Electrical Report In Rental Properties ( EICR)( EIC)

Hasbeen

AdrianC said:

An EICR won't be failed because the wiring is to a slightly-outdated set of regs.

An EICR will only be failed because of damage or because of dangerous bodges that wouldn't have met the 1999 regs, either.

That would be sensible.

But if this is enforced: "• Electrical installations must comply with the 2018 edition of the IEEE wiring regulations."

Then nearly every property in the UK will fail?

But they are just after the Landlords?

[Deleted User]

Thanks, that's good to know!  There's a few minor things, like in the bathroom there's just a standard bayonet lightbulb, not a proper bathroom light, but that's easily fixed.   How about the following though?

1. There's a conservatory leading off from the kitchen. 

If you plug in an oil-powered radiator to heat the conservatory in winter, at the same time as having the oven on, there's a fair chance the electrics in the oven will blow, or the plug will melt.  So I guess the conservatory plug socket is on the same circuit as the kitchen.

So, the obvious answer is "Don't try to heat a lean-to conservatory in winter.   It's not an all-year room."

But I wonder is this the kind of thing that would need rewiring?

2. Out the front I've spotted there's a service head/cut-out, which is in a recess next to the gas meters.  It's not damaged at all, just cobwebby.   However I'd have thought it needs to be in a case.   I guess that's not the landlord's responsibility, it's UK Power Networks?


Thanks for your help!

dimbo61

Well I said the new EICR report would be needed by July 2020 for new tenancies and April 2021 for existing tenancies.
There are hundreds of thousands of Landlords who have not done this yet and I am sure will face fines and claims from tenants soon.
Millions of properties don't comply with the current regs 18th edition.
It the property has a plastic fusebox it does not comply.
It can still be safe and pass an EICR inspection but lots of other things may crop up.
More expense for Landlords and yes it may mean ripping up floorboards and tenants having to move out for weeks.
Already seeing worried LL,s saying we have had an inspection and C1/2/3 faults on the report and what does that mean.

lookstraightahead

Strangely we've just had a call to book ours in in January. They take 4 hours apparently to complete. I'm now wondering what it will mean for us as tenants (although just started looking at buying again)

Black_Cat2

I had an EICR done in 2017 and made a note to re-do in 2022.  Is this still valid or do I have to do another one by next April when I have a year still left on it? 🤔

dimbo61

No your current EICR lasts 5 years and you may have trouble getting an EICR done next Jan, Feb and march 2021.
Going to be very busy time for qualified tradespeople.

Black_Cat2

dimbo61 said:

No your current EICR lasts 5 years and you may have trouble getting an EICR done next Jan, Feb and march 2021.
Going to be very busy time for qualified tradespeople.

Apologies dimbo but are you saying no I don't need to get a new EICR?  Thanks for your reply btw. 

Slithery

Black_Cat2 said:

dimbo61 said:

No your current EICR lasts 5 years and you may have trouble getting an EICR done next Jan, Feb and march 2021.
Going to be very busy time for qualified tradespeople.

Apologies dimbo but are you saying no I don't need to get a new EICR?  Thanks for your reply btw. 

Correct.

ritz55

dimbo61 said:

No your current EICR lasts 5 years and you may have trouble getting an EICR done next Jan, Feb and march 2021.
Going to be very busy time for qualified tradespeople.

Depends on current state, most houses get 3 years by default. 5 years would generally be on a new build house. 
Also if your tenant changes in the 3 years then you need a new cert if you read the rules carefully. Can't use the same cert for change of tenants like a gas safety cert. Apparently the rules came about after someone moved into a rental property and a week later died as water taps became live.
I've just got 6 certs done in the past 2 months due to the new regulations. 

Black_Cat2

Thanks guys, was confused with the 2018 bit 🤗