No separate meter or main breaker in duplex

No separate meter or main breaker in duplex

Sandy, OR · Member since 2017 · 4 posts · 1 vote

hi there, I am currently a tenant and am concerned about my units safety. My unit does not have its own meter and has a breaker box with most of the outlets and lights within my unit, but no access to the main breaker. The main breaker is in my neighbors unit who is often in and out of the hospital sometimes for a week or more. My landlord lives about an hr away which concerns me if I ever needed access to that in an emergency. I also do not have a thermostat to my heat in the unit which leaves me no control over that. I also do not believe the electrical is up to code because my contactor friend told me there are supposed to be electrical outlets every 4 feet I believe. And I have only 2 in one bedroom and 3 in the other that are also on the same breaker as the overhead lights. This concerns because of an overload on each breaker. I feel like it is because recently I plugged in an ac unit and notice when it kicks on and my light is on it flickers for a second. I also have wall heaters in the 2bd and the ba, but not in the kitchen/living room, which I think is to get around the lack of control over the central heat, but I'm afraid to use them because when I first moved in I believe the one in the bathroom overloaded the main breaker and it had almost caught on fire! All my lights were periodically flickering and I notified my landlord immediately because I knew something was wrong. They came by, tried to fix it from my unit, ended up killing the power to half my unit for about 3 weeks before coming back to figure out it was the main breaker was fried and charred like it had tried to catch fire. I am curious about the legal parameters of all this and if this is something I could break my lease over, because its just my daughter and I and I would really rather just move out than deal with all of this through the winter. My lease is up in 6 months. Any advice is greatly appreciated!! I have tried to do research, I can't find any permits were pulled for the electrical through the county at least, but will call the city on Monday. I'm in Sandy, OR btw. Thank you!

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Member since 2016 · 13k+ posts · 12k+ votes
9y

It is very common for units without separate utilities to have heat controls in only one unit. In your case it is in the other unit. Your bad luck but you accepted it as is when you signed your lease.

Your concerns are for the most part unfounded. If the place is otherwise acceptable settle in a enjoy. If you really want out just wait till your lease ends in 6 months.

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  • Sandy, OR · Member since 2017 · 4 posts · 1 vote
    9y

    Thank you, unfortunately I'm in a bit of a conundrum about warning others, because my lease says I have to pay tent until its re-rented or my lease ends which is part of why I'm trying to get out of it. I feel like that's unreasonable in itself and I don't know if a judge would honor that part of the lease.

  • Flipper/Rehabber · Mechanicsburg, PA · Member since 2013 · 189 posts · 84 votes
    9y
    Ok there is a lot to answer here but I'll try my best. Your "contractor" friend is completely off base. You are required to have one outlets so that no place on the wall is more than 6 feet from an outlet, aka 12 feet apart. However, that ONLY applies if you are building or renovating today! It is completely normal for older building to have fewer outlets than this and is acceptable. The AC making the lights dim for a second when it kicks on is also completely normal. I won't get to technical about it but you have nothing to be concerned about. The panel in your unit is called a sub panel, this is also normal and your limited access to the main panel is not a problem.
  • Sandy, OR · Member since 2017 · 4 posts · 1 vote
    9y

    Does anyone have any input about the lack of thermostat control from my unit?

  • Member since 2016 · 13k+ posts · 12k+ votes
    9y

    It is very common for units without separate utilities to have heat controls in only one unit. In your case it is in the other unit. Your bad luck but you accepted it as is when you signed your lease.

    Your concerns are for the most part unfounded. If the place is otherwise acceptable settle in a enjoy. If you really want out just wait till your lease ends in 6 months.

  • Colleen F.Pro Member
    Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    9y
    I am wondering what part you are dealing with that is an issue? If they shut off electricity for 3 weeks to a majority of your unit, that is an issue that you could have taken action on. If it wasnt a major diminishment of use probably not an issue. For the thermostat there is a temperature minimum in winter in most locations. If that minimum is maintained according to rental code that is also a non-issue here you if you don't pay for heat. Older homes don't have a ton of outlets, they aren't required to unless upgraded.Hope that helps. Read the rental regs in your area. it's fine to ask or get advice but relying on yourself rather the friends is a better long term plan even friends can mislead you.
  • Sandy, OR · Member since 2017 · 4 posts · 1 vote
    9y

    would converting an older home into a duplex be considered an upgrade then? What concerns me is that I can't find any permits pulled for the electrical when that conversion was done and since the breaker almost caught fire once I wonder about the legitimacy of the electrical work that was done. Since it was one of the wall heaters that caused that breaker to almost catch fire I am not confident in using those. The fact that I had no control over the thermostat was not disclosed to me until after I had moved in. 

  • Rental Property Investor · Bennington, VT · Member since 2017 · 79 posts · 60 votes
    9y
    Originally posted by @Amanda Van Pelt:

    would converting an older home into a duplex be considered an upgrade then? What concerns me is that I can't find any permits pulled for the electrical when that conversion was done and since the breaker almost caught fire once I wonder about the legitimacy of the electrical work that was done. Since it was one of the wall heaters that caused that breaker to almost catch fire I am not confident in using those. The fact that I had no control over the thermostat was not disclosed to me until after I had moved in. 

     The breaker failing was not a result of what appliance was drawing power through it. If the breaker was overloaded it would trip (turn off) like it is designed to do.  Impossible to say for sure without seeing a picture but most likely there was a loose connection at the screw terminal where the supply wires attach to the breaker.  Resistance builds up over time, it gets hotter and hotter and if the connection is loose enough some sparking will occur across it which was your lights flickering.  If the breaker has been replaced and the area around the main panel doesn't reek of burning plastic (electrical components melting  smell about as distinctive as burning hair) there is no safety issue. 

  • Colleen F.Pro Member
    Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    9y
    A subpanel could be done at any time. You have one meter I assume electric is included. The absence of a thermostat is something you could/should have observed when viewing and signing the lease and when you discussed heat. It isnt a hidden item to disclose. It sounds like you rented an older apartment and really want something newer. Maybe you want to take action on that but it doesn't sound like there is something inherently wrong with the property you are in however I am not there.
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