Buying a house - BS7671

hattielizzie

We are currently in the process of buying a house and have received the bs7671 form from the sellers solicitor for works and amendments they had carried out in 2008, I was wondering if this covers the whole of the electrical safety of the house?

Or will a further electrical safety inspection (a periodic? Or EIRC?) be needed on top of the BS7671?

Many thanks for any advice/info.

AMST08

There will be a box on the certficate detailing what it covers, a complete inspection is not required, however some people ask for one from the seller, if the seller won't get one done will cost you about £250 for a normal sized house and take half a day

hattielizzie

The only box I can see ticked on the certificate states "installation details: an addition"

This installation was for a new consumer unit...

Any ideas?

Thanks,
H

matelodave

They should have checked the system before installing a new consumer unit, however if it's not been specifically noted on the certificate then it probably hasn't been done to a certifiable standard.
As said above, if you want the system inspected and certified then you or the vendor will have to pay for it.

Andy_WSM

matelodave wrote: »

As said above, if you want the system inspected and certified then you or the vendor will have to pay for it.

Agree with that, but also worth pointing out that not many installations will meet a current standard, so you may be setting yourself up for disappointment! The installation would only have had to meet the standard at the time it was installed or modified, so what you really need to be asking is "does it work and is it safe?"

hattielizzie

Thanks for the info.

Yes all we'd like to ensure is that the electrics are safe and in suitable working order... How do we have this checked out other than having an EIRC done?

Andy_WSM

hattielizzie wrote: »

Thanks for the info.

Yes all we'd like to ensure is that the electrics are safe and in suitable working order... How do we have this checked out other than having an EIRC done?

I would contact a local electrician to do a survey for you, suggest any remedial actions to make safe and provide a quote to do any essential works. At that stage you may be able to negotiate some of the cost from the seller (although they're not obliged to pay towards them).

hattielizzie

Thanks for this advice.

Seller has already reduced house price so we expect to pay for all work and quotations ourself. Although they have said they don't wish for any more contractors to enter the house in their occupancy?!?

Andy_WSM

hattielizzie wrote: »

Thanks for this advice.

Seller has already reduced house price so we expect to pay for all work and quotations ourself. Although they have said they don't wish for any more contractors to enter the house in their occupancy?!?

That's their right - and if you're not expecting any more negotiating then hardly fair to expect them to wait in for your contractors. Would get to me too if I was a seller to be honest. One or two contractors accepted, but beyond that it would get tedious.