Electricial Inspections during the Pandemic

I believe that the virus is now more prevalent in the UK at this moment in time -- about 1 in 50 people --  than it has ever been.  Plus we have this new variant that is about 70% more transmissible than the previous form of the virus.

So, imagine my utter astonishment when I learnt from the property management that Government legislation obliges that my property is required to have a routine electrical inspection, and this has to happen before April (apparently this legislation was only put in place a few months ago in June.  See here).  One of the ladies from my property management just rang me up today saying that I must have this inspection (and she stressed must), and that it cannot be delayed for 3 months or more that I suggested.  Why?  Because the Government says so!  A Government that due to it's utterly inept approach to the virus has cost the country billions of pounds and almost 80,000 lives.  See a relevant blog post by me that I published 2 days ago.

As I explained, these compulsory inspections will spread the virus even further, cost lives, overburden the NHS even more than it is already.  Hence, this policy is simply not acceptable, that I was contacting my member of parliament about the issue, and that I would let her know the outcome.  That made no difference, she still insisted that I must consent to an inspection before April.  OK, I confess I ended up shouting and slamming the phone down.

I'm not getting very far with my local MP though.  Here's the email exchange.  I substitue *'s for names and locations.

My initial email reads:

Dear *****,

I live in ***** in rented property.  I have been informed by the letting agency that Governmental legislation requires that my property has a routine electricity inspection by the end of March.  This inspection, I understand, will take several hours.

Due to the new variant of covid 19, which is significantly more transmissible, and the fact the virus is more prevalent now than it has ever been, it seems to me somewhat unwise for any electricity inspections to take place that are scheduled for the near future.

Surely this requirement has been waived in the light of this most recent lockdown?  It seems to me that it certainly ought to have been waived.  Perhaps it’s been overlooked?

Any help in this matter would be much appreciated.

Yours Sincerely

Ian Wardell

Unfortunately, the MP herself didn't respond, but rather some underling.  He replied:

 Dear Mr Wardell,

Thank you for your [email].

The Government has guidance on this, which is available at: [here]

The relevant part is this:

(Note from me: he says relevant, but then pastes in a lot of irrelevant stuff.  I'll just quote the actual relevant part)

"Where a tenant is not self-isolating and persistently refuses to allow access to the property, landlords still have the powers and tools available to gain access to their properties during the period affected by coronavirus. This includes access to the courts to obtain an injunction or, in the case of a local authority landlord, a warrant".

 Yours Sincerely,

****** 

     

So a jobsworth responded and simply repeated the Government legislation, precisely the legislation that I pointed out is an unwise policy at this time.  So, he never addressed the substance of my worry.  I responded:

First of all, I did not email you, I emailed my MP, so why are you responding?

Let me be more blunt. If such electrical inspections go ahead, this will inevitably spread the virus, put hospitals under even more strain, and result in more deaths. Hence, it is simply unacceptable that they go ahead. I repeat, more people will die.

I’m afraid, in light of this, the current legislation is simply not tenable and must be changed. How do I take my complaint further?

Ian Wardell

He replied:

Dear Mr Wardell, 

Further to your response, I work for ***** assisting constituents with their enquiries, however given your comments, **** will contact you directly about this matter in due course.

Yours Sincerely, 

***** 

In "due course"?  Sounds like she'll kick it into the long grass!  I'll update once she responds, or I'll respond anyway in around 4 days or so if she doesn't.

15/1/2020 Edited to add:

About 3 days ago I got a letter with house of commons logo on it. From my local MP asking if is she can share my letter about concerns about electrical inspections with Lord Stephen Greenhalgh, Minister of State for Building Safety and Communities, on my behalf.

Well, it was an email rather than a letter I sent, but I responded yes.

She then sent another letter that I received today confirming it has been forwarded to this person.  She further adds she'll let me know his response when he responds.