No electricity in rented accommodation - advice needed!

[jmar2971]

Hello

Basically last night on my birthday which was great, the circuit box started to violently spark and smoke so had to turn off all electricity. The electrician arrived said the wiring was loose in parts and a new box would be needed will be Wednesday. Can't use electric until then.

Now we rent this property which is managed by an agent and we now have no power until Wednesday. We both have work etc so need power, what rights do we have in terms of been provided with other accommodation?

Thanks for all your help

Edited by jmar2971 on Monday 15th September 11:32

[surveyor]

I think your probably entitled to power, but let's not be stupid. Things happen.

Get yourself down to a coffee shop / hotel / mates house for a few hours and speak to the agent nicely at first.

http://www.nihe.gov.uk/index/advice/renting_privat...

[Wozy68]

surveyor said:

I think your probably entitled to power, but let's not be stupid. Things happen.

Get yourself down to a coffee shop / hotel / mates house for a few hours and speak to the agent nicely at first.

http://www.nihe.gov.uk/index/advice/renting_privat...

This ^^^ st happens and its Monday, you wait till Wednesday. No hardship. Think yourself lucky, it could have fried you in your sleep.

[jmar2971]

Thanks for the advice, just a bit annoying when we pay so much in rent. Will get in touch with the agent after lunch and see if can get it fixed any earlier.

[jmar2971]

Thanks for the advice, just a bit annoying when we pay so much in rent. Will get in touch with the agent after lunch and see if can get it fixed any earlier.

[B17NNS]

As above, sounds like the agent/LL has worked hard to get you a solution quickly. Eat out/grab a takeaway for a couple of nights, shower at the gym/your mates/folks, light a few candles and have a couple of early nights with the Mrs

[dazwalsh]

If you put yourself in landlord/ agents shoes and think about how difficult it is to get an electrician out on short notice i think a turnaround of 48 hours is pretty good.

The timeframe is acceptable, any more though and i would be looking at a request for alternative accomodation.

[Rude-boy]

dazwalsh said:

If you put yourself in landlord/ agents shoes and think about how difficult it is to get an electrician out on short notice i think a turnaround of 48 hours is pretty good.

The timeframe is acceptable, any more though and i would be looking at a request for alternative accomodation.

This and as per B17NNS.

You might justifiably be argue for a rebate of 3 days rent if you wanted to get really difficult and snotty about it but I doubt that you will find it an easy ride getting there and you'll be looking for a new property at the end of your tenancy even if you don't want to move...

Me? I'd treat it as part of life and get on with it, feeling grateful that I have a landlord who actually gets things sorted and didn't take a week to even call a sparkie. If it's still a no go after Wednesday/Thursday if the job over runs a little I would be more concerned but right now I'd be chilled.

[x 7usc]

I agree with the others, thats a good turnaround for an electrician! Any chance of an extension lead for a kettle and phone chargers from a neighbour perhaps?

[jmar2971]

Just moved in so don't really know the neighbours yet to ask that kind of thing. I guess I will just sit back and enjoy a couple of nights out with missus then!

Cheers for the advice just a bit stressful with us both starting new jobs and only been living in the place for the last couple of weeks. Will have to get down the shop and buy some candles!

[KTF]

jmar2971 said:

Thanks for the advice, just a bit annoying when we pay so much in rent. Will get in touch with the agent after lunch and see if can get it fixed any earlier.

If it was your mortgaged property in the same situation, would you decamp to a hotel or just grit your teeth until a spark was available to fix it?

[Mr Will]

jmar2971 said:

Just moved in so don't really know the neighbours yet to ask that kind of thing.

Good excuse to get to know the neighbours in my book. Don't ask for anything outrageous but "mind if I run an extension across for a couple of hours, you'll never believe what's happened..." is a handy conversation starter!

[TorqueVR]

You are really lucky. Whenever I have run out of heating oil, or we need a plumber it always happens on a Friday night (usully mid-winter) and there's two days until anyone answers the phone

[Rude-boy]

TorqueVR said:

You are really lucky. Whenever I have run out of heating oil, or we need a plumber it always happens on a Friday night (usully mid-winter) and there's two days until anyone answers the phone

Then the oil gets delivered on the Tuesday about 5pm, then the boiler will not re fire and the man who can isn't able to get to you until Thursday lunchtime...

If you own an oil or LPG boiler you really should buy a SuperSur - one of the best £90 I have ever spent.

[jmar2971]

Right I guess this thread can be closed now as I feel bad! Cheers again for all the advice everyone has brought me back to earth and made me realise how lucky to get sorted in two days! First world problems!

[jmar2971]

Right I guess this thread can be closed now as I feel bad! Cheers again for all the advice everyone has brought me back to earth and made me realise how lucky to get sorted in two days! First world problems!

[B17NNS]

jmar2971 said:

Right I guess this thread can be closed now as I feel bad!

Not so fast candypants. We want to hear about all the candle lit top level shagging your fuse board failure has lead to.

[Spare tyre]

something similar happened to me, it was my house mind

luckily i got on well with my neighbours and they both lent me an extension lead over the fence so i could keep the fridge and router going (i work from home)

boiler wouldnt work with no electric so no baths, but i went to a friends house

wonder what caused it to suddenly go!

[jmar2971]

Thought I would update the thread with the fuses that have been replaced in the box.

[JimM169]

Bloomin hell doesn't look good. I'd be asking the landlord to get a sparky in to examine all the wiring and issue a saftey certificate if he hasn't already done so!