www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

In rentals, worn and loose sockets are normally the result of the tenants ramming in 2 pin plugs - so no earth and no fuse.

Complete muppets imho

Thank you everyone for replying. This is a most fascinating subject and through everyone's contribution I can see I need not be too concerned about the live and neutral being swapped around. I will leave all the electrical work to the electrician to complete.

Europe is standardising on the socket wiring and the live and neutral are to connected in the same manner as we do in the UK, and the earth pin is also necessary. The daft thing is that the double sockets used and on sale all reverse the live and neutral on the second upside down socket. So they aren't quite there yet.

The electrician I engaged has already done a rewire and installed a new consumer unit. The rewire was interesting, no conduit, just bury the cables in the plaster work! The electrician also didn't fit any switches, sockets or ceiling roses. I have to buy those for him to fit. With me being who I am I didn't want the daft double sockets with a reverse on the live and neutral. I googled away until I found a manufacturer who made a double socket that honours the live and neutral on the second socket. A rare find in Poland. When I go back next year to complete the refurb he will install these for me.

Many thanks for all your answers

I am not so sure that the Polish circuit will be a ring. I believe it will be a line.