Do tenants need access to the breaker panel? (view of landlord and tenant)
Content
In my article below, as an electrician, I will discuss whether you, as a homeowner, need to give residents access to the breaker panel, and if you, as a tenant, need access to it, and what the laws say that govern this.
Generally, the National Electrical Code states that the tenant/resident must have access to the breaker panel without any restrictions, even if the breaker panel is outside the apartment. In the event of a circuit overheating or a circuit breaker tripping, the tenant must be able to defuse the situation without relying on the landlord.
Keep reading for more details.
Can I access the switch panel of my rented apartment?
Many tenants struggle with such things due to lack of knowledge. But after this article, you will get a clear answer regarding access to the switch panel of a rented apartment.
Sometimes your landlord may prevent you from accessing the switch panel. Truth be told, every tenant should have access to the switch panel. Otherwise, it will be difficult to deal with the emergency.
For example, a tenant should not be in the dark all night because of something as simple as a tripped circuit breaker.
According to the NEC, the tenant must have access to the electrical switch panel. The switch panel can be inside your apartment or outside. As a tenant, you must have access to the switch panel from anywhere.
Quick-Tip: Access to the switch panel will not be a big problem if the panel is inside the apartment. However, the landlord may try to prevent the tenant from accessing the circuit breaker panel if it is outside.
Why is access to the circuit breaker panel important?
No doubt you may have experienced electrical emergencies such as a circuit breaker tripping, a circuit overheating, or a complete breaker failure. These situations are not fun, especially given the fact that things can get worse pretty quickly. For example, this can lead to an electrical fire in your apartment. Or it may damage your electrical appliances.
Hence, it would be better if you control the circuit breaker panel to avoid such catastrophic situations. After all, in such a situation, the tenant cannot be completely dependent on the landlord. Therefore, the tenant must have access to the circuit breaker panel. If the access room is locked, the tenant may experience the following consequences.
- The tenant may have to live without electricity for several days until the landlord comes and fixes the problem.
- The tenant's electrical appliances may fail and overheat.
- The tenant may have to deal with an electrical fire.
What access should a tenant have?
The tenant must be able to perform basic operations in an emergency. Here are a few things to highlight.
- Switching over a tripped circuit breaker
- Completely turn off the circuit breaker panel
- Replacing a defective switch with a new one
What to do if you are illegally denied access?
The tenant needs to gain access to the switch panel. But what happens if the landlord illegally denies access?
Well, if the landlord locks the circuit breaker box, there are a few steps you need to take.
Step 1 - Report it to the landlord
The first thing you can do is tell your landlord. Let your landlord know about the problem by phone or in writing. Providing a letter is the best solution, as a letter will come in handy in any legal battle. Be sure to let your landlord know why you need access to the switch panel.
Step 2 - Check State Law
If informing the landlord doesn't work, check the state law. Some states may allow the tenant to access the breaker panel, while others may not. Thus, it is wise to check the law before taking any action.
If state law allows tenant access to the panel, continue to the next step. If not, there is nothing you can do about this problem.
Step 3 - Take the necessary action
When you are illegally denied access to a switch panel, there are several things you can do.
To get started, hire a locksmith and gain access to the switch panel without a host.
Or request an electrical inspection from the state. They will send an inspector who, upon inspection, will notice that access to the switch panel is blocked. This may result in a fine for the landlord and they must also allow you to access the switch panel.
Withholding the landlord's rent is another step a tenant can take. This will certainly work as the landlord cannot take any legal action as they are breaking the law. But this third solution is extreme and should only be applied if the above methods don't work.
Do not hurry
Even if your landlord won't let you access the switch panel, always try to calmly resolve these issues. Sometimes several tenants may use the same panel in a rented apartment building. This puts the landlord in an advantageous position and may block access to the panel for security reasons. So it's always better to talk and sort things out.
Video links
