Changing lights -- rented property

Miami

I moved into a rented flat seven months ago and in that time have been slowly cursing the lights in the kitchen and bedroom. Both rooms have light fittings that fit three bulbs when one bulb would provide sufficient lighting and I've been grumbling to myself that it really isn't very MSE

Argos has ceiling roses for £2.99 each and I can buy cheap lampshades if I decided to change the light fittings. The trouble is I'm not sure if I would be allowed to do this or not. I rent through a LA and when I viewed the flat I mentioned to the LA that I would be taking down the LL's curtains / blinds and putting them in storage and replacing them with my own. LA agreed that that was fine as long as I didn't damage or chuck them, but I'm not sure if the same applies to the light fitments. Obviously I would just keep them in the loft until I move out in which case I'd change them back before vacating the flat. There's nothing in my tenancy agreement that specifies the lights (although it states that I need to maintain my nonexistent garden :rotfl:) so I'm not sure if I could get away with the change. If I did, would the LL/LA expect me to use a qualified electrician or could I just do it myself? (Obviously I'd turn the mains off, etc )

And before the question is asked, no I can't ask the LA. They're seven months overdue on MY essential paperwork which I pester them about every couple of months :mad: Last thing I need to do is add on queries about light fitments and the like

SeduLOUs

If you're unwilling/unable to ask the landlord for permission I'd suspect it's a bad idea.

I think it's highly unlikely that switching from three low wattage bulbs to one higher wattage bulb is going to make a significant impact to your finances to be completely honest, but if you insist on trying why not just use one bulb anyway instead of changing the whole fixture?

Miami

I don't have the landlord's contact details, everything goes through the LA, and tbh I wouldn't trust anything they said unless they put it in writing (which would be in 3015 at the rate they're going).

The lightbulbs in the fitment are the moment are normal / high wattage. I'd like to change them to one energy efficient lightbulb which would be more than enough, but I can't change the bulbs at present as energy efficient bulb to fit that fitment is about £7 :eek: I have a ceiling rose at my mum's house and we stockpiled on bulbs in the Argos sale a couple of years ago, 5 bulbs for £1. She still has some bulbs she'd give me so it would be cheaper to change the fitment (£2.99 fitment, 20p bulb) than it would be to have one energy efficient bulb in the three-light fitment looking rather unsightly

Pixie5740

As long as you don't cause any damage then you can change the light fittings provided to change them back at the end of your tenancy.

You don't need to get an electrician to do the work but you do need to get a the completed job tested by a fully qualified electrician and obtain a minor works certificate. Failure to do this may render your house insurance invalid. as long as you are confident that you know what you're doing. If you have any doubts about what you're doing then get an electrician to carry out the work for you.

Guest101

You can change anything you like (well id avoid structural work!) as long as it's returned to the same condition when you leave.

What matters is what it was like on the first day and the last day, anything in between is really irrelevant.

pmlindyloo

You are legally entitled to the landlord's name & address from the agent who drafted the lease under S.1 Landlord & Tenant Act 1985 otherwise they are committing a criminal offence if you don't get a reply within 21 days, but you MUST make the request in writing.

There also has to be an address in England & Wales usually within the tenancy, but this could be just c/o the LA. So check your tenancy agreement.

m0bov

You should have the landlords address by law, so put it in writing. But yes, as long as you don;t start drilling holes and knocking out plaster then you could change the fitting.

libf

Pixie5740 wrote: »

As long as you don't cause any damage then you can change the light fittings provided to change them back at the end of your tenancy.

You don't need to get an electrician to do the work but you do need to get a the completed job tested by a fully qualified electrician and obtain a minor works certificate. Failure to do this may render your house insurance invalid. as long as you are confident that you know what you're doing. If you have any doubts about what you're doing then get an electrician to carry out the work for you.

I didn't think that light fittings were included in the works that require certification?

EDIT: Q5 here: http://electrical.theiet.org/building-regulations/part-p/faqs.cfm

Miami

I don't technically need the LL's address yet, so not worth making a formal request to the LA just yet. I'm more interested in getting my deposit protection certificate (still waiting for it from the LA :mad:)

Guest101, there's a clause in my tenancy agreement that says I can't use blu-tack or sellotape on the walls and I'm not allowed to paint or put a nail in the wall :rotfl: In fact I can't even change energy supplier without the LL's written permission :rotfl: (Yes, I know this isn't legally enforceable but luckily the only cheaper tariff is e-on saving me £2 a year which isn't worth the hassle of switching )

Libf, thank you for that link! To Argos I go :j

Old_Git

Miami wrote: »

I moved into a rented flat seven months ago and in that time have been slowly cursing the lights in the kitchen and bedroom. Both rooms have light fittings that fit three bulbs when one bulb would provide sufficient lighting and I've been grumbling to myself that it really isn't very MSE

Argos has ceiling roses for £2.99 each and I can buy cheap lampshades if I decided to change the light fittings. The trouble is I'm not sure if I would be allowed to do this or not. I rent through a LA and when I viewed the flat I mentioned to the LA that I would be taking down the LL's curtains / blinds and putting them in storage and replacing them with my own. LA agreed that that was fine as long as I didn't damage or chuck them, but I'm not sure if the same applies to the light fitments. Obviously I would just keep them in the loft until I move out in which case I'd change them back before vacating the flat. There's nothing in my tenancy agreement that specifies the lights (although it states that I need to maintain my nonexistent garden :rotfl:) so I'm not sure if I could get away with the change. If I did, would the LL/LA expect me to use a qualified electrician or could I just do it myself? (Obviously I'd turn the mains off, etc )

And before the question is asked, no I can't ask the LA. They're seven months overdue on MY essential paperwork which I pester them about every couple of months :mad: Last thing I need to do is add on queries about light fitments and the like

You can buy low wattage bulbs so you dont NEED to change the fitting . Are you competent to change the fitting .Very few light fittings have just three wires .

As a landlord I wouldnt be happy with a tenants DIY job ,but I have tenants who cant change a fuse .

[Deleted User]

As OP has already stated.., low wattage bulbs can be very expensive. That's why they haven't gone this route.

I had a similiar situation. The kitchen and lower part of the lounge both had three bulb fittings. Totally unecessary (one bulb would have done), and low wattage bulbs were £7-9 each. The electrics are done so badly (one of the light ring circuits also supplies the plug sockets in the kitchen which renders them unusable for example), the bulbs blew frequently, no matter which bulb I used. No way was I going to put £21 worth of bulbs in each area knowing they could blow two weeks later.

They were the cheapest of cheap fittings, and old. When one fitting totally fell apart (the metal was thinner than a drink can) I just replaced both with a single basic fitting, kept the original fittings and will deal with the LL when I have to. He's going to have problems proving it was new when I moved in (definitely not) so replacement value will be minimal, hopefully. In actual fact I took pictures of the wiring arrangement and it was quite shockingly bad. No wonder the bulbs kept blowing.

I don't know if the OP will find the same.., but I'd say change the fittings, keep the old and be prepared to put them back when you move out.