Appliance cords in communal areas

[Anonykunt]

I haven't tried this but I desperately want to clean out my car and not pay to have it valeted. WIBU to plug my vacuum in my flat and have the cord trailing downstairs to my car. I was going to use the downstairs plug in the communal area but then I realised that piss everyone off.

I was going to use the downstairs plug in the communal area but then I realised that piss everyone off.

Why and how? And why would that annoy people more than a trailing cord? The trailing cord sounds dangerous to me, but I don't know your exact flat set up, so you will be able to judge that better.

@Piggieinthemiddle because I think it's just for the cleaners and tradesmen. People might be angry at my electricity usage

If you were using it to charge your electric car, or run your flat’s air conditioning I’d agree with you, but for a bit of hoovering of the car once in a while I think it’s fine.

Wouldn't there still be a trailing cord in the entrance hall and a lead going out the communal door preventing it from shutting?

Yes @msbevvy they could use the other exit though.

I think it would be okay to plug it in downstairs

Is the communal electricity split between residents by usage? If so, I suppose you might get a complaint - I think you'll know whether your neighbours are likely to complain. I can't imagine anyone of the block of flats we used to live in getting worked up, but the electricity was included in the management fee, so that wouldn't have been an issue.

Anyway, I thought of a better solution - see if any of your friends or neighbours have a re-chargeable vacuum you can borrow - or even invest in one yourself if you are so inclined.

Have you ever seen any of your neighbours doing the same?
Seems reasonable to have an extension plugged in for 5-10 minutes but unreasonable if your intended to start a car valeting service.

Do you have very fussy neighbours? I used to live in an apartment block and it wouldn't have occurred to me to be annoyed at either option.

I'd just use the downstairs plug and not worry about it - I'm the sort of person who gets annoyed about things like other flats leaving the communal lights on, but this wouldn't bother me at all.

You could even whip the hoover round the communal area at the same time.

If you really want to vacuum your car yourself, but don't want to use the due stairs plug, could you use a coin operated vacuum in a petrol station?

I'd just plug it in downstairs tbh

Trailing the cord from your flat sounds too dangerous unless you live on the ground floor.

I did see a nice Shark one on offer....

I've tried them and they're rubbish.

Who could possibly begrudge you using the communal plug ?

Can't imagine giving this a second thought, either seeing someone else do it or using it myself.

Clean away I say OP