External sockets and lights

[NickDP]

Hello! Please be gentle, this is my first time here

Firstly a bit about me and the house. I'm not afraid of basic DIY and know how to use a power drill!

We live in a 1950s red brick council house. The 'arms-length' Housing Association very kindly had the house rewired 3 years ago at the lowest possible price so we have lots of cable trunking and big sticky out internal sockets in every room. We now have a modern power box under the stairs with isolation switches for all the different rings.
They did a poor job on the kitchen light leaving a huge hole in the ceiling so I had to replace it with a large ceiling rose. While doing this I could see exposed wires inside which I covered with electrical tape.

Fortunately they did put in an external power socket but it was so cheap the cover snapped off last week when I mowed the lawn. Now it needs replacing and I've seen a decent one in Screwfix for £15.

Mum went to the B&Q sale and bought an external light to go on the wall and expects me to fit it. I have a bad feeling there are laws against this (not relating to me personally! ).

1: Can I legally replace the external socket myself?
2: Can I fit a plug to the wall-mounted light, leave it plugged in and switch it on when needed or does it have to be wired in properly via the mains?
3: We also want to fit lights and a PIR in the driveway.

 

[Infoelec]

1: Can I legally replace the external socket myself?

Yes if it is protected by RCD on the circuit, if your not sure buy an RCD socket.

2: Can I fit a plug to the wall-mounted light, leave it plugged in and switch it on when needed or does it have to be wired in properly via the mains?

Yes, No problem with that, make sure it goes through trunking. If you want to wire through mains it would have to go from a existing ceiling rose.

3: We also want to fit lights and a PIR in the driveway.
Bit vague, but same method for PIR, either plug or ceiling rose light.

 

[lxboy]

Your mother loves you right ? Tell her your not comfortable doing the job and get an electrician, that way you learn on the job !!


Best wishes,


Lxboy

 

[bernardgreen]

This work might be prohibited by the terms of your tenancy contract so make sure you do not put your tenancy at risk.

Housing Associations can be very stroppy when they find un-authorised DIY on their property.

 

[SimonH2]

Mind you, the bare wires above the kitchen light sounds dodgy. Got any pictures ?

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

If you are the tenant(s) of this property your must contact the landlord, inform them that to outside socket is unsafe, express your concerns over live exposed conductors at the ceiling light and ask if you can have any external light fitted!
Do not take upon your self to sort these problems out, the landlord has legal responsibility and duty of care, to ensure the installation is safe.
With regards to additional outside light, it could well be that the landlord will give you written consent to have an outside light fitted, if they are not willing to do it for you.

 

[SimonH2]

And report back how it goes.
Unfortunately, while PrenticeBoyofDerry is completely correct - it would appear that there are far too many landlords who don't take this sort of thing seriously and give us all a bad name.

If it were one of my properties, then I'd be "somewhat annoyed" if a tenant didn't report a fault (had that with one of my previous tenants). I'd also be rather concerned if I'd had electrical work done and then found it was substandard (as the description of bare wires* may suggest).

* One man's "bare wire" may be another man's "sheath stripped too far but still insulated".

 

[NickDP]

Got home tonight and Mum informs me that the 'Electric Man' has been and done an inspection! What she hadn't told me was that the HA had arranged a checkup on the electric work that was done 5 years ago (doesn't seem that long!).

He'll be back to replace the Fuse box as the regs have changed (Part this, Part that etc?) as well as the smoke alarms which are due for replacement. Not only that but when Mum pointed out the broken external socket he said that if we supply the new socket he would fit it free! He would only do a like-for-like free replacement (single non-switched socket) and we want a double switched socket. So that's sorted.

Trouble is that he's due back when I'm on holiday so I can't discuss the lighting in person unless I change the appointment.

I get your point about bare wires vs sheath stripped too far. Seems to me they were careless in cutting the outer layer. See if these photos work...

View media item 65358View media item 65359View media item 65360View media item 65361

 

[ban-all-sheds]

He'll be back to replace the Fuse box as the regs have changed (Part this, Part that etc?)

Indeed they have, but there is no compulsion to bring existing installations up to the latest spec. Unless there was something damaged/not working with it, or unless you want extensive rewiring done, there's no reason whatsoever to replace a 5-year old CU.

If he's telling the HA that there is then they're being done over.

Not only that but when Mum pointed out the broken external socket he said that if we supply the new socket he would fit it free! He would only do a like-for-like free replacement (single non-switched socket) and we want a double switched socket. So that's sorted.

Would strongly recommend this:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/mk-masterseal-plus-13a-2-gang-switched-socket/98279#

rather than the one you found.

See if he'll also install a fused connection unit for the light.

View media item 65360

Does that really not need an earth connection?

 

[Iggifer]

I very rarely agree wholeheartedly with BAS, but everything in that post I agree with

In particular, that MK socket is so good, shame it's priced like they're gold plated

 

[SimonH2]

... but there is no compulsion to bring existing installations up to the latest spec.

They may have a policy to do that - we don't know. Such is the way with people these days, they could think it's cheaper to stay up to date than to have "defects" on an EICR. Then if a tenant decides they need a bit of cash and "injure" themselves because of the "dangerous electrics" there's a defence that the services were completely up to standards. Leaving it "not to current standards" leaves some wiggle room that some people will take advantage of.

On that, an ex tenant of mine has just been paid out on a friends car insurance. I'm certain it's a scam, my friend is certain it's a scam, so is her insurance company - but they've decided that it's cheaper to pay out than to fight it given that it's "his word against hers" and the other side have a scumbag (no-win, no-fee) lawyer who is prepared to take it to court. But they've said that as they don't believe him they aren't knocking her no claims bonus. From memory the claim ran to over a grand for a (I believe self inflicted) mark on his van that would have been removed in 5 minutes with rubbing compound - hundreds for the repair at his mates garage, and hundreds more for the car hire
And to talk to him, he's a nice bloke - but now I've seen how these people work first hand (there were "other issues" as well) ...

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

I would be interested to see what connection has been left beneath the ceiling rose of the light and whether as BAS has pointed the fitting require and has been earthed.

 

[JohnW2]

View media item 65360

Does that really not need an earth connection?

Are you sure that's not an eyelet of some sort on the end of the CPC? I also wonder what's underthe red tape! ('red for danger'? )

Kind Regards, John