Lockable electrical socket blockers

Soldato
Joined
6 Jun 2005
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Anyone know of if / where I can get electrical socket blockers that lock in place?

Ive looked on google and a few hardware places but cant see anything

I have a tennant who refuses to pay the electrical bill, so while I go to the court (which will take time) to get them evicted, I dont want them using any more electric, so I need socket blockers which can be locked in place

Any ideas anyone?

(Even if you cant mention a store, a product name or manufacturer stock code would be helpful)
 
Can you not just take the fuses out of the consumer unit?

Ive already tried and she just replaces them

the tennent would twist these of....i use them but there not angry tennent proof.....the only way i could see round it is to get your power company to install a power card system or some kind of pay as you use £1 slot meter.......easy to do and sorts this problem out in the future aswell

hmmm thats an idea thank you - does this have to be done on a household basis, or room by room (as I live in the same property)

The other thing is that I would prefer to do this in general from a trust point of view (with the next tennant), but having the above is more of a permanent solution

Any other ideas? :)
 
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Ive already tried and she just replaces them



hmmm thats an idea thank you - does this have to be done on a household basis, or room by room (as I live in the same property)

The other thing is that I would prefer to do this in general from a trust point of view (with the next tennant), but having the above is more of a permanent solution

Any other ideas? :)

you would have to do this from the meter...so depending on how the house is wired would depend on how many meters you could fit......e.g ideal solution is one meter for your area (regular style) and one meter for tennents area (pay as you go style)....in theory though it depends as i say on how its been wired...this you would need to check out because if its a case of a lighting circuit that does the house and a socket ring main for the house then you would need to turn this in to lighting circuit for upstairs and one for downstairs...same with the sockets and any other power she was using.....check it out and let me know what you see.....
 
could you get some system to keep the switch for the ring main on the circuit breaker locked off, or flick that switch off and lock the cupboard the circuit breaker is in?

(im really no expert, but its just a thought)
 
you would have to do this from the meter...so depending on how the house is wired would depend on how many meters you could fit......e.g ideal solution is one meter for your area (regular style) and one meter for tennents area (pay as you go style)....in theory though it depends as i say on how its been wired...this you would need to check out because if its a case of a lighting circuit that does the house and a socket ring main for the house then you would need to turn this in to lighting circuit for upstairs and one for downstairs...same with the sockets and any other power she was using.....check it out and let me know what you see.....

Im in a flat, and the meter is in the hall (ie all flats have meters in this location)

I then have a main fuse box (unfortunately in her/ guest bath room) in the flat itself, but even that I believe has one circuit for both bedrooms - and the hall , so Im not sure if it would be simple to change at all :(

I appreciate the advice very much though
 
MK Electrical make a socket outlet where the earth pin is T shaped.

A standard socket will not fit into it, only the correct matching socket.

I believe they are called reverse pin sockets but I am struggling to find them on the MK website at the moment.

We have used them before in landlord areas of flats so the cleaners have power for hoovers but the tenants couldn't plug into them.

Perhaps they may help your situation out.

As I say, I cant find them on the MK webby at the moment, but if you were to go into an electrical wholesaler and ask about them they may be able to find them for you.

Also, we have had custom double sockets made for us before where there was a key lock replacing one of the outlets that isolated the other outlet. But they took a long time to be made iirc and they were not cheap either!
 
yeah mk do a non standard socket with a t bar earth,,,but it would be expensive ish to change all the sockets in the flat.....the one you want to kill is her shower! that if its electric will cost you money (10000w or 10kw) maybe more....shed need to have the lights on for a long time to use that much.....if your board is fuses..... pull the shower one......and take the fuse out but remember to put the fuse carrier back in...you dont want her putting her fingers in an empty slot were a fuse carrier should be and getting sparkled....then she may sue you.......any circuit that is just for her side ...pull it.....maybe a boiler?......if its all mixed like i think it is then its up to you whether you can live with the inconvience to you....maybe its across 2 rings and ring one does 75% her and 25% you with the further sockets in your flat coming from another ring (this is not uncommon) i would then pull the first ring killing her side and 25% of yours and run temp extensions feeding the areas that have been powered down in yours......
her shower will be seperate supply though so definatley pull that...if anything it will annoy her and save you money

ps if its mcb then get some of the devices RJC mentioned...if she breaks them its vandalism and you could get her charged with destruction of property and theft of electricity.....make sure you put a notice on the front of the fuse board stating this and take pictures of the fuse board with notice and locks on.....
 
