Is it easy to change part of a light fitting?

[BertieBotts]

I have a bayonet fitting in my living room where one of the little catches, the inside corner of the L shaped part where the lightbulb pins go in, has broken off. The light still goes in fine but it's slightly precarious and sometimes flickers or if someone's playing wii too enthusiastically and whacks the lampshade the lightbulb disconnects entirely (it's an uplighter).

Would it be easy to just change the bottom part or is it something I need to call my landlord out for?

Landlord I think.

Changing the whole fitting is easy - just like wiring a plug but at odd angles.

What you describe tho is that the plastic retaining ring is damaged. I'm not even sure if they are replaceable.

Well, I've seen an entire light fitting for sale in homebase when I went to get pipes there the other day so I assumed that the whole thing could be replaced fairly cheaply if nothing else.

I suppose I ought to call him out then. I just find it really stressful because I feel like he's judging me also the dishwasher and washing machine are currently only half installed, which I'm sure he'll be pleased about. I do have a hole in my guttering as well.

In fact from experience I expect he'll just send an electrician again, so I don't know why I'm being so paranoid

The landlord should have an electrician do it to ensure electrical safety.

it is easy, but easier when you know how. Practice with the new fitting on the kitchen table and a spare bit of flex before you balance on your pile of chairs and boxes.

You can buy a new fitting but please please please please draw, photograph and mark, with indelible pen, all the individual wires so you can reconnect them in exactly the same way. It is extremely common for householders to make a mistake and create a fuse-blowing device. Not all the red ones are the same, and not all the black ones are the same.

When working on light fittings, you must turn off the power at the main switch. Light switches do not make light fittings safe if the covers are off.

Blimey, that sounds complicated. I think I'll opt for the landlord-sponsored electrician! (And hope he doesn't try to chat me up this time)