Part P - Electrics

lmitchell

I guess I'm more concerned about my position when I come to re-sell it down the line.

a) If I kept the underfloor heating would I be liable for not having Part P
b) If I opted to rip it out would I require Part P for having it removed?!

LittleMax

lmitchell wrote: »

From http://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/find-an-electrician/part-p/

"By law, all homeowners and landlords must be able to prove that all electrical installation work meets Part P, or they will be committing a criminal offence."

So the requirement in law is for it to meet Part P not to have the certificate. Does it meet Part P? Why don't you get an electrical condition report. Under the circumstances I would ask the vendor to meet the cost of this. I would not mention anything to them about them breaking the law (all very unnecessary).

LittleMax

lmitchell wrote: »

I guess I'm more concerned about my position when I come to re-sell it down the line.

a) If I kept the underfloor heating would I be liable for not having Part P
b) If I opted to rip it out would I require Part P for having it removed?!

Why would you rip it out just get a qualified electrician to have a look. If it's safe they will issue a condition report which you can keep and pass on when you sell the house. If it is dodgy you get an estimate for putting it right and negotiate money off with the current vendor, then get the work done. Or get them to arrange and pay for the work before you buy.

chris_m

pinkteapot wrote: »

An EICR is more useful to you than a Part P certificate anyway as it's up-to-date. There could be a Part P cert from four years ago but the installation may no longer be safe.

Very true - it could have been that the wiring was done and Part P certified in 2008, but in the intervening time a family of mice have happily been nibbling away at the insulation, or water ha got in and is compromising the insulation. The Part P certification from the original work wouldn't cover those scenarios, whereas an EICR done now would show it up.

Worrying about whether or not the vendor broke the law several years ago isn't a particularly productive activity now - after all, what are you thinking of doing? Sueing him for giving you a reason not to buy?

lmitchell

Would an EICR ascertain the condition of electrics within the property as a whole? I.e. Would it alert us to the possibility of the entire property needing re-wiring?

Thanks for all this guys, very useful. I don't want it to appear we're making a mountain out of a molehill but it's obviously the biggest purchase we're likely to make (until we move again!)

HouseBuyer77

Would an EICR ascertain the condition of electrics within the property as a whole? I.e. Would it alert us to the possibility of the entire property needing re-wiring?

It is an in depth examination of all of the circuits in the house so yes. However on the underfloor heating I'm not sure quite what they'd look at there. Perhaps it would be treated as an appliance so not actually examined in any detail . This point is worth clarifying with the electrican, they could potentially check it on top of the EICR if it isn't included.

dazza429

Rather than start a new thread, do you mind if I jump in to yours? Unlike the start of this thread I'm a seller who has done a few electrical jobs on the house (with an HNC in electronic and electrical eng I consider myself competent....but obviously not in the eyes of the law) my question is on my selling survey it asks about "electrical installation" would replacing the light switches and sockets with replacement modern chrome be an installation? would replacing bathroom lights with new spot lights be an installation....and therefore as above do I now need to find an electrician to do me that EICR cert?

G_M

a better place to raise these Qs is

http://www.diynot.com/diy/forums/electrics/

or

http://www.diynot.com/diy/forums/building-regs-planning/

You'll find professional electricians replying there.

silvercar

lmitchell wrote: »

I guess I'm more concerned about my position when I come to re-sell it down the line.

a) If I kept the underfloor heating would I be liable for not having Part P
b) If I opted to rip it out would I require Part P for having it removed?!

That is easier to answer. If you are asked if you have done any electrical work, you could answer "no".

libf

http://electrical.theiet.org/building-regulations/part-p/faqs.cfm

Q5: What types of electrical work are 'non-notifiable'?
The following types of work are non-notifiable:
Replacing accessories such as socket-outlets, control switches and ceiling roses
Replacing the cable for a single circuit only, where damaged, for example, by fire, rodent or impact (1)
Re-fixing or replacing the enclosures of existing installation components (2)
Providing mechanical protection to existing fixed installations (3)
Installing or upgrading main or supplementary equipotential bonding (4)
Work that is not in a kitchen or special location and does not involve a special installation (5) and consists of:
- adding lighting points (light fittings and switches) to an existing circuit (6)
- adding socket-outlets and fused spurs to an existing ring or radial circuit (6)