Lost our Electrical Installation Certificate and now selling

GingerBoy

Hi,

We moved in 6 years ago, and had the consumer unit replaced / new circuit for new shower etc done at the start of 2008. We had a certificate come through the post soon after (I presume this was a Electrical Installation Certificate?). We're now selling, and can't locate the certificate...

We've contacted the electrician we used, who said he doesn't have paperwork from almost 6 years ago still, but offered to test everything for £120 (+VAT) to give us paperwork to cover us.

Our buyers know we had work done in 2008, and we ticked "certificate to follow" on the paperwork from the solicitors, so they'll be expecting the Electrical Installation Certificate. I thought I knew where the certificate was, so it's very annoying we can't find it!

Is it a big problem that we can't find it? Is it going to be a show stopper? Is it worth the £120 to fix it up front for peace of mind? Or are they likely to just wait for their survey to see if that flags anything up (which it shouldn't since we know it was done correct, just can't prove it!).

Many thanks for your thoughts!

lessonlearned

The surveyor will not test electrics.

Only a certified electrician can "pass" the installation and issue a certificate.

Palookaville

I'm having a similar problem with my house purchase as the vendor cannot find the certificate and the whole process is being held up as my solicitors will not give me an exchange date without it and it's the only thing they are waiting on. The Survey did not check the electrics so this won't be useful to you.

tommie1shunt

We sold our house 7 month's ago and did not supply any certificate for the electrics. There was no problem with this, is it mandatory to supply one?
My rather obvious suggestion to the OP is ring round for quote's for his certificate.

pinkteapot

tommie1shunt wrote: »

We sold our house 7 month's ago and did not supply any certificate for the electrics. There was no problem with this, is it mandatory to supply one?
My rather obvious suggestion to the OP is ring round for quote's for his certificate.

You have to supply one if you've had any electrical installation work done since 2005. Installation includes things like new circuits etc but doesn't include things like replacing one light fitting with another.

Anything that's classed as an "installation" has to be done by a Part P electrician who gives you an Electrical Installation Certificate, which is requested as part of the Property Information Form when you sell.

OP - be honest and tell the buyers you've lost it. Your original or any new sparky can't provide an EIC, as it can only be written out by the original installer at the time of installation. However, any Part P electrician can perform an inspection and give a report on the current state of the electrics (I can't remember the name of this report).

Before forking out, see how the buyers respond to the fact you don't have the cert. If they push it, pay for the inspection report (or play hardball and force them to if you really don't think they'll pull out over it).

Alter_ego

While it may be mandatory to have such a certificate, it is not mandatory to supply it to a buyer. The only certificate the law says you must provide is an Energy Performance Certificate.
Tell buyers if they are unhappy get an electrician in to test the installation.

Dave_the_Ginger_Cat

Agree - 'fess up and and tell them it's gone missing

One possible route is your council's building control - some are lodged with them, and you may just find they have a copy