Hiya,
When a HA says they do their electricity checks on moving in day, is this proper?
Does a landlord have to check electricity performance and safety or can they assume it is OK because the tenant existing there would have told them about any repairs needed?
I'm a bit skeptical about this going unnoticed/unchecked: the tenant having modified his shower pressure/temperature via some kind of machine in the loft. It's only electric in the property so I understand there's a storage heater for water or something (really clueless about this but someone told me it means less hot water and it does say it's very poor in the Electric performance certificate on gov website).
I don't know if he's told the landlord what he did to the electrics, or if it's actually safe.
Can you request an electric safety certificate be done or request to see their existing one?
Google says it wasn't required that a LL do one til 2020 tenancies. So it might be the case that he's NEVER had one as he's been there many many years.
Also my nervous and wary mind is telling me it's a bit sketchy for the HA to tell you on the mutual exchange forms that you take the property as seen and take on all repairs that might need doing etc and to thoroughly inspect the place, yet also say that any repairs will be highlighted before via thorough checks, before the swap can be approved.
The tenant said a simple and quick inspection was done just looking at the rooms and space and structure.
Not very in depth at all!
If he hasn't declared in his form any alterations he's done, like wiring electrics etc and tweaking the shower (that may one day be a factor in a fault or damage or fire even..) who is even liable once he's relinquished his tenancy?
I want the place but I want it safe.
Any opinions welcome.
The council landlord (who we are leaving) said it doesn't seem legal to do no checks and has intervened and liaised with HA.
I'm sure the HA are going to insist they're OK just doing the tests on moving in date, it is after all published on their website in the mutual exchange Q&A.
I guess they know you want the property enough to go initiate a swap, and if the current tenant is happy then you should be too (like for like and all that).
So the only option is to accept their terms (their proposed signing up date is 4 days away now) or pull out of the swap?
Sorry for the longwindedness.
TIA