To be pissed off with my tenants changing plugs on my appliances

[ReallyTired]

They aren't electricians. Am I legally responsible for their stupidity if they electrocute themselves? (Gawd forbid!) They did not contact me about any maintained problem.

If there is a problem with an electrical appliance I would rather they told me so I can get someone with half a brain to fix. I have a condensing tumble dryer in the flat. They moved out the dryer and complained it has water in it. Duh! It's a condensing tumble dryer and you are expected to empty the bottle. There are instructions about all appliances. For some stupid reason they decided to change to plug and now they have tripped the electrics.

[ReggaeShark]

YADNBU. They are now liable for any costs involved in rectifying things and for an electrician to come and check all the plugs. Tell them in writing not to do anything like this again.

[dentydown]

Can your letting agent advise you? Would they be able to send an in-house electrician to check the appliance and change the plug?

[JohnLuther]

They've changed the actual plug that goes in the socket? WTF you are definitely not U.

[scribblegirl]

Was going to say that YWB a tiny bit U as it's not hugely difficult to rewire a plug - I'm not ancient by any means but I remember being taught how by my dad and have done it on eg hair dryers over the years.

However the fact they've managed to trip the electrics just proves how adept they are - definitely not unreasonable. Also surely they're invalidating any warranties on your belongings, not their own?

[ReallyTired]

The tumble dryer is ten years old. It would be cheaper to replace than get an electrician out. I won't charge them directly, but I plan to put the rent up in August by £50 to cover the cost. (They don't know this yet and they haven't had an increase for two years.) It's simpler than trying to get it out of their deposit.

I wonder what other stupid things they have done. I need to talk to them. Our letting agent only does rent collection.

[Marynary]

Why have they changed the plugs? I'm a bit surprised you assume that only an electrician can do it as in the past appliances didn't come with a plug attached so changing a plug was something many people could do. I was taught how to do it at school in the eighties. Obviously you have to know what you are doing but it's not hard.

[VinceNoirLovesHowardMoon]

Changing a plug is hardly an electrician job don't you remember being taught how to do it in science?

[firesidechat]

Changing pugs was a common ocurrance not so long ago and I've done it loads of times. Not so much in recent years though. Why did they need to do it?

[ReallyTired]

The rules for a rental property where the landlord owns a tumble dryer are stricter than changing the plug on an appliance you own. A landlord is responsible for someone else's safety. A landlord is fully within their rights to not want tenants faffing with plugs even if they changed a plug in a physics lesson at school.

The tenants don't own the tumble dryer, and should not touch the electrics because I say do. If I had changed the plug the tenants would within their rights to ask for the item to be PAT tested. Afterall how many 40 year olds remember their school physics lessons with 100% accuracy.

[MilkTwoSugarsThanks]

Problem is some landlords expect tenants to do the simple jobs themselves, I know my landlord would. And the big jobs tbh - God forbid she might have to spend some money on the place!

[Illmakeitwork1]

Is this a wind up? You're very rude about your tenants, changing a plug is simple! Have you considered maybe your tenants thought they would save you the hassle of coming round and doing it? All you need to do is simply tell them even the smallest of maintenance tasks e.g. changing a plug you would prefer them to call you than do it themselves. So you will be putting up the rent by £50, is that a month? to replace a clapped out old tumble dryer. Bloody hell I'm glad you're not my landlord. I rent out a flat in Surrey, haven't put the rent up in 4 years because the tenants are great. I've replaced the washing machine and redecorated the flat with new carpets in th3 4 years they've been there because they are great tenants, always pay rent on time etc and I wouldn't dream of being so disrespectful about them. You clearly think you're better than them because you own the flat!

[HandsomeGroomGiveHerRoom]

I would change a plug, because it would be easier than waiting in for an electrician and I hate people coming into my home when I'm out. My letting agent and the people they use are perfectly trustworthy - I don't think anyone's rummaging around my knicker drawer or anything, and my place is generally fairly clean, I just feel a bit ick about it.

This still begs the question, 'why?' though

[MilkTwoSugarsThanks]

ps - I'm over 40 and remember Phsics perfectly thanks 😄

[firesidechat]

It wasn't anything as fancy pants as physics. It was domestic science I think and taught alongside washing and ironing your tea towels. I know it's different if you don't own the item, but some on here are throwing up their hands in horror about the very concept of changing plugs.

I bet you can google how to change a plug too.

[VinceNoirLovesHowardMoon]

Take all your appliances out then. Landlords don't usually provide white goods.

[AlpacaMyThings]

So pleased we sold up and got out.

[ReallyTired]

"If it makes you feel any better, I visited my tenants yesterday and they have ripped out all the thermostat on the heated towel rails, taken the car port doors off the hinges and forced cutlery down the waste disposal unit."

I am sorry you had malicous tenants. My tenants don't have a nasty bone n their body, they are just daft. Malicous tenants are rare.

[HandsomeGroomGiveHerRoom]

I would worry about people relying on their memories of this at school - I think the colours for wiring might have changed since the 80s. Easy enough to Google though.

[OohMavis]

Tripped the electrics as in... Just flip the switch back on? Or have they blown something important?

If the former, the extra £50 a month in rent seems excessive.

[MilkTwoSugarsThanks]

Oh OP - be careful about putting the rent up too much. I think there are rules about a max of 5% for tenants, although you can do what the fuck you like if you kick them out and get new tenants.

[Foginthehills]

YANBU at all. It's why I let unfurnished and charge as high a rent as the market allows. Your tenants sound very irresponsible at best, and stupid idiots at worst. And as for Toughasoldboots - you need to evict those tenants.

[BarbaraofSeville]

Changing a plug is not a job for an electrician

Any non colourblind non disabled adult who can't change a plug should be ashamed of themselves.

Are you seriously saying you would rather pay whatever an electrian's minimum charge is than the tenant do a simple 5 minute job themselves?

[ItWillWash]

It wouldn't occur to me to contact my LL to change a plug

I do most things myself (drain rodding, changing plugs, light maintenance such as changing broken locks and worn out light fittings) I only contact the LL if it is something that requires a qualified person.

Is that not what is supposed to be done?

I'd also conclude that they went to the bother of changing the plug because the dryer was tripping the electrics, but their fix didn't work so they contacted you.

[Marynary]

ReallyTired We don't have to remember our physics lesson. Adding a plug was something every household had to do because appliances didn't come with plug attached until fairly recently. So many people over age 40 have had plenty of practice. It's not hard and I can certainly remember how to do it.
That said, I agree that the tenants shouldn't have changed the plug on your appliance.