Rewiring quotes?

[steve6501]

I am selling my property built 1960 and the buyer has had an electrical safety check.

This has recommended two things:

That the consumer unit is replaced. Currently this is the original 1960 unit BUT has had circuit breakers installed instaed of the old wire fuses.

That there is more eathing put in place around the gas meter (it already has an earth to it so not surewhat that means.

These are 'Recommendations' and not essential but the buyer is asking for a contribution towards the cost.

Any views on this please?

Steve

 

[ericmark]

At less than £1000 when compared to price of a house this is nothing. It really is nit picking and any one who is arguing about £500 on a house price is not really interested.

Offer to buy the consumer unit if they get it fitted that way you have a fixed price but really it's such a small amount of money when compared with house price not worth worrying about.

 

[jon47]

The wiring regulations do not apply retrospectively so if the fuse board and wiring was up to standard when it was installed or last altered and has been maintained as such then no further work is required. If the installation is altered i.e. new sockets or shower etc. then the alterations must meet current regs which often means RCD protection and perhaps an upgrade to bonding. the person who carried out the EICR gave a recommendation but it is not a requirement to be upgraded and they may have been seeking additional work for themselves. I would argue that if the buyer wants to have the work done then it is their choice and not your responsibility to make a contribution as the installation is safe. Bear in mind that the laws of Physics have not changed since the introduction of RCDs and a Farraday cage properly installed and maintained in the house is as safe as it ever has been.

 

[EFLImpudence]

I would merely tell the buyers that the house is being sold as it is and the price reflects this.

 

[JohnW2]

I would merely tell the buyers that the house is being sold as it is and the price reflects this.

Indeed. That is is always my approach, particularly in relation to something as visually obvious as a 1960s CU - and it usually shuts them up. As eric said, the amount is so trivial in relation to the cost of a house that one has to wonder why they even 'try it on'! Do they same people ask the seller to pay for new tyres, battery, exhaust etc. when they're buying an old S/H car, I wonder?!

Kind Regards, John

 

[GaryGarden]

Lets say you have a drive at your house and it was done in the 90's with standard driveway blocks as was the norm then and perfectly acceptable as well, however now permable blocks would normally be recommended to prevent surface water runoff. So if the buyer requested would you dig up the drive and relay it in new block? The consumer unit is just the same, as others have said if it's safe etc it's not your problem. It has probably been "recommended" that the earth on the gas is increased to 10mm but that is a job you could get done quite cheaply. If the new owner wants to "upgrade" the CU that is a choice for them. Where would it all stop, knocking £500 a room off because the wall paper is not super fresco! Suppose it depends on how desperate you are to sell but personally I would get the bonding done and leave the CU up to them.

 

[JohnW2]

.... as others have said if it's safe etc it's not your problem.

Indeed - and provided it's not something that they have deliberately attempted to conceal or deny, I'm not sure that it would really be the seller's problem even if it were not safe. To the best of my knowledge, there is no law against selling a house, some aspects of which are unsafe.

Kind Regards, John