Gas SafetyCheck & Electrical Installation Report When Purchasing Property

strawberries1

Dear All,

The HBR stipulates Gas Safety Check to the boiler, heating and water heating system as they've not been serviced or maintained and installation appears unconventional. The electricity consumer board is old but upgraded with cartridges and as it has limited safety protection a new consumer unit should be installed with associated rewiring. Several electrical cables loosely laid in loft with some buried under insulation at risk of overheating and requiring further investigation and improvement.

Shall I ask the vendor to carry out these checks or shall I do them? There's a risk of not completing this purchase because of other issues my solicitor has advised about so I hesitate to spend money on property I might not purchase although I've spent a bit on solicitor's fees, searches and the mortgage.

However don't I need to know for sure competent persons are carrying out these checks and given a fair estimate of costs for repairs?

Where's the best place to source someone for these checks please? I found the Gas Safe Register on the HSE website but no reviews or ratings.

Thank you.

dj1471

You can ask the vendor to pay for the checks but they're highly likely to say no; if you want them you should arrange and pay for them.

Every HBR recommends having these checks carried out.

It's best to try and get recommendations for tradesmen if you can, otherwise Google / Yellow Pages... Sites like MyBuilder / Rated People might be worth a look but are very hit and miss in my experience.

Risteard

Go to https://www.niceic.com and find an NICEIC Approved Contractor for the periodic inspection and testing of the electrical installation. You will be provided with an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR).

societys_child

Duplicate post:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/72866121#Comment_72866121

Ectophile

Risteard wrote: »

Go to www.niceic.com and find an NICEIC Approved Contractor for the periodic inspection and testing of the electrical installation. You will be provided with an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR).

Or there's NAPIT, ELECSA or Stroma.

Just because the NICEIC have the biggest marketing budget, doesn't mean they are the only competent persons scheme.

Risteard

Ectophile wrote: »

Or there's NAPIT, ELECSA or Stroma.

Just because the NICEIC have the biggest marketing budget, doesn't mean they are the only competent persons scheme.

None of them assess anything other than domestic work (i.e. domestic installers). Only the NICEIC Approved Contractor scheme and the ECA assess all types of electrical work. They also look at five jobs during assessment - not merely one. So I respectfully suggest that the other schemes you have mentioned are wholly inferior to the NICEIC Approved Contractor scheme.

strawberries1

Thank you guys but I'm conflicted about making an additional expense as my solicitors have advised against going forward with the purchase.

I intend to bring up the issue with the seller and if we can reach a compromise I might go ahead and then rectify the legal issue which will cost close to £20k to rectify. Property has been on the market over a year with previous purchases falling through I suspect because of issues highlighted by solicitors.