What do I ask an electrician

Davidbrentssister

I bought a maisonette recently it was built in the 1950s. I didn't have an electrical report at the time I bought it (which in hindsight I should have done.)

Could I get an EICR now? Is that even what it is called?

I just want to check everything is safe and see what work needs to be prioritised. The homebuyers report said the number of socket outlets is below modern standards (there's only 3 single sockets in the living room and 2 single sockets in the bedroom).

bris

Yes, an EICR will give you a full report.


Beware though of all the things is says about not being to current standards. It doesn't have to be it just needs to be to the standards at the time of installation.


You will get a few who will try to sell you upgrades by hard sell but for now you just need to make sure it's safe then you can decide what you want done.

jk0

Just make sure the electrician you get is not the brother of the gas fitter who came to my rental, and shut the heating off in December.

Heedtheadvice

Not absolutely essential but would recommend an electrical business registered with a national body

Risteard

bris wrote: »

It doesn't have to be it just needs to be to the standards at the time of installation.

This simply isn't true.

Any periodic inspection and testing is assessed against current Standards. (This is BS 7671:2008 (2015) and come the 1st January will be BS 7671:2018.) Non-compliances with the current Standard may not necessarily be unsafe or require upgrading - but this is not the same as stating that they definitely are not unsafe and do not require upgrading. This is an assessment which will be made.

As an example neutral fusing was once permissible but is absolutely prohibited if discovered now regardless of when it was installed.

Ectophile

You are supposed to have one done every 10 years. Nobody ever does, but you are supposed to. In practice, they are only ever done when houses are sold, and not always then.



The test is always to the latest standards. So anything more than a few years old is guaranteed to have at least a few C3 reports.


To be honest, if you bought a brand new house, then a competent electrician will probably find a few faults. But that just reflects the state of modern house building.



The latest version lists faults as C1, C2 or C3, to be like other house surveys.


C3 = Doesn't meet latest standards but not actually unsafe. These tend to get ignored, or left until the circuit is being worked on for something else.


C2 = Not up to standards. Not immediately dangerous, but doesn't provide the level of safety it should do. A well-designed electrical system should require two faults before is becomes dangerous. One with C2 faults doesn't.



C1 = Immediately dangerous. Get it fixed before it kills somebody.


The number of sockets isn't really covered. That's not a safety issue. But it may be a good idea to get an EICR before doing any other work.

bris

Ectophile wrote: »

You are supposed to have one done every 10 years. Nobody ever does, but you are supposed to. In practice, they are only ever done when houses are sold, and not always then.

There's no law saying you have to have one done ever unless you're a landlord, and for them it's 5 years not 10.

Risteard

Ectophile wrote: »

You are supposed to have one done every 10 years. Nobody ever does, but you are supposed to.

The Designer of the electrical installation determines the period after which the first periodic inspection and testing is due. This will be noted on the Electrical Installation Certificate and on a durable label at the origin of the installation.

The Inspector will determine subsequent periods having regard for a number of factors. This will be detailed on an Electrical Installation Condition Report (or a Periodic Inspection Report if it was done some time ago) and also on a durable label at the origin of the installation.

So the intervals are at their discretion.