Upgrade of electrical installation

pma13

Hey guys
I've had my valuation report following mortgage valuation ( waiting full survey report ) it says "upgrading of the electrical installation". I know the surveyor doesn't go into huge detail anyway but is this a way of saying requires full rewire ? Or as I've been researching most surveys will advise need electrics updating because regulations always changing. I am thinking I need to get a separate electrician to come and assess ??

G_M

You would need an electrician to advise.

Was this on the mortgage lender's Valuation or did you have a survey done at the same time (eg a Homebuyer's)? If so, ring your surveyor and ask what prompted him to write this.

Often (90% of houses in the UK) property electrics don't comply with 'current' building regulations, because the regs change and no one upgrades - why should they?

10 year old electrics will be non-compliant, but perfectly safe.

On the other hand he may have spotted an old-style 1950s wire fuse box which suggests a full rewire is probably needed.

pma13

G_M wrote: »

You would need an electrician to advise.

Was this on the mortgage lender's Valuation or did you have a survey done at the same time (eg a Homebuyer's)? If so, ring your surveyor and ask what prompted him to write this.

Often (90% of houses in the UK) property electrics don't comply with 'current' building regulations, because the regs change and no one upgrades - why should they?

10 year old electrics will be non-compliant, but perfectly safe.

On the other hand he may have spotted an old-style 1950s wire fuse box which suggests a full rewire is probably needed.

Thanks ..I had a full structural and Iam still awaiting copy of this. As I had this via Natwest the surveyor has completed the valuation report for natwest and this where I've seen the comments re the electrics. But yes really need an electrician now.

deFoix

Unless you give the context of the full sentence you provided in the quotation marks how is anybody supposed to help you? The sentence by itself is meaningless. Btw I'm a chartered electrical engineer.

pma13

Thanks for taking time to reply. The information I have is limited at the moment I am referring to recommendations on my valuation report ..one of them being an upgrade to electrical system.

Tom99

Wait for your building survey then decide what to do. The building survey should be more explicite about the electrics

ProDave

The only way to be sure is to get an electrician to do an EICR, Electrical Installation Condition Report.

It will take him about half a day and you will have a thorough report.

It is pretty likely it needs a new consumer unit, that is the obvious thing surveyors see and flag "electrical problem"

The actual wiring may well be perfectly okay, so it may not need a full rewire, but chances are, even if the old wiring is good you might still want some work done as there almost certainly won't be enough sockets so you will probably want some additional ones added.

pma13

Thanks guys navigating my way through this as a first time buyer !! And all feedback greatly received x

AdrianC

What does the report actually say? Exact, and full, wording please - else we're playing Chinese Whispers. If you've got a photo of the consumer unit ("fuse box"), even better.

10 to 1 it's exactly as G_M describes - the surveyor is telling you that the electrics aren't up to the absolute latest current version of the building regulations. Well, no, they won't be unless they've been replaced VERY recently.

The current standard is 17th Edition, Amendment 3 - and only fully came into force at the start of 2016. The main difference was deprecating plastic consumer units - which were all that could be used for many years. Amendment 2 (2013) included electric vehicle charging points. The 18th Edition is due to be published next year.

Just because it's out of date doesn't mean it's not absolutely bob-on condition-wise and perfectly safe - which, really, is the main thing you're worried about, right?

pma13

Full report due 6th November so I have to wait until then. The information I had was on the basic valuation that was given to Natwest. I am going to book another viewing and take some pictures

maisie_cat

In my experience, I've bought & sold 8 houses, so not loads, but every survey has the a**e covering electrics not up to current standards, roof may need work in the future etc.
If your post purchase budget is going to be tight it may be a good investment to have a full electrical check. Depending on whether the house is priced for condition, it may be a negotiating point if there are major works required.