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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

253 replies

ReallyTired · 15/02/2016 08:05

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.

OP posts:
Original poster
ReallyTired · 15/02/2016 08:47

The problem with rewiring a plug is the consequences for getting it wrong are serious. I have a legal responsibility towards my tenants. I am sure that most people can wire a plug safely, but in a commerical setting you have to be seen to be safe. A physics/ domestic science lesson just doesn't cut it in a commerical setting.

OP posts:
honeysucklejasmine · 15/02/2016 08:49

The plugs on lots of newer appliances are not designed to be removed. You have to cut the wire (invalidating the warranty), strip it back and then attach a new plug.

The fact that they tripped the electrics show they clearly have no idea what they are doing.

Personally I would not dare to do something like that if I rented. Firstly I am not an electrician so am unable to establish that the plug is the source of the problem. (Did they think the fuse had gone?) And secondly, in a rental, damned if I am buying a new plug myself! That's what landlords are for. I would contact them in the first instance to find out how they wanted to proceed, not just randomly cut bits off their appliances.

OohMavis · 15/02/2016 08:49

Same here itwillwash. I'd fully expect to be laughed at if I contacted my landlord to change a plug.

Toughasoldboots · 15/02/2016 08:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OohMavis · 15/02/2016 08:50

So what damage have they done to the electrics? Is it expensive to fix?

Flutterbutterfly · 15/02/2016 08:52

Do you mean a plug socket?

A plug is easy to change blue - left brown -right ( second letter tells you)

New appliances came without plugs so it was normal to put one on.

Marynary · 15/02/2016 08:55

The problem with rewiring a plug is the consequences for getting it wrong are serious.

I don't the consequences are that serious actually, hence the fact that school children were taught how to do it. If they did it wrong, they would probably just get a small electric shock and then the electrics could trip.
People used to change plugs all the time and had plenty of practice outside school. That is why they were taught how to do it in school in the first place.

firesidechat · 15/02/2016 08:56

A physics/ domestic science lesson just doesn't cut it in a commerical setting.

I think those of us who have mentioned this are saying that's where we were first taught to change plugs, but then had years and years of practical experience after that. None of us are relying on one lesson 30 years ago. It's a separate issue to your tenants doing a bad job of it though.

Original poster
ReallyTired · 15/02/2016 08:57

":11
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."

The rent will still be well below market value. Rent controls don't exist in the uk. Technically landlords can set their rent to whatever they like.

OP posts:
EekBarbaraitsaDalek · 15/02/2016 08:58

I agree with ItWillWash. We rent and fix any small issues ourselves (including replacing the wall switch for the cooker). Are you really going to charge your tenants an extra £50 a month for trying to save you money? I can only conclude that you are quite young if you think that changing a plug is such a specialist and dangerous task. I'm 40 and everyone I know of my age knows how to do it. Appliances didn't used to come with plugs. We were taught how to change them by our parents as it was a normal thing everyone needed to be able to do.

PippaHotamus · 15/02/2016 09:00

Tough I am so sorry to hear what has happened. I find it really hard to understand how people can behave in such a shitty way. Mistakes are one thing, wanton destruction is another. Flowers

OP I hope you manage to recoup some costs.

Foginthehills · 15/02/2016 09:00

No rent rise for five years, below market rent and no regular 'inspections' because it's their home

That's really rubbish tough - I have an excellent set of tenants - no rent rise for 3 years, but 6 monthly inspections. It may be their home, but it's my property. Harsh, but businesslike so everyone knows where they are.

ItWillWash · 15/02/2016 09:00

When my dryer was tripping the electrics it was because the sensor that tells the dryer it needs emptying was wet.

I changed the fuse, that did not work. I googled. I blow dried the back of the dryer, it worked.

I doubt they've done any damage. The dryer was probably tripping the electrics before they changed the plug and it's still doing it now, so the plug was never the issue. That's what a fuse board is for. To cut out the power supply when there is a problem to prevent damage and loss of life.

Original poster
ReallyTired · 15/02/2016 09:03

The tenants contract tells them not to faff with electrics or plumbing. It's a standard clause that exists in most rental contracts. Even if my tenant was a qualified electrician they should not change my plugs with permission. It's a matter of legal liability rather than if the tenant is legally capable.

OP posts:
Foginthehills · 15/02/2016 09:03

PPs who are criticising the OP - She's told us: the tenants have stuffed the electrics in the whole flat.

It maybe that children are taught how to change plugs and it's "simple." It might be "simple" but these tenants have stuffed it up and cost their LL. RTFT, people!

DrDreReturns · 15/02/2016 09:05

Like pp said most white goods have a built in plug nowadays. You'd need to strip the wire back, put it into the new plug correctly and make sure it had the correct fuse. Stripping the wire can be a fiddly job, the electrics may be tripping due to a short circuit from an errant piece of wire if the stripping wasn't done carefully.

Micah · 15/02/2016 09:05

Why would you need to change a plug though?

I know how to, but now all appliances come ready wired up theres never a need.

OohMavis · 15/02/2016 09:08

Fog where does she say that, I've read through twice now and can't see where she says the electric in the whole flat are fucked Confused

Original poster
ReallyTired · 15/02/2016 09:09

I doubt they have stuff the electrics. They have probably just flipped one of the switches on the consumer unit. Simplest thing is to replace the tumble dryer.

OP posts:
EBearhug · 15/02/2016 09:09

I can change a plug, and was taugt both old and new colouring, but it's so long since I've had to do it, I'd want to check the colouring first, just to be sure.

And that's the question I'd want to ask - I haven't had to do it for a very long time. Why would you do it if you didn't have to? (Is one of them training to be an electrician and needed the practice?) I've changed fuses, but you can usually do that without taking the whole plug apart. Why have they changed the plugs? Most appliances have come with integrated plugs for years now, partly to discourage this sort of thing, for safety reasons. Isn't it partly why everything at work has to be PAT tested? And tumble driers are one of the top causes of house fires, so I'd definitely want to know why they changed that one.

You're not being unreasonable to want an electrician to check them - if they changed the plugs, did they put the right fuses in? I'm not against changing plugs if I have to, but I haven't needed to for years, and if they needed to do it, that needs questioning.

Marynary · 15/02/2016 09:09

It maybe that children are taught how to change plugs and it's "simple." It might be "simple" but these tenants have stuffed it up and cost their LL. RTFT, people!

Again, it is not just the fact that children were taught how to do it. Everyone had to do it often. They had plenty of practice and as it isn't hard so they won't have forgotten. OP doesn't know that the tenants have caused the problem. It may be nothing to do with changing the plug.
OP can't you just check the plug to see it is okay?

BarbaraofSeville · 15/02/2016 09:10

Most people would take 'faffing with the electrics or plumbing' to mean those installed in the actual house, not plugs on appliances.

Does the contract also warn them not to stick knitting needles in the plug sockets? To hold the bannister when going up and down stairs?

Are people such idiots these days that they cannot undertake simple tasks and would look to blame someone else for their own stupidity?

Arfarfanarf · 15/02/2016 09:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

twofingerstoGideon · 15/02/2016 09:12

the tenants have stuffed the electrics in the whole flat.

Gasp! Actually, they tripped the electrics.

Original poster
ReallyTired · 15/02/2016 09:14

"Most people would take 'faffing with the electrics or plumbing' to mean those installed in the actual house, not plugs on appliances."

They don't own the tumble dryer. They can change plugs on appliances they own. I am legally responsible for the tumble dryer being safe.

OP posts: