Do I need to update the rental current to code?

[Belinda M.]

I have a condo that was built in 1987. My current tenant is complaining that the circuit breaker trips when they use the Microwave and toaster at the same time in the kitchen.  I had an electrician check and the circuit is overloaded when they use the two appliances at the same time.  The recommendation from the electrician  is to update to have dedicated circuit for microwave and an extra circuit.  Also, since the circuit breaker panel can only handle so much and that too, he recommends to be updated.  This circuits and breaker panel updates will cost me around $5k-6k.   I would assume that when the condo was built in 1987, it was built up to code, could I leave the condo as it is and just recommend to the tenant to distribute the load of appliances in the kitchen.  Is that acceptable?   Thanks.  
 

[L. Pritchard]

Belinda,

If you had it inspected and there are no faults with wiring or a bad breaker then you need to do some math and see what the issue really is. 
Watts

The microwave and toaster both are high loads. Microwaves can pull 1300 watts and toaster could be anything from 400-600 watts. 

What is the amperage of the breaker they are on? Here’s an example.

A 15 amp breaker can supply a max of 1800 watts. 120volts x 15 amps. 

If the toaster uses 600 and the microwave 1300 then they are overloading the circuit (1900 watts) and the breaker is doing it’s job. 

So you could spend that $5-6k and end up with them still having the same issue. You could upgrade that circuit to a 20amp breaker but your wiring probably isn’t thick enough to carry the extra power without fire risk. 

So....

No. I’d tell them they are overloading a circuit and need to use the appliances separately or move the toaster to a different circuit.