What does the full structural survey include? - electrics included?

aj9648

Hi

I moved into my house a few months ago and had a few problems with the electrics which I sorted out.

I had an electrician out the other day and he mentioned that the main fuse box is very old and illegal and out of standards many years/decade ago.

I had a full structural survey done - should the surveyor have picked that up?

Also there is a light switch inside the bathroom - also meant to be illegal. And plug sockets on the skirting board - also illegal.

None of this is mentioned in the survey report - should I go back and challenge?

Thanks

holly_hobby

The surveyor is not a qualified electrician so can not comment on whether they believe the service to be sound or not - as its outside of their remit.

However, did the survey report request or recommend you obtain an electrical report before proceeding ?

Holly

aj9648

I dont have the report to hand.

The report should include a 'visual inspection of the electrics' - what is in that remit?

witchy1066

holly_hobby wrote: »

The surveyor is not a qualified electrician so can not comment on whether they believe the service to be sound or not - as its outside of their remit.

However, did the survey report request or recommend you obtain an electrical report before proceeding ?

Holly

^^^^ as above ,

did you need a mortgage to buy the property, if so the survey should have had some recommendation for you to obtain an electrical report, this is usual in most property's these days , if your electrics are so old,
I am very surprised nothing was highlighted in your survey but then again just because its old doesn't mean its unsafe ,

I personally would never move into a house without getting an electrician to pass it as safe, and am surprised at how many people do , for around £90 it could save your life,

Ivana_Tinkle

You do need to check exactly what the report says, but I would certainly be complaining if a surveyor didn't pick up on an elderly fuse box and light switch in the bathroom, as looking out for those sorts of things is surely exactly what a "visual inspection" consists of!

Atomix

I think your sparky is a bit confused.

If he were to fit the same electrical cabling / fuses / etc today, yes it would be illegal.

However they were correct at the period of your home? Which was legal at the time - there is no law stating you must update it all.

Today it is illegal not to install an rcd 30 miliamp trip switch which cuts off the power in the event of a minute surge (kiddy sticking finger in socket would trip it).

80% of properties in the uk don't have them installed, but if you were to ever replace a fuse box - I guarantee the electrician would ensure a 30miliamp rcd would also be installed.

See my point...

We know a couple who bought a house with no earthing... When they got round to putting in a new boiler they had no choice but to re-wire the whole house -

The surveyor has done nothing wrong, as long as it is in keeping with the time the house was built.

aj9648

The more I dig the more I think how naive I was not to get an electrician in - I dont there is earthing in the house either !!!

cwcw

Valuation survey = the building exists and in the holy enshrined opinion of the surveyor it is worth a certain amount.

Homebuyer's survey = the surveyor will tell you if there are any urgent or expensive issues* to deal with and present it in a patronising colour coded format.
* That can be seen from a cursory glance and suitably !!!! covered to try to avoid being eyed.

Full survey = the surveyor will do a fully comprehensive report, coverng everything you would need to know and expect for the thick end of a grand. Apart from electrics. Or heating systems. Or things that might require him to lift a carpet or push a chair out of the way. Or drainage systems. Or even structural issues needing a close inspection from a structural engineer. But apart from that, it is the fullest report known to man, ever.

kingstreet

Whatever type of inspection you had by a chartered surveyor, all you would see on issues like electrics is;-

"instruct a qualified specialist to inspect and comment on the installation" or similar.

A chartered surveyor is not an electrician, roofer, gasman, damp specialist,plumber etc, so they will recommend you instruct one where it's considered necessary.

He's the GP. You then need a specialist.

cwcw

kingstreet wrote: »

Whatever type of inspection you had by a chartered surveyor, all you would see on issues like electrics is;-

"instruct a qualified specialist to inspect and comment on the installation" or similar.

A chartered surveyor is not an electrician, roofer, gasman, damp specialist,plumber etc, so they will recommend you instruct one where it's considered necessary.

He's the GP. You then need a specialist.

Nice analogy, but not quite. A GP would only refer you if necessary, whereas a surveyor would include caveat referrals regardless as they daren't get sued. If the GP took the same approach, every single person with a cough would be told to get scanned for lung cancer.

In my opinion, better just to get the relevant specialists in the first place and save the money of being told to. I could look at a socket myself and write "consult an electrician".