Part P and the new regs

[hoarenet]

When you buy or sell a house now in the UK. Does it have to have an electrical inspection noting all the existing electrical fittings and/or deficiencies.

For instance. Say you own a house that you purchased years ago and it was worked on by a non competent person, before PART P came into effect, and there are issues that need resolving. Would you need to resolve them before selling the house or would that be the responsibility of the new owner.

 

[comms]

I've had two callers/customers in the last week that took ages to sell their houses & both had potential buyers pull out.

One due to them not having certificates for electrical works that had been done using harmonised cables, they said it had been done pre 2005 but new splitload cu had a 2006 date stamp on it.

The second because they again didn't have certs or part P notice for electrics in the new kitchen that they'd had installed as a selling aspect of the house.

 

[pcboffinuk]

It is certainly becoming more relevant to have certificates and as Comms points out if you have obvious recent work done with no paperwork a sensible buyer will question it, but there is absolutely no requirement for an electrical inspection before selling.

I would imagine that most surveyors will be covering themselves these days if a survey is done and will suggest a wiring inspection, but it will not even be a requirement of the new Home Information Pack due to come in later this year.

In the same way as a house may need a new roof, or new windows, if it needs rewiring that should be reflected in the price that the buyer is willing to pay - and it follows that a proper certified house may attract a higher price.

Having said that, if a buyer moved in and found obviously illegal recent electrical work, they may possibly have a claim against the seller, but in practise I doubt they would get very far unless there was something criminally dangerous like bypassing the meter or replacing all the fuses in the consumer unit with a nail...

Gavin