In other words the accessories are fitted to the flush back box with
woodscrews or self-tappers instead of the correct 3.5mm raised
countersunk machine screws.

Possibly a previous tenant.

Check on or around your consumer unit (fuseboard) for a label saying the
installation has been tested to the current edition of the wiring
regulations. If there's not one there or the date is way before you
moved in (leaving plenty time for the council to have fixed up the house
and re-let it to you) advise the council that the installation wasn't
tested. They may test your premises. This may take the best part of a
day including non-wiring repairs

One of their electricians will have to fit a new backbox if the threads
don't re-tap.

Be prepared for a bit of a wait as Council tradesmen are quite busy,
though this is near year end and budgets are spent and the rental income
doesn't come anywhere near the costs of repairs to council housing
stock.

In article , DarkHorse
writes
Apologies for not knowing the correct names for the bits'n'bobs
mentioned below!

I noticed that all the light switches, in my rented flat, are screwed
in with slightly oversized screws.

This means that they don't flush neatly with the light switch casing.

Further investigation revealed that the screws that should have been
used, are still attached to the inside of the casing, i.e. unused.

Also, that the light switch casings are not screwed into those metal
'boxes' usually seen behind light switches, but instead into bits of
wood haphazardly jammed into the hole in the wall.

This explains why the 'wrong' screws were used, i.e. they are pointy
at the end (so that they can screw into the bits of wood) instead of
flat.

At least one of the switches is definitely lose, and I'm sure the
landlord (i.e. the Council) would agree to fix that, but it would be
great if I could get them to 'tidy up' all the other switches too.

However, I'm sure they will only do it if the present set-up
contravenes safety regulations or 'good-practice'.

Does anyone know if any safety guidelines have been contravened?

thanks
DH

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