I sympathise with your problem.

Stopping the electric supply to your tenant is classed as harassment and is both a civil and criminal offence.

Check this link; http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/harassment.htm

What is Harassment?
Harassment occurs when landlords or letting agents interfere with a tenant's quiet enjoyment of their residential tenancy. This can be anything from too many menacing visits to the property, without reasonable notice, to interfering with essential utilities such as the electricity supply, or just simply bullying and threatening behaviour.

In England & Wales harassment is both a civil and criminal offence and is taken seriously by the law enforcers - the police and the courts. Landlords harass their tenants at their peril: at the risk of a hefty fine, a criminal conviction and in extremis, imprisonment.
 
Falcon Punch tennant......

after this the only electricity they will be using will be at the hospital to keep their ventilator running ?
 
Surely you can take the wires from the sockets and isolate them so they are unusable. They will still have lighting but I would consider that necessary. The advantage is that if she tries to put them back in she will either suffer a harsh electric shock, or she will have interfered with property that isn't hers which is illegal. Also, pop one of these up:

Norris.png


^ My pro MS paint skills :)
 
I sympathise with your problem.

Stopping the electric supply to your tenant is classed as harassment and is both a civil and criminal offence.

Check this link; http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/harassment.htm

If she refuses to pay the electric bill - how can I be harrassing her? Im in the same flat so its nothing to do with unexpected visits.

THank you for letting me know that though - its appreciated.

She has also gotten into leaving EVERY single light on (about 12 in her and the common areas) of the flat on, both when she goes out and when she goes to bed - after me. Trying to leave them on all day and night completely wasting energy.

Without going to the expence of timing switches, I had no other option apart from removing majority of the bulbs. She still has one light available in her room, a couple in the kitchen and one in the sitting room. This was for a whole week in a row , every night and day this was done until I removed 2/3 of the bulbs. She even went as far as to turn her bathroom light on, close the door (after using the bathroom) and purposefully leave the light on every night. After a week of having to get up to turn her light off I got sick of this (as I hope anyone would understand)

Looks like I will have to apply for an eviction order after all - after trying to show a "friend" some kindness (I said last Oct she could stay here rent free for a short period, however now I cant afford to give her the room or utilities for free she starts getting difficult and nasty), they repay with this kind of attitude.

The original question was to stop her playing music in her room or charging the laptop I previously lent her etc etc. Im being forced into a corner it feels like:(

rant over lol sorry

when the tenant wont pay for the amenities they can be shut off, this is only if everything is paid for and up to date

I was hoping that would be a reasonable explanation - fortunately (for the situation, as it were) she is paying rent several weeks behind - she just refuses to pay utility costs. I will know for sure next week, but Im pretty certain she is also paying a day late on purpose.
 
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Surely you can take the wires from the sockets and isolate them so they are unusable. They will still have lighting but I would consider that necessary. The advantage is that if she tries to put them back in she will either suffer a harsh electric shock, or she will have interfered with property that isn't hers which is illegal. Also, pop one of these up:

Norris.png


^ My pro MS paint skills :)

amazing mate.....:D
 
Just call a propper electrician and get him to sort something that looks like its all plugged in but it doesnt work.. Any real electrician can sort this out safely. Yes its going to cost money but in the long run it will be better.. Or just go in when she is not there. Turn off the power to the rooms and disconnect all the wires for the room from the main fusebox.
 
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