Neighbour borrowing my electricity

[SuffolkQueen82]

So… I have a recluse neighbour, probably in her 60’s, we speak regularly and are neighbourly to the extent we’ll put each others bins out etc. Her electric sockets stopped working in her house 6 days ago and asked if we could run an extension lead so she can keep her phone charged, with the promise she’ll call an electrician the next day.

obviously we don’t want someone to be without power so we obliged. 2 days later she sees me
walking past, explains that she has an electrician coming and gives me £20 for the electric asking that we don’t unplug it yet. at this time I warn her I am going away with work and the house will be empty for a significant time during the day so it will need to be sorted before I leave as it’s a security risk.

2 days later still nothing I knock on her door yesterday evening to say I am away Monday and it needs sorting. She says the electrician is coming round today (Sunday) and it should be fixed. She then comes round 30 mins later to tell me the main electric has now tripped and my extension lead is her only
source of power. I mention getting a petrol generator as I can’t have a cable sticking out of an open window while I’m away.

she has been ignoring me all day today, I am leaving in the morning and will be unplugging the lead as I leave. I don’t want someone to be without power but she’s had nearly a week to sort this, I have told her. AIBU?!

I know for a fact her house is in a state of disrepair and her wiring is definitely not up to standard so the house most likely will need to be completely required, she doesn’t even have central heating or double glazed windows.

but:

1. it’s a fire hazard as she could have a number of leads running from that 1 extension
2. it’s a security risk, esp at Christmas when I have a lot of footfall in front of the house and the cable is visible.
3. least importantly it’s plugged into the only socket free for our Christmas lights which has put a dampener on an already difficult Christmas season.

As you have found out it was a terrible idea to let her use your electricity.

Unplug before you have to go away- you would be invalidating your house insurance, and general safety of both her and all around you.

It may even be unlawful from a number of points of view.

A sensible poster. You should post this on the Who Should Pay? Tenant or Landlord thread.

Your common sense regarding wind direction and window opening would shine like a beacon there.

@SuffolkQueen82 You sound a lovely neighbour.
I do hope your neighbour gets her house rewired.
You can’t be allowing her to use your electric though- far too risky.

Nice that you were neighbourly. However, one of the biggest scams to get money in any shape way or form from someone is to offer money and she has done that and not rectified the situation.

The easiest thing to have done and could still do, is go into her home and look at the breaker box. Turn the button that is down on, then test one by one the kettle, toaster etc. (if those work ask what she was doing when electric turned off) If all those work then, as you say, an electrician needs to be involved. Failing that, is she on any kind of bill payment and hasn't been paying but too proud to say - if this is the case then she needs help from Social Services.

What you should be worried about is the fact you mentioned being away if your neighbour is not to be trusted.

Probably in arrears and been cut off. How about offering to take he r to Citizens advice?

Unplug, and then ignore her.

Poor woman, if she never lets anyone in she won’t get it sorted will she

I’m a bit 🤢at “pigeon hospital”

Poor lady. You obviously can't let her take advantage, or leave your house unsecured while you're away, but I can understand the sympathy you have for her. Check in on her when you get back.

Just unplug it before you go.

Downstairs windows? 100% closed every night. Upstairs rooms we are in yes open. But I appreciate not everyone lives not in a ground floor flat or bungalow but assumed op’s lead was out a downstairs window.

Please will you ring your local adult social services, and inform them of the difficult situation this lady is living in. She is probably living in dire financial Straits and simply cannot afford to get the wiring sorted in her house. Social services will come and visit with her and see what help can be made available to her and hopefully make her life easier in the future. She may not thank you iniyially for involving them but you have done as much as you can already and she needs help to get this sorted permanently. It is a difficult situation for you and I think that you have been very gracious and helpful to her in her situation but now it's time for her to get help from more specialists people and social services is the way to go if you really want to help her.
I hope this helps.

Be careful with running an extension from your house. It’s a fire risk and likely would invalidate your house insurance in event of a fire. If the fire was in her house you may also be liable.

id unplug it when I leave and not feel bad about it.
you cannot leave your home open to intruders cos she can’t get an electrician round. Sorry but it’s not your problem and you’ve helped her enough! X

i will edit - she may been having financial difficulties so report to the correct people if necessary but bare in mind that 60 isn’t 80. My mum and MIL aren’t far off 60 (57 and 59 to be exact) and there’s a difference between them and my dementia ridden grandmother nearly 80. You could ask your neighbour what the real problem is there ie is it financial and call an adult social services or whoever

I would unplug it, but also call social services. She is clearly struggling and needs some support

RTFT peeps!!!! OP has unplugged.

Good response. It sounds like she needs more coordinated and valuable support than you can safely provide in the longer term.

Just unplug the socket. She's a massive CF

SHE HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

and again for the hard of reading at the back -

OP HAS ALREADY UNPLUGGED IT! NO NEED FOR YOUR PEARLS OF WISDOM NOW!!!

IT IS UNPLUGGED, NOT PLUGGED IN, NADA THE PLUGGY

😂😂😂

I think it's a fire risk that will invalidate your insurance. You should probably unplug it before you leave yesterday morning.

😂

🙄

Wonder if she has seen an electrican and been told whole house needs to be rewired . If she's a bit reclusive the thought of having a stranger in her home for any length of time might make her feel vulnerable .

You sound lovely, & so does she. It doesn't take many disasters to change a life completely; I empathise with the lady as a friend of ours has gradually reclused, it's taken a great deal of support to help him become independent & keep electric on (also old house, re-wiring etc..) You've done the right, good, thing-including unplugging. The fear of strangers coming in once you've deteriorated your environment while painfully self-aware, is probably hobbling her. Gentle assistance, with boundaries, & signposting support if possible, is a great Christmas gift. Wishing you continuing mutual neighbourly harmony ✨️

OP will not be home, and I doubt it would be "wise" to let the neighbor have unfettered access to her house while she is away.

OP--you have really taken a chance doing that. It is a fire hazard and if her house were to burn, your house is right next door. You gave her plenty of warning and are putting yourself and the neighbor in an unsafe situation.

You're not being unreasonable. In fact to go away and leave it in situ would be extremely unreasonable. Have you considered calling Adult Services if you think there is a Safeguarding issue.
Are you Alan Bennett? I'm getting Lady in the Van vibes.

Did you even read the OP'S posts? Were they too difficult for you? This woman may be a lot of thi things but a cf isn't one of them.

Whats wrong w you that someone else's act of kindness upsets you so much?