Is there any rules or laws to say there must be electric in an abode?

[ericmark]

If I fitted oil lamps etc, in a remote building I want to live in, would it be permitted? Is there anything to say must have electric? Reason is we have some guys who help at the railway, wondered if they would be allowed to stay in a linesman hut?

 

[FrodoOne]

If I fitted oil lamps etc, in a remote building I want to live in, would it be permitted? Is there anything to say must have electric? Reason is we have some guys who help at the railway, wondered if they would be allowed to stay in a linesman hut?

Perhaps you should "look-up" the regulations in your area as to what is "Fit for human habitation".

 

[Mottie]

Shouldn’t think it would be problem if it’s temporary. No different from living in a tent, a mobile caravan or even a car etc.

My whole family and half our street used to do this about 55 years ago and up until a few years ago, I had a mate that still did it. No electric there!

Hopping down in Kent

 

[Diver Fred]

I'd have thought the insurance company would be more concerned.

 

[ericmark]

That is possible, but the linesman's hut must be better than a tent, when they arrived they were living in a tent.

I have seen EICR where it has been pointed out no smoke alarm, but suppose could use battery powered one?

At moment they live in a caravan, but there are issues, too close to building, and no all year round licence, and electric supply TN-C -S and they can't ride a bike, have no car licence, so need some where that they can use public transport.

There are loads of buildings along the line, but no power in any of them.

 

[Murdochcat]

Smoke alarms are out of the scope of an EICR unless they are mains products

 

[DetlefSchmitz]

If you make enough inquiries there will almost certainly be someone who can find a reason you can't do this.

 

[JohnW2]

If I fitted oil lamps etc, in a remote building I want to live in, would it be permitted?

Permitted by whom?

As has been suggested, is there a law which 'prevents' one from living in a tent?

Kind Regards, John

 

[Alec_t]

Do these huts have toilet facilities?

 

[charliegolf]

Do these huts have toilet facilities?

Yes, but only battery operated!

 

[JohnW2]

Yes, but only battery operated!

 

[ericmark]

We have had shepherds huts for years, with an elsen toilet and water from local stream. I looked as what is considered as making it uninhabitable and got:-

• There is a problem with the supply of hot and cold water
• There are problems with the drainage or the lavatories
• It is difficult to prepare and cook food or wash up
• Electrical hazards

But not having electric was not listed. From days living in caravans I know most items can be got around by having gas or oil.

 

[SUNRAY]

Electricity is certainly not e requirement to make a property habitable However not having electricity is one of the listed reasons the councils will consider for a property to list it as uninhabitable.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Perhaps guys working on a railway is not classed as habitation anyway.

 

[ericmark]

Years ago they lived in an old carrage, but years ago we used gas lights. So was not sure if electric is required now?

I considered the EICR and thought was, can't fail if you can simply turn off any protentially dangerous circuits. So may be it is required?

But then there would be a minimum, clearly not all rooms have sockets, bathroom for example, but if one had a meter, consumer unit, and two sockets under the consumer unit as done to provide builders with power to work on the home, would that be enough?

I have just been to a funeral and the hotel room had just 3 sockets, one with a very small kettle, one for room heater, and one for TV, lucky we brought batteries to charge phone, but for two nights it was ample, had I been stopping a week then would want better.

But I am free to move hotel, and could have packed a socket bar with 10 sockets had I realised.

So if we must have electric how much?