Is this electrical work illegal

[dodgyleccy]

Ive recently rented a flat that i didnt view before renting, due to being out the country.

Anyway we've moved in and its a bit of a shythole.

But in the bathroom which is on the 2nd floor there is an electrical wire which leads to the electric shower that is exposed, and this wire to my disbelief is attached to the water pipes ... surely with all the regulations in England this cant be acceptable?

I know little about electrics but im presuming its not the earth wire as i believe id see the yellow green.

Anyway ive uploaded some pictures to an album if anyone can confirm this is not good id appreciate it as i bathe my baby daughter in here.

http://www.diynot.com/network/dodgyleccy/albums/8259

PS I believe it was wired by a friend of the landlord who is a jack of all trades.

 

[bobdabuilda]

That looks like the feed supply to the powered shower unit and no it doesn't look a safe install!

 

[JohnD]

as far as I can see, the cable and the pipes enter the shower unit near the top, which would encourage drips to go inside the casing.

Is it a heater or a pump? Some pumps run on 12V from a transformer, which could be in the loft, but the ones I know are Aquilisa and very expensive.

It looks quite unsatisfactory but AFAIK there is no requirement for rented properties to be inspected and certificated for electrical safety (there is a requirement for Gas though).

If it is through an agent I would be composing a letter saying it appears to be dangerous and asking for their written assurance that the work was done by a properly qualified electrician; was certificated and notified as required under Part P of the Building Regulations, and is safe. A reputable agent will be unweilling to provide such a letter as they will be afraid of being sued by your surviving dependents.

If there is no reputable agent involved I don't know how best to go about it; I'd be looking to deduct from the rent you pay against the cost of rectification, but you probably have to give them a chance to fix it themselves first. This is a landlord-and-tenant legal question, which I know little about.

 

[dodgyleccy]

That looks like the feed supply to the powered shower unit and no it doesn't look a safe install!

Thanks as in its very bad and should be ripped out asap?

The agent has been telling me it has passed all electrical checks, im taking it this wont be the case.

Im paying almost a grand a month youd think theyd have the decency to make sure the golden goose doesnt electrocute himself.

 

[JohnD]

The agent has been telling me it has passed all electrical checks,

see if you can get them to give this assurance in writing. If not, send a confirming letter of the conversation "I write to confirm my conversation today with Mr Bloggs, in which he assured me that..."

If and when you subsequently have it inspected by a qualified electrician who is a member of a self-certification scheme, you will then have them by the balls.

 

[dodgyleccy]

The agent has been telling me it has passed all electrical checks,

see if you can get them to give this assurance in writing. If not, send a confirming letter of the conversation "I write to confirm my conversation today with Mr Bloggs, in which he assured me that..."

If and when you subsequently have it inspected by a qualified electrician who is a member of a self-certification scheme, you will then have them by the balls.

Thanks John

It is an Aquatronic Power Mixer, its not been used (i prefer baths) but i believe its a pump.

Im trying to get out the contract, there are many other problems with the flat but this seems the most dangerous.

I'll send an email to the agent now, theyre very arrogant so it'll be nice to have something to make them squeal ... they do claim everything is above board but ive nothing in writing.

 

[bobdabuilda]

Excellent advice from John and I completely agree that water ingress into the top of the shower unit is very possible. From what I can recall that type of showerunit has an integral pump within it, which powers the flow. Get them to put it all in writing or threaten to pull the contract for breach.

 

[JohnD]

we'd like to see photos of the Consumer Unit ("fusebox"), meter, company fuse, and the wires around and between them.

 

[dodgyleccy]

we'd like to see photos of the Consumer Unit ("fusebox"), meter, company fuse, and the wires around and between them.

http://www.diynot.com/network/user_album_update.php?album_id=8259

Ive added the pictures of the fusebox, but for the rest i'll have to hunt around the flat to find them tomorrow as there are about 20 small cupboards in this place.

I'll be sending a email to the agent tonight (theyre a fair sized agency) to see if its been installed by a certified sparks (which it clearly hasnt).... irony is ive just came back from a 3rd world country and i didnt have to put up with such problems out there.

 

[dodgyleccy]

Does this letter to the agent look ok, i know little about electrics and tenancy agreements, any advice would be appreciated.

Dear

We recently spoke about the shower unit that i believed looked unsafe as the electrical power supply for the shower unit is attached to the showers water pipes, you informed me that the shower unit is completely safe, is certified and was installed by a qualified Electrician.

Could you confirm in writing that it was installed by a qualified electrician; was certificated and notified as required under Part P of the Building Regulations.

Rgds

 

[xr4x4]

Just got out the bath in one of those pics...

 

[RF Lighting]

It doesn't look the best install by a long shot, but it doesn't look actually unsafe to me.

I'd probably code 2 it on a PIR and it'll get left like that forever as is the norm for rental properties.

Code 1 gets fixed, the rest don't.

 

[OwainDIYer]

Is the shower supplied from a circuit on the RCD (left) or non-RCD (right) half of the main consumer unit?

 

[bernardgreen]

http://www.diynot.com/network/user_album_update.php?album_id=8259

which shows MY album

Do you mean this picture


which is in your album at www.diynot.com/network/dodgyleccy/albums/8259/32115

 

[xr4x4]

http://www.diynot.com/network/user_album_update.php?album_id=8259

which shows MY album

Do you mean this picture

no.. it shows MY album...!!