Electrical Check

[Zimmith]

Hi,

We are just about to purchase a property and amongst a few other things, we were advised to get an electrical check as there is no official certificate with the property.

For your reference, it is a 2 bed semi-detached property and the lady living in it has had no problems since she has been living there. (12 years) According to the surveyor, the consumer unit does include a residual current device and miniature circuit breakers. How much in your opinion does an electrical check cost?

Any advice is massively appreciated. Thanks!
Mark

 

[Taylortwocities]

Probably about £200
It will detail what does not measure up to today's standards and will include a test of each circuit.

The resulting report will then detail what needs doing, if anything.

A guide can be found here:
http://www.esc.org.uk/fileadmin/use...eaflets/Condition_rpt_leaflet_A5webcustom.pdf

FOOTNOTE:
MAke sure your selected electrician has a qualification in Inspection and Testing.
City and Guilds 2391 is the usual one to look for.

 

[Zimmith]

Thanks Taylortwocities. I have found a website. www.electricalsafetycheck.com but I don't know if it is everything I need or not.

Could you or anyone else provide your opinion on this?

Thanks!

 

[Adam_151]

People who offer electrical checks for free will be:

a) Doing a quick visual, not a PIR/EICR
b) Doing in order to get otherwork - nothing such as a free lunch.

For a decent PIR/EICR expect to pay for at least half a day on site and a few hours on top paperwork time, at whatever is the going rate for an electrician in your area of the country

Look for a firm who is registered as an NICEIC approved contractor (not just domestic installer) or ECA and undertakes commericial / industrial works as well as a start. Although seen many poor commericial periodics (Incorrect/missing lots/too vague for a third party to to the remedials without a lot of faff)

 

[EFLImpudence]

www.electricalsafetycheck.com but I don't know if it is everything I need or not.

No. I wouldn't recommend them. It's a franchise.

I thought they had stopped trading.

 

[Taylortwocities]

I would also try www.napit.org.uk

NAPIT stands for the National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers

Many of their members have the 2391 qualification which used to be a condition of membership. Latterly, like so much alse, this has been watered down.

But its a good place to start.

I won't start a rant on Mr Electric..........

 

[ericmark]

Do read the links already given.

The problem is when it is checked it is done to current standards. This means any house built 12 years ago will have loads of items which do not comply. Yet this does not mean it's not safe.

On change of occupant you are always suppose to get an electrical condition report in the main to high light DIY stuff which may be dangerous.

Some things cost a lot to put right. For example no earths to lighting circuits. Others there are cheap and expensive fixes for example spurs from spurs could be fixed by reducing the MCB size, by disconnecting, or rewiring.

Clearly when buying you want to one try and bring down price to buy and two to know how much it will really cost to put right.

All too often the report although it complies does not really explain what has been found in real terms. So you need to talk to the guy you select first and ensure you will get even if not written in report some explanation as to what has been found. With costs of correction.

I have come to correct things after a report has been made and to be frank I could not see why it got reported. This is a real problem as he may have found something I can't see or he may have been trying to get extra work for himself. Some things can so minor like having a little asbestos pad behind fuse wire or just the fact it's a rewireable fuse which is now only allowed where there is an instructed person or better. Clearly you have enough sense not to use wrong size of fuse wire but it will still go down on list.

The work being done with an electrical inspection is professional reporting and the guy need professional indemnity insurance rather then just public liability insurance although some do cover inspection work. In other words if the guy says not much wrong and once you buy it you find it needs full rewire you need to be able to claim. If you already owned the house it would not really matter but you are buying it on the basis of the report.

This also means the guy will list everything he can find. So it will look very bad on paper. He needs to cover his back.

 

[OwainDIYer]

how old is the house? I.e. what is the maximum possible age of the wiring.