I rent a two-bed house in West Yorkshire. I have lived here for 10 years.
Sock it to me!
1. On February 17th, I received a brief email from my landlady notifying me that an electrician was going to phone me to arrange for electrical safety tests to be carried out. They made an appointment for the following day. Nobody explained that I needed to clear some space around each socket in the house. Two electricians went round the house testing the sockets for the quality of current or something. The one who was using the device was flustered and complained that he couldn't get to every socket. And he said that certain sockets were under par and weren't earthed or something. I'm pretty sure this simply excused their objective as planned. "Oh good, an old house!" They also didn't approve of the shower switch for some reason. I mean it's worked perfectly for well over a decade! I believe they were brazenly applying pressure on me to comply. It's really urgent and important! Ooh!
They also told me that they were unable to turn the electricity off completely to perform their tests properly because the mains board was old and had rusted into the wall, by which they must have meant that the screws are metal and reside in a damp cellar! I though the trip switch, which I have only used once (successfully), was enough but apparently not. They told me it would need to be replaced with a digital consumer unit before they could perform new tests and that it would be very sensitive and shut the electricity down if it picked up a weak signal. This meant that some rewiring would be necessary. They would contact me in a few weeks because their schedule was full, I was told. In addition, they require access to the street level wires that are shared with the neighbouring house, which would require moving more logs from the cellar to the street.
It's like they are saying that my previous landlord didn't know what he was doing and never had the electrics checked or anything - which simply isn't true. The cut-out unit itself cannot be 100 years old. And there are stickers on it suggesting that it was at least approved in 2009, two years before I moved in. Yes, ideally, that and the fuse box ought to be replaced along with the wiring. But we do not live in an ideal world. Electricians may earn a decent salary but the majority of people struggle to make ends meet. And we still have some rights as well, believe it or not. I have now taken photographs which I am sharing with people.
Evictions R Us
2. Two weeks later, I received a text, an email and a (missed) call from a man calling himself an 'Eviction Specialist.' I phoned him back and he assured me that he hadn't been hired to evict me. He runs a company that offers to 'take control' of properties on behalf of landlords. And had taken over the management of my tenancy on behalf of my landlady. He booked an appointment to look around the house to see what work may need doing in the future. While he was here he told me that rents had generally increased by 25% as a result of the lockdown, which I simply dismissed as nonsense. As you do.
Sock...I mean Shock Therapy
3. The Intimidation Specialist then put my rent up by £99 a month (from £375 to £474)! They never stop to consider the fact that I have rights - any of them! And I received 2 or 3 emails a day from both him and my landlady, bullying me basically. I was traumatised by the onslaught and could no longer look at my inbox. They were pushing me to remove the 'decorative' branches that have been part of my home since 2016 (and they're too elaborate to reinstall). And I was told that I needed to move as much stuff as possible to the middle of each room - a task which I started getting on with because I was also informed that the work was due to be carried out that Saturday. Then I was told that the work may take two days and that the electricians don't work on Sundays! Haha. So it was postponed. In fact, I told the Eviction Specialist that I could handle going without electricity for one day (Sunday). But they had no intention of pursuing the proposal further, it seems. Did he expect me to say no? It turns out the reason the electricians said this is that they planned to avoid doing PAT testing and making a full report before doing any work. They're meant to go away and consider the options or something. I don't believe they were ever really interested in doing an EICR. Just that juicy cheque for £5000! It does look like they want everything removed from the house so they can perform a full rewire on behalf of my landlady without consulting me. They are simply ignoring my rights as a tenant. This issue isn't covered in their belief system. Empathy being one of the Devil's 43 toenails!
Morticia Addams: "Everything in our home is real Mr. Pomeroy."
- 'The Addams Family Tree' (The Addams Family, Season 1,
Episode 5, 1964).
I was then told that, in fact, the electricians required me to take everything out of the house and leave for a day or two! I think that may have been the killer blow from which there was no return. I was even sent a copy of a letter by the managing director confirming this and saying that I was in danger of being electrocuted. I don't think so! Never had a single problem with the electrics in the house in ten years, nor in 38 years as a tenant, nor even heard of anyone being electrocuted due to old or faulty wiring etc.
I told the Eviction Specialist that neither myself nor any of my belongings would be absent on the date provided. And everyone I spoke to believed that he had intended to come and change the locks. Other tenants advised me to get the hell out of there and move. But I can't afford to do that for now. I told the guy I was seeking help for all of it.
