Council requiring only NIC/ECA contractor to do private work

[tilla tech]

Can a LA insist that reports such as 'Landlords Cert' and PIRs be only be done a a NICEIC or ECA member.

A friend of mine has been asked to do some council mandated work on a three storey multiple occupancy house he lets out, so it complies with the neccessary legal/council requirements. see copy of works schedule point 11 & 17 at bottom

Amongst the many many things he has to do is electrical work as well. They insist that the work has to be done by NIC/ECA registered leccy, even though it is his own property and he is paying for it.

The LA dont seem to beleive that non NIC/ECA electricians can produce reports and also issue works certs.

Is it worth my freind 'fighting ' it with the council or should he surrender to thier reqirements?


Many Thanks

11 Electricity Supply

11.1




Provide/ensure additional power socket outlets to all:-
a) Kitchens have 3 No. double (2 No. above work top include kitchen area in bed/sitting room)
b) Bed/sitting room 3 No. double
c) Bedrooms 2 No. double per bedroom
d) Living/Dining room 3 No. double per living room

All socket outlets shall be located in positions which permit safe convenient and proper use at all times, having regard to the room layout. They shall not be positioned where the appliance cables are likely to pose a safety hazard. All electrical installations shall comply with Building Regulations and shall be suitably certified.

Provide an N.I.C.E.I.C. or E.C.A. Inspection Certificate verifying the adequacy of the installation.


17
Lighting

17.1
Ensure that the artificial lighting to all common stairways and landings on each floor is adequate. The lighting provision should have two way switching and if timed switches are used each switch should stay on to allow adequate time for persons to climb the stairs etc and enter their unit. Upon completion of works provide N.I.C.E.I.C. or E.C.A. Electrical Installation Completion Certificate verifying the adequacy of the new installation.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Thats called restriction of trade. I assume that he is registered with one of the "Part P Schemes"?

Mine (NAPIT) relish the opportunity of fighting this particular issue with Local Authorities.

He should contact his help desk and get them on the case. Thats what he pays his £400 a year for.

 

[kevindgas]

think you will find that the council are insisting on a recognised certification and not actually restricting it to 2 bodies. if they refused to accept a Napit certificate they would end up in court and lose if you challenged it.

 

[Jaymack]

Can a LA insist that reports such as 'Landlords Cert' and PIRs be only be done a a NICEIC or ECA member.
Amongst the many many things he has to do is electrical work as well. They insist that the work has to be done by NIC/ECA registered leccy, even though it is his own property and he is paying for it.

This is a restrictive practice, would you care to name the LBA for my NAPIT follow up?

Regards

 

[Click-Sure]

ELECSA have a nominated person to deal with issues like this, however, things are a made a little easier when someone questions one of my certs when I tell them that the ECA owns ELECSA, their members being assessed by ECA Inspection & Assesment services.

 

[Cremeegg]

This is (yet another) case of someone in the local Council not knowing anything about electrics. Their standard documents probably haven't changed since the Ice Age and pre-date the competent persons schemes. They probably think that only NICEIC exist and you have to use their forms. Their chief form maker has probably been in the same job for 25 years and was a NICEIC member long ago but hasn't bothered keeping up to date.

If they knew anything at all they would know to follow BS7671 and use forms that comply with Appendix 6. They would also know about restrictive practices and restraint of trade.

 

[LiamPope]

This is a restrictive practice, would you care to name the LBA for my NAPIT follow up?

Regards

Bedford, probably, looking at his location. Doesn't surprise me at all given my dealings with Beds LABC

Liam

 

[bernardgreen]

This is a restrictive practice, would you care to name the LBA for my NAPIT follow up?

Regards

Bedford, probably, looking at his location. Doesn't surprise me at all given my dealings with Beds LABC

Liam

To be fair my dealings with them have been smooth and problem free.

 

[Trog]

South Beds DC LABC were very helpful, when I did my own electrical work on a couple of extensions to my house. Gave me no trouble, and sent an electrician round to test at the end of the work. Without any of the dodgy extra charges that lesser councils try to extort from their public.

 

[tilla tech]

Luton Borough Council.

Before you chaps take it up with the council. Let my freind get the work done and his other building work cleared and his letting licence approved. Knowing what councils are like, if they get 'upset' they can be awkward to deal with.

Thanks

 

[Pengwyn]

Unless I am misreading it the coucil isn't demanding an NICEIC spark do the work just that they certify it is done properly.

Yes I agree the council should not be specifying what body certifies the work but I dont think it is unreasonable to have it certified.

Considering that this property will be multi occupancy a full inspection is the least that should be done IMO, this type of tenancy has a high risk of incident.
A friend of mine had to pay over £400 recently to get the electric meter refitted after a couple of his multi occupancy tennants decided to by-pass it .

 

[Jaymack]

Their site gives the correct information, this should be the policy for all LBA's although their employees may not be aware of this.

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/genpub/en/1115315206489.html
It is advisable to ask the electrician to provide information about which scheme they belong to and their membership number. You will then be able check with the organisation to make sure they are registered. Listed below are the organisations which run the competent person schemes for electrical installation work:
• BRE Certification Ltd - Tel: 0870 609 6093, http://www.brecertification.co.uk/
• BSI (British Standards Institution) - Tel: 01442 230442, http://www.bsigroup.com
• ELECSA Ltd. - Tel: 0845 634 9043, http://www.elecsa.co.uk/
• NAPIT Certification Limited - Tel: 0870 444 1492, http://www.napit.org.uk/
• NICEIC Certification Services Ltd. - Tel: 0870 013 0382, http://www.niceic.com/
• CORGI - Tel: 0870 401 2300, http://www.trustcorgi.com/
• OFTEC - Tel: 0845 65 85 080, http://www.oftec.co.uk/

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Unless I am misreading it the coucil isn't demanding an NICEIC spark do the work just that they certify it is done properly.

Which is wholly wrong.

Yes I agree the council should not be specifying what body certifies the work but I dont think it is unreasonable to have it certified.

Not unreasonable at all.

But grossly unreasonable to prevent suitably qualified people who choose not to belong to either of those two trade organisations from carrying out the inspections.

Imagine if they tried to insist on, or forbid, members of a particular trade union....