Part P? Please help

[Fisher2007]

Wondering if anyone can help. At the start of last year I re fitted my bathroom but at the time wasn't aware of the Part P stuff.

I changed the original single light unit for spot lights and electric underfloor heating. I'm a pretty competent DIYer and to be honest it looks really good and i personally am not concerned about the quality of my electrics

Only problem I have is that we are now in the process of moving house and the buyers survey is next week. I was wondering whether people thought it would get picked up and if there is anything I can do to sort this?

 

[festa]

and i personally am not concerned about the quality of my electrics

Wow .....
A prime example as to why buyers packs should be brought in and a full electrics inspection and test compulsory at the sale of every dwelling. .

 

[stevesey]

I hope Fisher actually meant "I'm confident about the quality of my electrics"

 

[sanj.varah]

I'm buying a house so i can comment from the other side of the fence.

Since the change of wiring colours came in before part P came into force, there is nothing to stop you claiming you carried out the work before jan 2005. Therefore I don't see why it would be a problem and to be honest I would be surprised if a survey picked it up (unless it was a full structural).

However, I did go into a house where some idiot had put an ensuite in. with no door and a light switch and plug socket that would effectively be in zone 3. This coupled with an 8.5kw shower and a brand spanking new consumer unit which wasn't split load - therefore the shower not being on an RCD!

I asked the guy who did it and if they had certs for it, he said his friend did it. At which point I walked away! i think its a case of buyer beware more than anything else

 

[davy_owen_88]

In the survey there will be a question asking whether you have had any electrical work carried out. If you say yes then they will expect certs. If you say no then you are lying and you deserve all the trouble you get later on down the line.

These rules were brought into force for a reason, and when people try to get around them to save a few bucks it just verifies the need for them to be enforced more effectively.

There isn't really much you can do about it now. It's too late to notify the work and you'll have a job finding a spark to certify it for you. One option is to get a PIR done but before you spend the cash wait and see what the person doing the survey says.

 

[DESL]

Only problem I have is that we are now in the process of moving house and the buyers survey is next week. I was wondering whether people thought it would get picked up and if there is anything I can do to sort this?

Surveyor may not pick up on it. But you may get a form to fill in from buyers solicitors called 'questions before contract' which may or may not ask the question about electrical work carried out since Jan 2005 and availability of relavent BC paperwork.
It's up to your conscience how you answer.

Worst case scenario will be buyer negotiating price accordingly.

BTW I have been called upon to carry out PIRs for both buyers and sellers in such cases.

 

[NickStone]

Fisher, if you're asked about this, why don't you say that you've done some work yourself but you did it before the new regs came in. That way, people will be alerted to possible danger. After all, even if you hadn't done any work, previous owners might well have done (before the requirement to get certificates) so any buyer would be well-advised to have things checked out for their own safety. The fact that a DIY job was carried out after the new regs came in is not really the crucial issue as far as they're concerned. Stuff carried out before the new regs is potentially just as dangerous. (not that I'm suggesting your work is dangerous).

 

[securespark]

I changed the original single light unit for spot lights and electric underfloor heating.

You have UFH in the ceiling?

 

[Fisher2007]

thanks for the replies!

to save any confusion I am very confident about my electrics, I've done similar for years and never had a problem, ok I know this doesnt mean anything but that's all I can say. And no there is no underfloor heating in the ceiling.

 

[NickStone]

[to save any confusion I am very confident about my electrics, I've done similar for years and never had a problem]

I believe you, Fisher. All sorts of similarly competent (but 'unqualified' in the eyes of the government) people are now caught in this regulatory net. [/quote]

 

[Chivers7]

Wondering if anyone can help. At the start of last year I re fitted my bathroom but at the time wasn't aware of the Part P stuff.

I'm a pretty competent DIYer and to be honest it looks really good and i personally am not concerned about the quality of my electrics

Only problem I have is that we are now in the process of moving house and the buyers survey is next week.

I take it the lights are in the correct zone and IP rated, the bonding in the bathroom is all up to scratch and compliant with current regs and you understand completely what I'm asking If not get an electrician in to do a PIR and include this in your sellers pack.

 

[Fisher2007]

Chivers.

I understand what you have said and all the light are as above and correct

Like I said, I'm not concerned myself, I would happily live there forever with no worries, I've done this many times before but we just need a bigger place, hence the move.

I understand why these rules have been brought in and to a degree agree with them, I'm sure there are plenty of people who have done stupid things before now, but for the rest of us its a pain and an added cost!

 

[scousespark]

Wow, wish I was as confident as you that my work was safe. I'd save hours every week if I didn't need to test. The regs (Part-P and 7671) don't just apply to those diyers who make silly mistakes. They apply to all of us.

PS
You've just told Chivers you understand what he was talking about, so I expect you've installed to 7671 and it's just the BC bit you've ignored.
Be interested to know what results your tests returned.

 

[Fisher2007]

scousespark

getting away from the subject a little bit here! just wanted to know what to do given the situation. electrics are already there. bit late now!

 

[scousespark]

I'm not off topic fisher.

Electrical Installation is covered by BS7671 and Part-P (since jan 2005).
You said you are pleased with what you've done and aren't concerned about the state of your electrics (although you probably meant you are confident the job was done well). The only way to prove the job is okay, is to test.

Supplementary bonding is required in bathrooms (as pointed out by Chivers). Also, bathrooms are notifiable locations under Part-P (which applies to you as much as it does to anybody liable to make silly mistakes). You have a choice of telling your LABC and your buyer, or lying. It's down to you which way you go.