UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hi

I need some advice on the conditon of the electrics in our letted House we moved in 6 weeks ago and immediatley had concerns about the state of the electrics. An electrician visited the property yesterday and immediatley started cutting and disconnecting electrical circuits saying they were unsafe. They have provided a report which they have passed to the letting agent, the letting agent is advising us that the landlord may not undertake the work needed. We feel that the property is unsafe and want to get released from the contract early and have our money refunded as the letting agent should have known the condition of the electrics before we moved in.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks 

Hello mark1,

Most reputable lettings agents will refuse to market a property without both a gas certificate (which is a definte legal requirement) and an electric certificate (which, strictly speaking, is not a legal requirement).

So if the landlord may fefuse to do any safety work, I would suggest your first step is to see if the landlord has an electrical safety certificate in force.  If one is in force, you are entitled to see it.

My suggestion is to write to the leggings agent with the following points:
+ As the landlord may not undertake the remedial work, you want to see evidence the installation is safe
+ So you want to see the landlord's in-force electrical inspection certificate
+ The lettings agent has until date xx/xx/xxxx (something reasonable) to supply it
+ If you don't see evidence by that date, you'll take matters further (leave it suitably vague - always a good way of getting people worried about what you'll do next)

Depending upon whether, or not, you get a certificate will determine your next steps.  Come back to this thread when that time happens and we can do the next steps.

Hope this helps.