One Cromwell landlord has been left bemused after receiving a $180 bill from an electrical firm for changing three light bulbs in their rental property.

The landlord, who wished to remain unnamed, was surprised to receive what they called “a hefty bill” for a seemingly routine low-skilled job of replacing light bulbs.

The landlord said they didn’t want to name and shame the company concerned, but asked “does it require two staff to change a bulb”?

The number of people required to change a lightbulb is the first line of many jokes, but there’s no joke to the Cromwell incident, the Central App discovered after a little research.

A spokesperson for Master Electricians said the hourly rates quoted on the bill were about right for an electrician and apprentice.

“People have to realise that once they’ve called out tradespeople, they’re paying for the time and materials needed to complete the job. Even if it is a case of replacing electrical consumables [bulbs],” the spokesperson said.

If you have an electrical issue and call an electrician, a qualified tradesperson and an apprentice or assistant is likely to attend the call-out because they can’t be sure of the true nature of the job until they assess it in person.

If a ladder is required to complete a task and it can’t be safely secured, Health and Safety New Zealand requires a second person to provide footing for added stability.

“Consumers need to be sure they’ve done whatever can safely be done to determine if it’s an electrical failure or simply the failure of a consumable like a bulb before calling in the professionals,” the Master Electricians spokesperson said.