Landlord Electrical Test Before 1st April

super_saver123

I hope this is the right place, so forgive if it's not.
We've been told we have to allow access before 1st April for an electrician to come into out home for 1-2 hours to carry out electrical testing. We have asked the electrician will have a COVID test beforehand which he said he won't do, but will not work it symptoms are present.
We have managed to keep ourselves COVID free til now by being careful and we are a little uncomfortable with allowing someone in our house at the present time. We are also both working work from home at the moment, so this would be a bit disruptive as well.
Under the circumstances, is this something we just have to accept and allow to happen? Or can we put it off til the country 're-opens' on 12th April?

[Deleted User]

Millions of properties won't have had these tests done by 1st April.   Especially now that so many people who are working from home will ask that the electrician does it at the weekend.

Your refusal to allow access owing to Coronavirus concerns will itself provide your landlord with a defence in the very unlikely event he's called out on it.

However you might want to consider the detrimental effect it might have on your relationship with them if you're looking to stay for the long term.  And Covid cases are low now anyway.

HampshireH

super_saver123 said:

I hope this is the right place, so forgive if it's not.
We've been told we have to allow access before 1st April for an electrician to come into out home for 1-2 hours to carry out electrical testing. We have asked the electrician will have a COVID test beforehand which he said he won't do, but will not work it symptoms are present.
We have managed to keep ourselves COVID free til now by being careful and we are a little uncomfortable with allowing someone in our house at the present time. We are also both working work from home at the moment, so this would be a bit disruptive as well.
Under the circumstances, is this something we just have to accept and allow to happen? Or can we put it off til the country 're-opens' on 12th April?

Realistically what difference risk will there be whether it happens today or the 12th April? From the 12th people will be mixing far more which surely increases your perceived risk if anything? 

Legally tradesman have been allowed to continue through all this and the Government have had the choice to extend the 1st April deadline but haven't.

I think if so was concerned I'd rather have someone round now with the normal precautions than wait till everything goes back and everyone comes into more contact with others.

super_saver123

Thank you both. Maybe I am being a bit overly cautious and just need to get on with it!
Thank you for helping me with a bit of perspective

poppy12345

I've had a letter from my agency regarding this, although i haven't actually had a date yet for them to come and do it. When they do contact me, i have no problems letting them in, i'll just go into another room while they are here. It has to be done sooner or later and the risk will likely be the same when ever it's done.

justworriedabit

super_saver123 said:

Thank you both. Maybe I am being a bit overly cautious and just need to get on with it!
Thank you for helping me with a bit of perspective

You are not being over cautious as you put it. But do let it go ahead and ensure they wear the mask properly and santise their hands on entry. You open all windows etc, try to stay in another room, wear masks, they when he/she leaves clean handles etc, leave windows open for a while then take your masks off and wash your hands.
As others have stated ask him/her if they are feeling well before entry - as i said ensure they wear a mask properly and santise their hands

Good luck with that and landlords are under pressure as well as you know.

MattMattMattUK

super_saver123 said:

I hope this is the right place, so forgive if it's not.
We've been told we have to allow access before 1st April for an electrician to come into out home for 1-2 hours to carry out electrical testing. We have asked the electrician will have a COVID test beforehand which he said he won't do, but will not work it symptoms are present.
We have managed to keep ourselves COVID free til now by being careful and we are a little uncomfortable with allowing someone in our house at the present time. We are also both working work from home at the moment, so this would be a bit disruptive as well.
Under the circumstances, is this something we just have to accept and allow to happen? Or can we put it off til the country 're-opens' on 12th April?

In what way do you feel that any perceived risk will substantially drop in the next few weeks?

It would appear that you are being unreasonable, whilst you can probably get away with delaying by various tactics, doing so would likely sour your relationship with your landlord, who may not be that keen on you continuing to rent from them once the evictions period ends. 

super_saver123

MattMattMattUK said:

super_saver123 said:

I hope this is the right place, so forgive if it's not.
We've been told we have to allow access before 1st April for an electrician to come into out home for 1-2 hours to carry out electrical testing. We have asked the electrician will have a COVID test beforehand which he said he won't do, but will not work it symptoms are present.
We have managed to keep ourselves COVID free til now by being careful and we are a little uncomfortable with allowing someone in our house at the present time. We are also both working work from home at the moment, so this would be a bit disruptive as well.
Under the circumstances, is this something we just have to accept and allow to happen? Or can we put it off til the country 're-opens' on 12th April?

In what way do you feel that any perceived risk will substantially drop in the next few weeks?

It would appear that you are being unreasonable, whilst you can probably get away with delaying by various tactics, doing so would likely sour your relationship with your landlord, who may not be that keen on you continuing to rent from them once the evictions period ends. 