Darth Sidious and the electrical discharge from hell
4. My original landlord was a relaxed, friendly man who'd set up a company with his Indian wife (who has been described as 'aggressive') to buy and renovate houses. We got on fine and it was very pleasant living here from 2011 until they got divorced in 2017. His ex-wife, to whom I'd only ever spoken once over the phone, put my rent up by £50 a month when she took over the house, and sold the other 3 or 4 they had owned (it was her money!). It went up again by £25 in 2019 perhaps in an attempt to squeeze me out, I don't know, and she carried out an 'inspection.' She was actually escorted by her ex-husband and asked if she could take some photos. I thought she meant one or two of each room. But she took millions - of all my belongings. Two weeks later, she sent me a letter and official notice that I would be evicted if I did not remove all of the wood from the property. I have an open fire here so I also have logs for that (in addition to decorative branches on each floor). She'd initially complained that there could be a woodworm infestation. When I told her it was old, dry wood and had been here for 3 years without any such issue, she said it was a fire hazard. Anyway, she had the Fire Service round and they were more interested in finding out how responsible I am as an adult.
The conductor takes a bow
5. The Eviction Specialist sent me two eviction notices: a Section 8 for anti-social behaviour (branches, hoarding and noncooperation) and a Section 21 possession notice (because she wants to sell the house but is using all of this as an excuse!). I turned to a lawyer in Manchester because I couldn't get any help, even from the CAB. She sent me an assessment of the situation but said she was unable to take on my Eviction Specialist and electrician company, which she said was newly formed, because the court would be in Bradford. A friend advised me to contact a local Disability Support office because they have a list of services, such as solicitors, who do support poor, vulnerable folk like myself. And, for the first time in 55 years, someone has actually been helping me because of Aspergers Syndrome! Quite amazing really. They were concerned that I was not reading emails from my landlady. She met both the electricians and Eviction Specialist in a Facebook group for (greedy or naive) landlords. And were clearly there in the capacity of financial predators 'advertising their services.' Or opportunists, you might say (if you were being nice!).
Scare tactics
6. The S8 was filed but not sent to the court but we only found out in June when the proposed hearing date came and went. The Eviction Specialist then arranged for a private fire protection service to come and inspect the branch structure around the fireplace. By that time, I had invested in a bottle of flame retardant spray. That guy was trying it on as well but I had predicted that he would. He wanted to profit from the situation by installing a wired smoke alarm system around the house and spray the wood with his own chemical concoction himself. For a nice fee, naturally. Capitalism sucks! I use the free Fire Angel smoke alarms provided by the Fire Service because there is a broken wired system in the house that probably hasn't been in use since the property was purchased by my landlord(s).
My advocate was present and the Eviction Specialist agreed to deal with him instead. Not long afterwards, I was informed that the Eviction Specialist had admitted that they were using the situation to try and make me remove the branches from the house (or move).
"Who'd have thought it? I'm getting on really well with the Eviction Specialist. He's offered us this amazing deal where you've only got to take everything out of the house and..."
Mission Control, we have a problem
7. I was informed that a date had been set for PAT testing and that I needed to clear a space around each socket in the house. Plus the mains. So I did and I was not told to leave the property on this occasion. I let the electricians in at 8am and went back to bed because I struggle with early mornings. I went back down at 9 and they'd gone! I was later informed that it was because I hadn't moved all or most of my belongings from the house, which would be impossible. They want as much of the wall space as possible cleared and ample space to move and use their rewiring machine. I was told that they don't know which way round the floorboards are and will only know when they pull the carpet up. They not only plan to replace certain (or all) sockets, but also have to install more sockets in order to satisfy the demands of the new consumer unit.
This again. This is a tiny house and I have important work that I'm doing here which takes up a large amount of space. The new owner was already using this as grounds for eviction. But she did not succeed in convincing others that it was legitimate. Although the threat of eviction for noncooperation remains (for refusing to place everything into storage for two days). "One shock for 'no,' two shocks for 'yes.' Oops. He's copped it!"
A king's ransom
8. Disability Support and the local council's department for helping tenants who are on the verge of being made homeless went out of their way to raise £2,000 to pay a removal company to move everything into storage. I live on £60 a week so I can't afford to suddenly move, even if it's back to the house in which I already live! In fact, they were hoping to secure a DHP for half of it from the council. But that department found the proposal as absurd as I do at first. I had a sort of nervous breakdown which bided them more time. And this has enabled them to find the money.
What does this button do?
