Legal standing with landlord paying electrician bill

princesse_sarah_x

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone could advise where one would stand with the following situation -

My boyfriend moved into a rented flat on 10th September through an agency but pays the landlord direct. Last night just after midnight all the sockets went in his flat, fridge freezer appliances wouldn't turn on. He tried to call the landlord as advised previously should there be any problems, but she didn't answer. He needed his laptop and phone charged for work so rang a 24 hour electrician and paid £80 for it to be fixed (he did check initially for any simple problems that could be fixed himself). He got through to the landlord today who says the bill is nothing to do with them, where would he stand with this in terms of being reimbursed as it wasn't his fault?

Thank you

easilydistracted

What was the problem? And how long did he try to get hold of the landlord for ie did he leave a message and let her know this was his plan? If the problem wasn't his fault and wasn't easy to fix like a blown fuse etc and he left a message for the landlady he could try and argue it. He should put everything in writing and talk to Shelter before even considering deducting the rent.

marcarm

He went ahead and contracted the electrician without the LLs knowledge or authorisation, they may have their own electrician that charges more favourable rates etc so I think he jumped the gun with getting someone else out without checking first. I know he tried to but the short of it is he didn't get permission.

Was he not able to charge his items when he got to work, or could he not have gone to yours to do that?

What was the actual problems with the electricity? He may have to take this one on the chin, or he could try and get the LL to pay for half but I think it may be an expensive lesson in getting authorisation for any works prior to them being carried out.

Old_Git

what was the problem with the electrics .Sounds like he blew a fuse .

G_M

princesse_sarah_x wrote: »

....He got through to the landlord today who says the bill is nothing to do with them, where would he stand with this in terms of being reimbursed as it wasn't his fault?

Thank you

He did not allow 'reasonable time' for the landlord to fix. He employed his own electrician so he must pay the bill.

I too would be interested to know what the problem was - what did the electrician do/say? Not that this makes any difference.

An out-of hours call-out is always expensive, and sockets off for 12 hours or so is definately not an emergency. The LL is not responsible for the tenant's alleged immediate need to charge a laptop/phone.

When getting work done, always get 3 quotes (whether you're a home-owner or tenant!) and if tenant, provide all 3 quotes to the LL.

princesse_sarah_x

Thanks for all the replies! He lives 100 miles away and just moved there to start a graduate job so doesn't know anyone there at all, so I couldn't help out, I think it's abit difficult as it was in the middle of the night.
It wasn't a blown fuse he had checked that already, apparently it was a loose wire according to the electrician.
Wish had known about getting 3 different quotes I think he was just panicking as he needed to be in work for 8am.
He tried to call a few times and left a voicemail for the landlord and also rang the uk power network but they said there was no one available in the area.

G_M

The power network would not get involved in an domestic problem (beyond the meter).

Landlord's are not generally on 24 hour call-out. Certainly not for a non-emergency.

At midnight, with lights but no sockets, the best thing to do is go to sleep and deal with it in the morning.