Hi Toby, please get an electrician to check that the electricity supply to your property has an effective earth as this is vital to your safety. If you live in a house (rather than a flat) the electrical distributor (eg UK Power Networks) will renew the intake (before the meter) if there is a requirement to do so. This work is usually done without charge. For flats and other leasehold property the power distribution within the building is often the responsibility of the freeholder.
Hi Toby, just to clarify: The network distributor is responsible for the main service cut out, this is where the electrical supply arrives at a building and in a home this will typically comprise of a fused live supply, a neutral and an earth* connection; The electricity supplier (the organisation you pay for electricity usage) is responsible for the metering equipment and the wires between the meter and the service cut out. The homeowner is responsible for the wires between the meter and the consumer unit and the rest of the fixed wiring. *Earthing arrangements vary and if not provided by the distributor become the responsibility of the homeowner. This might be the case in rural areas where electricity is supplied via overhead cables.
Nick shares his story of finding local tradespeople in his new area.