The government seems to think so as restrictions are in place til then. Otherwise we would all be out running riot now!! Regardless I have taken on board the comments here, changed my viewpoint and have come to an agreement to allow the electrical testing to take place with safeguards, so all sorted.
I have lost people to this virus and seen others suffering long term effects. These are people who are in their 30's and with no underlying conditions, so it has clouded my decision making a bit. But that is why I came here for advice (not judgement).

zzyzx1221

super_saver123 said:

MattMattMattUK said:

super_saver123 said:

I hope this is the right place, so forgive if it's not.
We've been told we have to allow access before 1st April for an electrician to come into out home for 1-2 hours to carry out electrical testing. We have asked the electrician will have a COVID test beforehand which he said he won't do, but will not work it symptoms are present.
We have managed to keep ourselves COVID free til now by being careful and we are a little uncomfortable with allowing someone in our house at the present time. We are also both working work from home at the moment, so this would be a bit disruptive as well.
Under the circumstances, is this something we just have to accept and allow to happen? Or can we put it off til the country 're-opens' on 12th April?

In what way do you feel that any perceived risk will substantially drop in the next few weeks?

It would appear that you are being unreasonable, whilst you can probably get away with delaying by various tactics, doing so would likely sour your relationship with your landlord, who may not be that keen on you continuing to rent from them once the evictions period ends. 

The government seems to think so as restrictions are in place til then. Otherwise we would all be out running riot now!! Regardless I have taken on board the comments here, changed my viewpoint and have come to an agreement to allow the electrical testing to take place with safeguards, so all sorted.
I have lost people to this virus and seen others suffering long term effects. These are people who are in their 30's and with no underlying conditions, so it has clouded my decision making a bit. But that is why I came here for advice (not judgement).

The Government doesn't think so just because the restrictions are in place until then. Unfortunately, you have a populist government that appears to have fallen foul of groupthink (although it is in part an issue of its own making). If they'd just made sensible, rational decisions based on not only the science but the economic and long-term medical effects from lockdowns we might have been in a much better position.

Alas, they didn't.  So here we are, half a trillion pounds in debt and with large swathes of the population so afraid they won't let an electrician into their house to do a safety test...

justworriedabit

super_saver123 said:

MattMattMattUK said:

super_saver123 said:

I hope this is the right place, so forgive if it's not.
We've been told we have to allow access before 1st April for an electrician to come into out home for 1-2 hours to carry out electrical testing. We have asked the electrician will have a COVID test beforehand which he said he won't do, but will not work it symptoms are present.
We have managed to keep ourselves COVID free til now by being careful and we are a little uncomfortable with allowing someone in our house at the present time. We are also both working work from home at the moment, so this would be a bit disruptive as well.
Under the circumstances, is this something we just have to accept and allow to happen? Or can we put it off til the country 're-opens' on 12th April?

In what way do you feel that any perceived risk will substantially drop in the next few weeks?

It would appear that you are being unreasonable, whilst you can probably get away with delaying by various tactics, doing so would likely sour your relationship with your landlord, who may not be that keen on you continuing to rent from them once the evictions period ends. 

The government seems to think so as restrictions are in place til then. Otherwise we would all be out running riot now!! Regardless I have taken on board the comments here, changed my viewpoint and have come to an agreement to allow the electrical testing to take place with safeguards, so all sorted.
I have lost people to this virus and seen others suffering long term effects. These are people who are in their 30's and with no underlying conditions, so it has clouded my decision making a bit. But that is why I came here for advice (not judgement).

Great post and well said. Sadly, too often you see too many taking the high ground when people ask a question for help, guidance and not "judgement." 
I was going to ask a question here but some of the comments I read put me off.
Thank you for coming back and sharing.

MattMattMattUK

super_saver123 said:

MattMattMattUK said:

super_saver123 said:

I hope this is the right place, so forgive if it's not.
We've been told we have to allow access before 1st April for an electrician to come into out home for 1-2 hours to carry out electrical testing. We have asked the electrician will have a COVID test beforehand which he said he won't do, but will not work it symptoms are present.
We have managed to keep ourselves COVID free til now by being careful and we are a little uncomfortable with allowing someone in our house at the present time. We are also both working work from home at the moment, so this would be a bit disruptive as well.
Under the circumstances, is this something we just have to accept and allow to happen? Or can we put it off til the country 're-opens' on 12th April?

In what way do you feel that any perceived risk will substantially drop in the next few weeks?

It would appear that you are being unreasonable, whilst you can probably get away with delaying by various tactics, doing so would likely sour your relationship with your landlord, who may not be that keen on you continuing to rent from them once the evictions period ends. 

The government seems to think so as restrictions are in place til then. Otherwise we would all be out running riot now!! Regardless I have taken on board the comments here, changed my viewpoint and have come to an agreement to allow the electrical testing to take place with safeguards, so all sorted.
I have lost people to this virus and seen others suffering long term effects. These are people who are in their 30's and with no underlying conditions, so it has clouded my decision making a bit. But that is why I came here for advice (not judgement).

The government's view is that electrical safety testing is safe and has been allowed during all parts of the lockdown.