Rental safety
Rental electrical fault warning signs in New Zealand
Repeated tripping, hot power points, scorch marks, fizzing sounds and burning smells are rental electrical fault warning signs that need action. Keep people away from immediate danger, stop using the affected equipment when it is safe to do so, and give the property manager a factual account without dismantling or repeatedly testing anything.
Call 111 for fire, smoke or serious electric shock
Call 111 when electrical equipment is on fire, producing smoke or flame, someone has received a serious electric shock, or there is immediate danger to people or property. Keep other occupants away. Do not use water on an electrical fire.
Do not touch a person who is still in contact with live equipment. WorkSafe advises turning off the power at the supply or mains if that can be done safely, calling an ambulance and following the emergency operator's first-aid instructions. A person who has received an electric shock should obtain prompt medical advice even if they later feel well.
Stop using hot or burnt fittings
Stop using a power point, plug, switch or lead that is unusually hot, discoloured, melted, blistered, sparking or producing a burning smell. Fizzing and intermittent crackling also need attention. Do not touch the item again to check whether it has cooled.
A portable appliance can be switched off and unplugged only when both the plug and socket can be approached safely. Leave damaged fixed fittings alone, keep children and other occupants away, and arrange repair before anyone uses them again.
Treat repeated tripping as a fault report
A circuit breaker or RCD disconnects power when it detects the condition it is designed to protect against. Repeated tripping during normal use, or a protective device that will not stay on, needs electrical fault finding. Do not keep resetting it and re-energising an unexplained fault.
Record which breaker or RCD moved, which rooms lost power, what equipment was running and whether the same combination caused trouble before. Never replace fuse wire or a breaker with a higher current rating to stop the interruption. WorkSafe warns that an incorrectly high rating can allow overheating and fire.
Keep clear when water reaches electrical equipment
Do not enter standing water to reach an appliance, power point or switchboard. Keep clear of equipment affected by a roof leak, plumbing leak, overflowing appliance or rain entering an outdoor fitting. It should remain out of use until its electrical safety has been assessed.
Tell the property manager where the water came from, whether the electrical fault started before or after the leak, and which areas lost power. A plumber, roofer or another trade may also be needed, but they do not replace the electrical assessment.
Send a factual report and arrange licensed repair
Send the address, room, affected fitting, time first noticed, whether the issue is constant, the visible breaker or RCD position and any recent rain, leak, building work or appliance change. Photographs are useful only when they can be taken without approaching the hazard.
Tenancy Services says landlords cannot carry out fixed-wiring work in a property they rent out, including fitting power points. Once any emergency has been handled, UBL Electrical can provide licensed fault finding and repairs across metropolitan Auckland. Call 021 0284 3210 or send the safe report for a free quote.