Age/safety of consumer unit

Sirrah67

My son's buying a house and the survey, obviously, has questioned the electrics.

How old do you think this consumer units is, and is it worth getting it checked out before committing to purchase?





Where are the images?

Try this!

http://imgur.com/a/sCIZ6PD

LandyAndy

Sirrah67 wrote: »

My son's is buying a house and the survey, obviously, has questioned the electrics.

How old do you think this consumer units is, and is it worth getting it checked out before committing to purchase?





Where are the images?

https://imgur.com/FrVNUPX
https://imgur.com/IEhsOjW

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

The consumer unit appears to be a circuit breaker type which is quite modern. Though this would give no indication on the condition of the installation. If they have no record of any work being carried out, I would start knocking the price down accordingly.


I bought a house back in 1999 that I knew needed to be rewired and knocked the price down to account for that.

quantumlobster

You can say with certainty that it's older than about 2016, as that's roughly the date of introduction of the requirement that consumer units had to be made of metal.

G_M

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth wrote: »

The consumer unit appears to be a circuit breaker type which is quite modern. Though this would give no indication on the condition of the installation. If they have no record of any work being carried out, I would start knocking the price down accordingly.

On what basis? There is no indication that unauthorised work has been done, nor that the installation is in any way unsafe.

The consumer unit has modern circuit breakers. If it was an old fuse box with fuse wire - yes, I'd be worried!

Sure, the consumer unit gives no indication as to whether the rest of the wiring is old, new, safe, dangerous or whatever - if you are concerned, OP, then get an electrician to check and write a report for you.

But based on that photo alone you have no valid grounds to request a reduction in price.

Sirrah67

Thank you. The survey has valued it at the price agreed, so that's probably a no-go. The house is generally in good condition considering the age, all the usual caveats of damp etc(although nothing visible) but it's a good price for the size and area. I'll tell him to ask about work done.

Sirrah67

quantumlobster wrote: »

You can say with certainty that it's older than about 2016, as that's roughly the date of introduction of the requirement that consumer units had to be made of metal.

My home was rewired about 10 years ago, if the consumer unit in the picture is a similar age I won't worry!

AdrianC

Split load - one half on RCD, one not. Fairly modern - 00s?

Won't take much to build a little cupboard around it and tidy that whole corner up.

Sirrah67

AdrianC wrote: »

Split load - one half on RCD, one not. Fairly modern - 00s?

Won't take much to build a little cupboard around it and tidy that whole corner up.

It does look a mess, but like you say, easy to box it in. The gas meter is worse, in the corner of the lounge!

AnotherJoe

Where is it situated? As ugly as you know what if thats in a kitchen or similar?

Slithery

AnotherJoe wrote: »

Where is it situated? As ugly as you know what if thats in a kitchen or similar?

I'd guess at just inside the front door.