Electrical engineer inspection

FataVerde

My surveyor recommended an electrical engineer inspection for a flat I'm buying in a Victorian conversion. Is this the EICR? Or is it a different kind of survey I should be doing? Thanjs!

caprikid1

That would be most likely

canaldumidi

Yes EICR provided by a NICEIC registered engineer.

Just because the surveyor recommended it does not mean you need it - it's a standard recommendation. Were the elecrics upgraded when the conversion was done? How long ago?

Does the flat have an old-fashioned fuse box (with fuse wire) or a modern Consumer Unit with trip switches?

user1977

OP, it would probably be easier if you just continued one of your three previous threads about electrical checks on this property, rather than start yet another one - then we all know what you've already been told. 

FataVerde

canaldumidi said:

Yes EICR provided by a NICEIC registered engineer.

Just because the surveyor recommended it does not mean you need it - it's a standard recommendation. Were the elecrics upgraded when the conversion was done? How long ago?

Does the flat have an old-fashioned fuse box (with fuse wire) or a modern Consumer Unit with trip switches?

I posted pictures on this thread. Sorry, I didn't realise anybody would see the question if I posted it in my old thread https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/78898620#Comment_78898620

canaldumidi

FataVerde said:

canaldumidi said:

Yes EICR provided by a NICEIC registered engineer.

Just because the surveyor recommended it does not mean you need it - it's a standard recommendation. Were the elecrics upgraded when the conversion was done? How long ago?

Does the flat have an old-fashioned fuse box (with fuse wire) or a modern Consumer Unit with trip switches?

I posted pictures on this thread. Sorry, I didn't realise anybody would see the question if I posted it in my old thread https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/78898620#Comment_78898620

If you'd added a post on the old thread it would have jumped to the top of the list, and we'd have seen it.

Personally I can't be xxxed  to click back and look at what you've previously said.....

FataVerde

Update: had the electrical inspection/EICR and a cost estimate that's higher than I imagined. Apparently the approximate age of the wiring is 36 years. Any idea which of the issues he identified below I should do first and which are likely to cause a mess/require tearing the wall? Of course the engineer disappeared after he got paid so I can't discuss the EICR with him. Here are some of the major things he identified:

-       Fuseboard need changing

-       no gas bonding,

-       no water bonding,

-       there is major fault on the cooker cable so that needs rewire,

-       problems with circuit for boiler,

-       sockets need fixing and raising up 

-       another circuit I couldn't identify

And pics of the cooker circuit and consumer unit

dimbo61

C3 are the most dangerous and need sorting straight away.
Looks like the fusebox needs replacing.
Old wiring with black and red cables.
How many sockets in each room.
Four for a bedroom with Three as a minimum.
4/5 double sockets in lounge and kitchen.
Smoke alarms ?
Security lights ? Cameras ?

Is this a ground floor flat ?

lesalanos

dimbo61 said:

C3 are the most dangerous and need sorting straight away.
Looks like the fusebox needs replacing.
Old wiring with black and red cables.
How many sockets in each room.
Four for a bedroom with Three as a minimum.
4/5 double sockets in lounge and kitchen.
Smoke alarms ?
Security lights ? Cameras ?

Is this a ground floor flat ?

*C1 are the most dangerous. 

Slithery

So only 3 C1's which will cost the vendor around £50 to fix then.

Get them to do this and there's nothing to worry about, it's just standard property maintenance from there on in.

Noneforit999

Nothing there looks too much of an issue other than perhaps the cooker cable needing replacing which might mean cutting holes in walls etc to get a new one in, not a huge issue if the consumer unit is close to the kitchen.

Personally the number and location of the sockets would be a non issue for me unless you needed more anyway.

Realistically in terms of need, I would say the bonding needs to be sorted, the cooker cable needs replacing and the boiler circuit needs fixing whatever the issue is. Get him to disconnect the unknown circuit too and if you notice something not working later on, there is your answer. 

If money is no object, get it all done including a moving the sockets and replacing the CU but in a world where people have budgets, I would stick to the critical stuff and see if you can tackle the less important stuff later on.