freeholder or management company will ultimately correct the wiring is not your concern. Your contract is with the landlord.

HHarry

My Mum's kitchen used to go through lamps at an alarming rate - no obvious signs why (Perhaps a draughty void space causing the lamps to cool to quickly and blow?!). The same at the office of a friend of mine.

In both cases we swapped to LED's, and everything has been fine since.