Any landlords on here?

[noarah]

My rental has integrated lighting. One of the lights has gone and the landlord has advised I need to unscrew it and detach/attach the wiring. I believe it should be the landlord who replaces it. Not sure where I stand but I am really not good with electrical stuff. Obviously I can change a standard bulb. Have attached a photo. Thoughts?

He also said if I am not comfortable doing it myself I need to pay for an electrician.

Has he sent you detailed instructions?

”detach/attach the wiring” definitely sounds like something best left to an electrician…

As a landlord, I would never expect my tenants to do anything to do with wiring. That’s my job. Total insurance nightmare if nothing else.

Nope, anything electrical would be our responsibility, . Having said that, I would probably replace that design of light if I could.

It is the landlord's responsibility to do all maintenance and repairs. Especially electrical work!

He basically said unscrew the screws, disconnect the connecting wires and turn the electricity off. Any problems pay for an electrician

Have you got a contract? What does it say? A tenant wouldn’t normally be responsible. That said, there’s probably a YouTube video that’ll show you how to do it in 5 minutes. I wouldn’t expect a landlord to change a normal bulb for me but I don’t know enough to know if that’s the same.

It's a massive gear tray and from what I can tell about £25 for a new one. It just feels a bit unreasonable and as I said, I am not handy with this kind of stuff! I can replace a light bulb nay bother but cba mucking about with wires

Have you got a link to the actual light. It wasnt quite the same but I had one where the led unit came down and there were two wires joined together which clicked into corresponding slot on unit. It didn’t need wired as such and was v. Straightforward.

That said it’s a ridiculous thing to have in a rental. I think landlords should install stuff with easily changeable bulbs tbh. When it went did it dim over time which would suggest the diodes dying or just stop working which might suggest the electrical component has gone?

Can you find the actual light fitting online and post a link, preferably Amazon as they usually include instructions for installation. It’s impossible to tell what’s involved from your photo.

It has no brand name or anything on it so no idea what is involved. It looks like this (it's hideous!)

Google AI suggests that an LED gear tray is not considered a consumable unit in the way a bulb would be and should be changed by a sparky. I think that would push it to being the landlords responsibility. It’s difficult as he seems to have brushed you off?

It might be worth a call to shelter as they are fairly good at advising on landlord repairs. I wouldn’t be willing to fork out £100 ish if it should be his responsibility.

Is it in the bathroom?

I’m a landlord.
Your landlord is a chancer imho.

Tenants usually do replace ordinary bulbs (though some don’t or can’t).

I would expect to be asked to repair this.
Not sure how complicated it is tbh but I definitely wouldn’t want tenants mucking about with wires. In general, specialised fittings like this are a landlord’s responsibility.

It looks like a sealed unit bathroom light. I get my electrician to change those. You have to have sealed units in bathrooms. Normal light bulbs are tenants responsibility but DH has popped around to fit a few in rooms with very high ceilings as tenants did not have a ladder.

If it’s in the bathroom it definitely is a job for a professional

Electrical work is for experts . As a landlord I’d arrange an electrician.

Absolutely not

ask him if his insurance company will be happy with you unscrewing electrical devises and in the event of a fire would they decide not to pay out?

actually ask him for written evidence that his insurance will cover you for unscrewing an electrical device and then turning the electric off etc - then you will proceed. If he can't get you written conformation then he will need to pay for an electrician to do the work and you give him 7/14 days to get back to you o this matter

DD had one of these in her porch, when it “went” a local handyman changed it. She owned the house so she bought the replacement and paid the handyman.

This is the landlord’s responsibility. He is taking the piss.

edited to add, I think he should pay for the fitting to be changed to one with a regular bulb if he doesn’t want the responsibility of it.

100% agree. LL here as well. I really would not want my tenant to be mucking around with electricity and would be paying for the electrician myself - as that is what a LLs responsibility is.

FWIW we have tenants who either can't or won't change a liughtbulb at all, even the simple ones. We live 2 hours away and DH has several times over the years gone to change them (and once when we were abroad) paid a local handyman to do it. Annoying, but PART OF THE JOB.

Agree with pp, we often do change ordinary lightbulbs too if that is what’s needed. It’s not an issue.

Yes it is in a bathroom

Get stronger OP - LL I am not prepared to touch bathroom wiring its a safety hazard. Please come and do it yourself or arrange an electrician as per our contract/the law.