Cannot bend down to reach power sockets - can I have them higher? — Scope | Disability forum
Please read our updated community house rules and community guidelines.

Cannot bend down to reach power sockets - can I have them higher?

blacknite
blacknite Community member Posts: 2 Listener
I suffered a heart attack two years and thankfully I'm 85% better, however, apart from being a diabetic, I am on quite a lot of medication, I cannot bend and have swollen feet.  I was moved by the Council because my accommodation at time was 3 flights of stairs (no lift).  However I'm gratefully moved into a grd floor flat with a wet room installed early this year etc.  The electricians came to add more sockets in the flat as  I had to use extensions everywhere (health and safety). As the sockets are above the skirting board I cannot bend to get to them, and have to wait in the past if I have any visitors to help me out.  I asked if I could have to sockets higher for various and obvious reasons and was told that to do this, they would have to re-wire the whole building which is a 3 floor building.  It's useless trying to contact my council to discuss because they never seem to give you to correct answer or their staff talking down to you as if you haven't a brain.  Is this the law, or is there a way that I can have the sockets higher, even if it's only the new ones instead of going back to using extension leads?  It's really frustrating.  Your advice would be most welcomed and appreciated.  Kind regards

Comments

  • abstractLucas
    abstractLucas Community member Posts: 76 Connected
    May I ask when the new sockets were put in? I was under the impression they were usually put higher than that these days, particularly if the user (as in you) has any mobility/health problems!  I don't really understand why putting in higher sockets for you would have any implications for any other flats!  Who was it that told you this?  An electrician on the day who had his eye on the clock perhaps?
    Is it a council owned flat, or a private landlord?  Have you tried talking to the adult social care team of the council (bear with me!) - they would have an occupational therapist who could visit you at the flat and might either have a nifty technical/equipment solution (that hopefully wouldn't involve lots of extension leads!) or else maybe talk to the housing department on your behalf, explaining your needs and their suggested solution.
    My issue here would be that if it is a council owned flat, and they (as in the council) have accepted that they have a duty to provide you with housing (which they have done if it's a council flat) then that housing has to be appropriate and meet your specific needs.  Your needs includes your need for safe access to electric sockets, positioned in a way that does not put you at any risk.  This is where a council OT is handy, because while the housing people might give you the run around, it's more difficult for them to ignore their own OT!
    Just thought of something else but will come back to you later - children seem to think it's tea time!
    Lucas
  • abstractLucas
    abstractLucas Community member Posts: 76 Connected
    Okay. The other thing I was thinking about was that we've had our new house rewired and when they've rewired old sockets they moved them up (they were right above the skirting board) - they said that they had to because of building regs 'these days'. All those that were replaced were moved about 2' above the floor level, as were the brand new ones in the extension.  Also worth pointing out that the power cables run along the floor then go UP to sockets, while lighting cabling run around the top and get brought DOWN to light switches, so I don't really understand why rewiring some and moving them higher than their original positions makes any real difference - to the electrician I mean - obviously I get the difference they'd make to you!  Maybe the council didn't want to do it because then there would be thin sections of wall which would need plastering/filling and redecorating from the floor to the socket? I don't know if that makes sense - I would post a photo of my kitchen so you could see what I mean but I don't think I can on this forum!
    Anyway, hopefully I've given you some food for thought - maybe someone with more practical knowledge will be able to shed a bit more light on this!
    Lucas
  • blacknite
    blacknite Community member Posts: 2 Listener

    Hi Lucas

    Thank you so much for your comments and advice.  I've tackled the Council again and they are going to send  someone out to take a look.

    fingers crossed.

    Many thanks.  You've been a big help.

Brightness