does "it was like that when bought the place" work

[ColJack]

I've just bought a flat and the electrics are in a dire state..
there is quite simply no way it would have passed an inspection test and a test report was not provided when i bought it ( when does this become mandatory by the way?? )

I am planning to rectify the faults, then rewire it in stages starting with the kitchen, and replace the existing board..

I am a qualified sparks so no problems there however i've only ever done 1 rewire for a company about 5 years ago.. I mainly do industrial / commercial / production electrics so all this part P stuff hasn't really been of any interest or use to me..

I know that work of this nature is notifiable, however with the cost of the materials, the new kitchen I am fitting and mortgage payments I really don't want to have to spend money on anything un-necessary..

so getting to the title of the post, can i just re-wire it and claim "it was like that when i moved in" until i can afford whatever it will cost to certify it and do the part P..

also, since I want to swap the board, i need to cut the main fuse tags to kill the power..
again, will the "it was like that when i moved in" defence work??

 

[steve1811uk]

Not sure really but one thing to watch out for..I did buy a new Consumer Unit just recently and it had a date of manufacture stamp on the inside of the cover. Don't know if anyone would go as far as inspecting that though.

 

[adwt2004]

so getting to the title of the post, can i just re-wire it and claim "it was like that when i moved in" until i can afford whatever it will cost to certify it and do the part P..
quote]

Just make sure you use black/red cable and not brown blue! also, no one will know unless you sell it when you need docs for the home information pack.

I would get on with it and worry later, you could always notify building control yourself but you could just argue it was done previously and play dumb. I would. how can they prove otherwise?! Remove stickers that have any dates on them too.

 

[RobFurn]

If your firm is registered with NIC or whoever then cant you put it through there books FOC? Also calling the DNO out to cut the tags costs nothing.

 

[Chri5]

The new colour coding on the cable and tails will give any 3rd party inspection a clue, as will you doing the work to current regs.

25mm tails
16mm earth
10mm earth bonding of gas / water
RCD (if flat on g/f)

Even some socket and switches now have date stamps on them.

 

[Softus]

Oops - I thought I was reading the "Electrics UK" forum, but I seem to have stumbled upon the "Lie through your teeth and worm your way around the UK law" forum instead.

Great way to promote and advertise honesty in the electrical trade guys.

 

[sm1thson]

As I understand it (this is by no means fact, there a fair bit of speculation): how many people get caught out by surveys is kind of random, some get caught out some don’t, depending on what level of survey gets done, generally this comes at the most inconvenient times. The new home buyer packs will basically mean everyone gets a survey and its done before the house goes on the market. I don’t know what level it goes into on the electrics, but I suspect (for the basic home buyer pack one) its not very far but I expect they will look at the cu see things are new and ask for a certificate. If this cant be provided I expect they will settle for a pir been done on the property (and probably specify its done by a member of neic or something) so that’s like what £250ish (and delaying the sale and not as good as proper documents). To get it done in accordance to part p the cost varies depending on your council, but round here it would cost you £90 (upfront) and you have as long as you want to complete it, if you don’t get it all done by the time you sell you just get it amended and what you did (eg CU+ kitchen) put on the completion certificate.

edit: £90 is a bit steep when your adding a bathroom fan and i can see why someone would 'try and get round part p' for that, but for a whole rewire its worth doing properly!

 

[ColJack]

i'm in the process of doing the C&G 2391 test and inspection course right now, and plan to do the regs course next, then get them to send me on a part P course ( by telling them i can't do any repairs in the offices or canteen without it.. how would they know? )

My company makes air conditioning for BT and supermarkets and such, so they don't do domestic and are not NIC registered.. they just make em, not install em, the builders get someone in to do that...

I fully intend to do certificates for the install as i do it and once completed.. I have the testers etc..

i just don't want to have to pay yet... and who knows, i might be working for a company that does part p sometime in the future..


I don't intend to sell for a long time, and I don't mind paying to have it tested before I sell it, i just need to fix it first..

as for using red and black cable, that's not a problem.. i have plenty in the shed... bits left over from a big block of flats install a while back..

what is DNO? I'm no good at abreviations..

 

[RobFurn]

DNO Distribution network operator

hey good look with the 2391. My re-sit is on March 15 (yes re-sit) twas a t**t and I swear I got about 80% right !

 

[Softus]

what is DNO? I'm no good at abreviations..

Distribution Network Operator.

 

[scousespark]

Working for a 'Part-P' company won't qualify you to self-cert work done on your own home. You'll still need to notify your LBC.

Your posts contradict each other a bit. How can you be a qualified spark if you haven't done 2381 and how did you get on the 2391 course without it?

Part-P may be unpopular but it's here to stay. Comply or work as a cowboy, but don't come here expecting advice from real sparks if you are the latter.

 

[crystal ball]

Working for a 'Part-P' company won't qualify you to self-cert work done on your own home. You'll still need to notify your LBC.

Your posts contradict each other a bit. How can you be a qualified spark if you haven't done 2381 and how did you get on the 2391 course without it?

Part-P may be unpopular but it's here to stay. Comply or work as a cowboy, but don't come here expecting advice from real sparks if you are the latter.

I've worked with plenty of well qualified sparks in industry (HNC/D) who have not taken 2381, not much point if all you work on are control systems and machines

 

[sm1thson]

then get them to send me on a part P course ( by telling them i can't do any repairs in the offices or canteen without it.. how would they know? )

there is no part p course that gives rights to do part p work and self certify. to self certify you must be registered with one of the bodies (or your company must be registered if you are doing work in the name of the company). some of the bodies have courses you can go on to get you up to speed before they let you join and self certify part p stuff, but that cant really be called a part p course. i know I'm pedantic but its worth clearing up to avoid confusion.

 

[Softus]

Working for a 'Part-P' company won't qualify you to self-cert work done on your own home.

Where is that regulation stated?

 

[scousespark]

Working for a 'Part-P' company won't qualify you to self-cert work done on your own home. You'll still need to notify your LBC.

Your posts contradict each other a bit. How can you be a qualified spark if you haven't done 2381 and how did you get on the 2391 course without it?

Part-P may be unpopular but it's here to stay. Comply or work as a cowboy, but don't come here expecting advice from real sparks if you are the latter.

I've worked with plenty of well qualified sparks in industry (HNC/D) who have not taken 2381, not much point if all you work on are control systems and machines

fair point, but for domestic 2381 is the norm, unless other sparks want to shout me down