Problems with the electrical switchers at home, who has to pay?

[angychan 1]

Hi all,

 

In the last period I am encountering some issues with the electrical switchers in my apartment, and I don´t know who should do what. Basically from the beginning I was having problems with the one in the entrance that probably has a fake contact, so I was using another switcher to avoid problems. And up to this point ok...

However in the last period also the one in the kitchen is giving me a lot of problems. Basically here there are two switchers, one is for the light, the is working properly, and the other that activate the electrical connections to the electrical plugs on the right side of the kitchen. To these plugs are connected the appliances of the kitchen (i.e. the dishwasher) and since this switcher is not working fine I am having problems to use them and I fear I could damage them due to the power outage.

My question is, if it should be foreseen a repair, who should pay for it? The tenant or the landlord? My husband says that should be an easy thing to fix, but he doesn't want to open the switcher because he fears to break it. Some people told me that my landlady should pay for it, but she is not replying to my email at the moment...

 

Is there any rule for it? And, if I should contact someone, do you know somebody who speak a bit of English?

 

[AnswerToLife42 2,491]

I have never seen an electrical installation, where where plugs can be switched on and off. These appliences can draw a lot of current -16A. Switches are normaly rated less than 10A. Unless it is a special switch, I would call the installation unsafe.

[RPC 46]

In the apartment we used to live, in Bochum, there were switches to control a set of plug points but these were only in the living/dining area. Not for the kitchen and definitely not for the large appliances. A circuit breaker is the normal choice for the outlets for large appliances. I am pretty sure you will need an electrician to sort this out. My own past experience is that the landlord pays for this. Usually they want to make sure that this is done to their standards.

Posting the picture of these switches might result in more detailed responses from some experts.

[LukeSkywalker 7,598]

Mine look like these, all 16A. I can control every room in my apartment with it. Once I blew up a bulb in the kitchen and the involved plug was switched off. After exchanging the bulb, I switched it on again. Definitely a case for the landlord and an electrician if you have issues here.

 

[fraufruit 41,931]

Call your landlord if she isn't answering emails. If she doesn't answer, send her a registered letter and join the Mietverein. Definitely her problem. 

[lisa13 12,245]

join the mieterverein anyway

 

[angychan 1]

Thanks for the reply. How much it cost to join it? I´ve never heard about it.

[fraufruit 41,931]

Here.

[angychan 1]

3 minutes ago, fraufruit said:

Here.

 

many thanks :)

[AnswerToLife42 2,491]

2 hours ago, LukeSkywalker said:

Mine look like these, all 16A. I can control every room in my apartment with it. Once I blew up a bulb in the kitchen and the involved plug was switched off. After exchanging the bulb, I switched it on again. Definitely a case for the landlord and an electrician if you have issues here.

 

This are electric fuses, not switches that are meant to to switch electricity on and off!

These fuses are only switched off, when somebody is installing lamps, etc.

[keith2011 2,571]

18 hours ago, AnswerToLife42 said:

This are electric fuses, not switches that are meant to to switch electricity on and off!

These fuses are only switched off, when somebody is installing lamps, etc.

Actually they are circuit breakers which will automatically switch off if the current rating is exceeded or an earth leakage is detected and can be manually turned off for maintenance. Fuses are no longer used they were basically a piece of wire that will burn out and cut the supply when the current is greater than the rating of the wire but bad luck if you stick your finger in a socket!

Unlike in the picture many old properties have not had their electrical systems upgraded. I my case I have a single 16A circuit breaker for all lights and sockets for the entire apartment and a 3 phase supply for the kitchen appliances (common for older cookers). I believe earth leakage breakers are mandatory and must be installed but beyond that any upgrade is down to the landlord and might justify a rent increase.

[AnswerToLife42 2,491]

What is an earth leakage breaker?

I only know FI's or the new term RCD - residual current detector

They measure the current difference between the current going in and the current going out.

If the differential current is larger than 20mA (or 30mA, or 100mA) they will switch off the line.

Formerly only in bathrooms, now in every circuit.

In our house we have 4. The more, the better, because it would not be dark in the whole house if only a plug in the living room is affected (and also the fridge in the cellar has no power).

 

[keith2011 2,571]

8 hours ago, AnswerToLife42 said:

What is an earth leakage breaker?

I only know FI's or the new term RCD - residual current detector

 

Earth leakage breakers perform the same function as the more modern RCCBs (Residual current circuit breaker) which is to switch off if a person or animal is being electrocuted, hopefully before there any serious damage to health, see here if you want more.

[angychan 1]

Hi everybody,

my landlandy has replied, telling me to organize with an electrical company and then send the invoice to her. I don't know if it is the regural way to do, but now I have to find someone to fix the problem... Suggestions?

 

Many thanks!

[LukeSkywalker 7,598]

My landlady would actually organize the electrician and inform them to send the bill directly to her. Her property= her responsibility ! This year, she organized a service guy for the washing machine (furnished apartment) and last year a guy for the toilet. You could also ask your Hausverwaltung if you have any since they work with the same companies for different issues.

 

Tell her you are foreign and don't know such companies and that you don't want to hire a company where it turns out to be operating without a Meisterbrief (some certified license) or where it turns out to be some scam (Abzocke). Play the dumb foreigner card.

 

[msnys 9]

Hi, I see that most of the replies here mentioned that the landlord is responsible to pay for these kind of issues. I had a problem with my switchbox where I detected a burning smell. The smell was quite strong and I informed my landlord that it need it to be checked. While waiting for the electrician, I switched off the switches for most of the appliances and the burning smell went off overnight.. otherwise it was still there.  I found an electrician who was willing to come asap and informed our landlord about it. But the electrician could not find any problems and suspected that it could be from our neighbours as he found that the apartment unit is not isolated meaning that a switchbox burning issue from another apartment could reach our apartment as well. Now, he has charged quite a big amount of fees and our landlord is trying to refuse to pay for it. What should we do? We are not members of the mietverein. 

[optimista 5,839]

Join quickly in anticipation of the next issue...

Only fight those battles you can win. This one looks unpromising.

If you are really evil you could inflict fire damage to the box, claim to know nothing about it and sue the the landlord for negligence, etc. 

[fraufruit 41,931]

1 hour ago, msnys said:

I found an electrician who was willing to come asap and informed our landlord about it.

 

What did your landlord say at this point?

[msnys 9]

2 minutes ago, fraufruit said:

 

What did your landlord say at this point?

she said to go ahead with it and get it checked. 

[fraufruit 41,931]

Did she say she would pay? It sounds like that's what she meant.

 

How long was he there and how much is the bill?