Electrician charge - £1,800

codingtutor

I've recently moved into my house and have ripped out most of my kitchen in preparation for a new one. Have called an electrician in mainly to do the following:

1. change kitchen light fitting
2. remove and make safe old wiring from old boiler which was in the kitchen
3. add an extra socket in kitchen for microwave
4. move kitchen light switch
5. upgrade kitchen wiring to suit induction cooker. 
6. extra socket in living room, remove wall lights, add ceiling light.

The electrician said we quoted for: 

- Splitting of existing ring and re-termination of last leg to consumer unit bypassing the kitchen.
- Installation of new Consumer Unit compliant with the current BS7671 amendment 2.
- New circuit for central heating boiler.
- New switched fused spur for boiler
- Submissions of fees and certification to Building Control.


An electrician has suggested 3.5 days of labour for 1,800 inc vat and materials. 

Does this sound fair? I'm not sure how much materials would cost but im aware a consumer unit does not cost a lot. 

Any advice appreciated. 

Thanks

pramsay13

What have the other 2 quotes come in at?

codingtutor

Have only had two quotes so far. The other one from checkatrade said 7 days at 390 per day ex. materials.

tacpot12

7 days is a laugh. 3.5 days sounds closer, but £1800 is steep for most of the UK, but probably right for the south east. The consumer unit itself doesn't cost much, but each protective device can cost quite a bit, and you are adding a couple more circuits that you already have.

There is quite a bit of work in what you have asked to be done, so prices are rising, so if the electrician is the reliable, I would bite the bullet and get them hired.    

fenwick458

as I read though that list of jobs I though in my head around 3-4 days and £1800-£2000.
consumer units aren't as cheap as they used to be, I remember dual RCD ones with type AC RCD's for £50 but most of them I fit are £200-300 now with type A RCBO's and surge protection

Risteard

As above, there's a fair bit of work in it. It sounds fairly cheap to me for what you're getting. As mentioned, a properly specified good quality distribution board (consumer unit) really isn't that cheap. RCBOs could be £30-35+ a pop.

FaceHead

Do you need a new consumer unit? What's wrong with the current one? Is there a circuit nearby, or do you need a new one for the boiler?

Having a dedicated circuit for the boiler is ideal to avoid nuisance tripping, but I think is overkill when you're not already ripping everything out. 

Whilst I think the £1800 it's only moderately steep, is the work actually what you need?

What's included in terms of cleanup and making good, once there are holes all over your ceilings and chases down the walls? I tend to find that if making good and putting things back together is someone else's problem rather than the person doing the job, then the work to make good turns out to be really significant.

[Deleted User]

@ codingtutor  this will give you some idea of costs for electric work.

https://householdquotes.co.uk/electrician-prices-list/