Legal question

[anette]

Who is responsible for the supply of an earth electrical supply to a flat in a block of flats - the freeholder or leaseholder?

[buildersmate]

Probably neither - the electricity distribution company responsible for the area where the flats are located is responsible for the electricity supply and this includes the earth.
Presumably each flat has a separate meter so each flat has an earth provided by this company.

[anette]

Thanks buildersmate. Yes each flat has a meter but when I had an electric check done recently the electrician couldn't do it as there was no earth supply to the flat. He said the freeholder was responsible. The freeholder says he's not and I as the leaseholder is responsible for the supply of all utilities to the flat.

[buildersmate]

No earth provided at your main inlet point (where the electricity companies main fuse is and often also where your meter is)? - that's horrendous. Get onto the electricity company and talk to them. I don't think this will cost you any money - I'm pretty sure its their job to install this - either via a cable within the supply cable or via a suitable earthing spike driven into the ground.

[anette]

Finally got through to EDF Energy who are the supplier/distributor of electricity in my area. They advised me to get an electrician to do cross bonding, and then for the electric supplier to test and connect. They checked and said the freeholder was responsible however when I spoke to him and the lease was checked it turned out there were no covenants in the lease making him responsible for this sort of work and if anything was done by him, the cost would be recovered from me, therefore he suggested it cheaper for me to arrange the supply!