To tell my landlord to fuck off

[Barbaradidit]

Strip light in the kitchen stopped working on Thursday, I ordered a new bulb. Went to fit it yesterday and the fixture looks like this. Clearly melted!

Called the LL and he came over looked at it, put the new bulb in (which does work) and then declared it fine as the light was working and it had probably just "got a bit hot"

That cannot be safe surely? Any electricians around?!

DP is a sparkie and he says no, it needs to come down NOW. Don't switch it on (just to be on the safe side) but it needs removed. Your LL is a dick.

When our kitchen totally flooded and all the ceiling lights were soaked our ll asked if he could borrow my hairdryer to dry them out!!
Utter numpty. .

Thank you!

Will tell LL electrician has said it's not safe.

I took the bulb out after he left!

I am a LL, that would not pass a safety inspection!

He is a arse. Do you rent through an agency?

Yes through an agency but on my LLs estate. He prefers me to call him for maintenance before the agency for obvious reasons

*before

Can you go through the agency if he's going to be difficult?

If he's not prepared to fix it I would phone environmental health as it's a fire hazard and is unsafe

The unit needs completely replacing and the wiring / fuses a quick check.

I'm amazed that the bulb still works in that!

FFS What happened with Grenfell Tower has been all over the news for the past three months and we still have idiot landlords taking risks.

Yes calling the agency first thing. Kids bedroom is directly above it!

£1200 a month in rent ffs!

Subtle, the house has been fusing for ages, bulbs pop constantly (at least one a fortnight)

No bloody wonder!

DH (electronics nerd, but also Sparky) said 'No - that's dangerous'.

Subtle, the house has been fusing for ages, bulbs pop constantly (at least one a fortnight

You have more problems than that horrid light fitting, he needs to get a proper sparkie in to have a look at the wiring.

I'll join you in telling our respective landlords to fuck off - mine is ignoring my emails telling him two rooms have no working working sockets, I've got one working socket in the kitchen, my shower has no power to it, and the other ensuite shower seems to be leaking through to my bedroom, smells damp in my room and the carpet is slightly damp )when the shower has been used) NEAR A FUCKING SOCKET!!

He's happy enough to take a grand a month off me, but suddenly goes awol when this arises. Wanker.

Huge alarm bells. Has he given you a copy of the electrical safety certificate from the last inspection?

There was an electrical inspection about two years ago when I had had enough of the lights going all the time (it was a proper one with a proper company)

They were bemused because they couldn't replicate the issue. They ended up putting an earth in under the sink and outside and that was that.

This bulb has never been changed so maybe it was the problem all along?

Chip, bloody hell thats bad! No agency?

The agency is employed by him. When you call the agency, they then call your landlord with your problem. Sometimes, there is an agreement where any repairs under certain amount can be handled by agency without preapproval.

So your landlord is just saving you time by dealing with you directly. The agency can't make him do anything and they won't want to piss off their client.

Call shelter or look them up online and get their help to quote the regulations your landlord is legally required to do. Your contract will also clearly state the LL obligations of repairs. I'd throw in invalidating his housing insurance in case of a fire along with your tenant contents insurance.

If lightbulb are popping as much as you say then you could be looking at a full rewrire. Kept chasing the landlord or contact the agency

Barbara - used to be via an agency but then he decided to cut out the middle man.

SHELTER (the housing charity) 0300 330 1234. They will tell you your legal rights and what the landlord is legally obligated to do.