9. I'll have a few weeks to box everything up. I am being threatened with a court hearing by 1 December if I don't comply with these demands. My landlady's finger is on the S21 trigger. At least this is what the Eviction Specialist claims. He is still saying he doesn't want to evict me! 'What a nice man.' lol. I mean, facing these characters in a court of law...it sounds like an episode of Batman or something. Catwoman, the Joker and Two-Face teaming up to get one over on the law! She already told the council she 'wants me out' when they phoned her to ask why she'd issued both types of eviction notice. She told them never to contact her directly again.
Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin.
10. I am already struggling to find a few things since the space around the sockets has been clear for several weeks now. I am unable to open one of the wardrobes very easily owing to stuff piled up in that corner that doesn't belong there. I consider myself to be very organised. Everything has its place. There is also nowhere for guests to sit since both sofas are full of logs for the fire! Some people might define that as a mild form of abuse. But it's not my fault they have to stand up!
"Ask me my three main priorities for government, and I tell you: tests, tests, tests." - Boris de Piffle Johnson.
11. An electrician to whom I spoke on the phone (a friend of a friend) told me I could pay another electrician to do tests and make a report of their own which I could show the judge. But he was unwilling to assist me any further. And British Gas told me they wouldn't perform tests in the house unless they were commissioned by the owner of the property because they would be liable for any damage caused. An independent electrician might take responsibility since he would only have himself to trust and would know what he was doing. My advocate says that the landlord chooses the electrician so what they say goes. That's convenient!
"Where there is a will there is a lawsuit.” - Addison Mizner.
12. I also spoke to a local lawyer recently but I have learned that solicitors don't like touching 'domestic disputes' these days because there's no money in it. In fact, most only seem to offer a Will-writing service in this day and age - which anyone can do, if you haven't heard. So he had no advice whatsoever to offer. And even the lady from the council department said that they have never heard of or dealt with a case like this ever, which sounds suspicious in itself! I mean is my situation unique? My argument is that there are millions and millions and millions and millions of properties across the globe that still have the original wiring. And that this is not a good enough reason to impose an unwelcome upheaval on a tenant - unless there is an actual safety issue. Which there isn't.
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: Throw...the third switch!
Igor: [shocked] Not the third switch!
- Young Frankenstein (directed by Mel Brooks, 1974).
13. And no specific issue has been stated even! The managing director of the company has simply claimed twice that I'm in danger of being electrocuted. Well, having lived here for ten years it is clear to me that this is quite plainly untrue. He also told me that tenants usually just comply! But I believe that was another ploy to make a weak-minded person accept their nonsensical, profit-oriented arguments. This would probably constitute a crime in a socialist country! Just saying.
"It's not the house I need protection from, it's the electricians!"
Why did the fireman refuse to work from home?
14. My advocate claims that the lady to whom he spoke at the fire service in Halifax told him they are obliged to check the sockets and wiring themselves as a result of the new electrical safety legislation. I don't think so! They aren't qualified to do electrical safety tests.
Tony Montana: "Me, I want what's coming to me...The world, Chico, and everything in it."
- Scarface (directed by Brian De Palma, 1983).
15. I don't believe there are sufficient grounds to launch an assault on my right to 'quiet enjoyment.' I believe in justice and, unfortunately, I am unable to assert my rights in England, 2021. When I told a friend it's going to cost £2,000 to store everything for two days he immediately replied: 'That's extortion.' So there is that as well. Has the world suddenly gone mad or what? It's looking that way.
The unnecessary rewiring of a house is an upgrade that cannot be imposed on a tenant without their consent. This also happens to be the first step towards putting a property on the market, of course. It increases the value. They are all out to make a profit at my expense, in other words. I'm the only thing standing in their way. If I know I've got rights and they cannot carry out such work on the back of the new electrical safety legislation then I'm able to put up a fight. As I said, all of my friends who are tenants advised me early on to move when these people ganged up on me. I can't afford to for now. Simple as that.
This has now reached the critical stage where, unless I find someone in a position of authority to stand up in my defence, both my life and my work will be on the line.
Addendum 18 April 2022
There is no doubt that the government is putting pressure on landlords and scaring them with heavy fines for noncompliance. That is, if they do not attend to any recommended repairs highlighted in an EICR. However, the situation allows electricians to exploit them and greedy landlords to intimidate and evict tenants, giving them an excuse to rewire the property without the tenants' consent.
This is exactly what the engineer from the utility company told me after the rewire. The electricians were simply after money. The rewire was not required by law at all because the wiring was perfectly safe. At the same time, like everyone else, they're covering their arses. And that means that the more fearful ones may well prescribe a full rewire. My utility company ought to have carried out the testing. But they would only do so upon request from the landlord owing to the minor risk of causing damage to the property! Catch 22!
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