Lighting gone and no lights for 3 weeks

simon4amiee

Hi all, sorry if sound dumb but really unsure as to what the crack is. We rent a flat and was ok at first but systematically the lighting went in each room on one side of the flat. Initially the first one started flickering then went off, this went on for days/weeks until no lighting in the hallway, then the same issue seemed to move to the the next room and so on until 4 of the rooms no longer have lighting. We didnt want to cause a fuss as still had lighting in living room and bedroom, kitchen so managed. 3 weeks ago the ktchen light blew up and the fuse went so checked out the fuse box (i had spare fuses). all the fuses had trip switches except the lighting which had a fuse in it so removed it and took it to the local electrical store to replace it only for them to say these fuses are too small and no longer in general retail use, they said its probably an old fuse box. I contacted the agency on behalf of our landlard and had a contractor out whosaid the whole lighting needs replacing and a new fuse box installing. I was told the quote was expensive so they are getting another quote, however its now 3 weeks with no lighting other than plub in lights ive bought and candles, and 4 year old scared to go to bathroom as no lights. We will manage as you do but as the nights are getting darker now its getting really tough to bath, cook etc without lighting. Wondered if there is anything I can say or do to speed the process up. ps I hate complaining but with a wife angry and a scared 4 year old girl feel I need to at least ask,TIA!

csgohan4

Time to consider another house perhaps with the agency/LL not really bothered about your problem, I hope your nearing your contract

kinger101

The property should have adequate lighting by law. Electrical systems should also be safe. I'd write to the landlord at the address for serving notices, saying they have fallen below the legal standard for the last three weeks, and you expect to hear within 48 hours how this will be remedied.

Don't communicate with the letting agent. The only use they could possibly be is using their cheap nylon suit as a source of static electricity.

saajan_12

simon4amiee wrote: »

Hi all, sorry if sound dumb but really unsure as to what the crack is. We rent a flat and was ok at first but systematically the lighting went in each room on one side of the flat. Initially the first one started flickering then went off, this went on for days/weeks until no lighting in the hallway, then the same issue seemed to move to the the next room and so on until 4 of the rooms no longer have lighting. -
what was the cause of all this? replacing lightbulbs / fuses woudl be your responsibility as consumables but once you ruled those out why didn't you go to the LL then to get the electrics checked?
We didnt want to cause a fuss as still had lighting in living room and bedroom, kitchen so managed. 3 weeks ago the ktchen light blew up and the fuse went so checked out the fuse box (i had spare fuses). all the fuses had trip switches - did flipping the trip switches work for the lights with them? except the lighting which had a fuse in it so removed it and took it to the local electrical store to replace it only for them to say these fuses are too small and no longer in general retail use, they said its probably an old fuse box. - that doesn't make it unsafe, just discontinued.. I contacted the agency on behalf of our landlard and had a contractor out whosaid the whole lighting needs replacing and a new fuse box installing. I was told the quote was expensive so they are getting another quote, however its now 3 weeks - so go back for an update with no lighting other than plub in lights ive bought and candles, and 4 year old scared to go to bathroom as no lights. We will manage as you do but as the nights are getting darker now its getting really tough to bath, cook etc without lighting. Wondered if there is anything I can say or do to speed the process up. ps I hate complaining but with a wife angry and a scared 4 year old girl feel I need to at least ask,TIA!

You need to figure out the issue with the other lights.. did flip switches solve the issue? Keep on the LA/LL, sounds like they are trying to solve the issue but being slow about it.

aneary

saajan_12 wrote: »

You need to figure out the issue with the other lights.. did flip switches solve the issue? Keep on the LA/LL, sounds like they are trying to solve the issue but being slow about it.

The OP said all the fuses had trip switches EXCEPT THE LIGHTING.

simon4amiee

saajan_12 wrote: »

You need to figure out the issue with the other lights.. did flip switches solve the issue? Keep on the LA/LL, sounds like they are trying to solve the issue but being slow about it.

The lights were flickering and going out on their own without tripping anything, they just ceased to work even after changing bulbs. The fuse has a trip switches on all but the lighting which has a small fuse no longer on retail sale. It was only when the 4th room lights went which blew the bulb and subsequent fuse in the box, i tried replacing both wasnt sold anymore at the electrical store. Even if it did it would have only restored the lights which did work.

G_M

Write to tthe LL at the address provided giving full dettails of when each problem arose, when and how reported etc. Send it to the LL by post to the address provided for serving notices.

send a copy to the agent.

Ask fr a timescale for an electrician to visit within the next few days.

Now read:

* Repairing Obligations: the law, common misconceptions, reporting/enforcing, retaliatory eviction & the new tenant protection (2015)