Buying a house with Electrical Installation At Risk Warning sticker, any suggestions?

mutein

Hi guys,

We are buying a house recently, but found here is a warning sticker from British Gas on the distribution board, it says 'You are warned that this Electrical Installation has been deemed to be ‘At Risk’. We strongly recommend that you do not use the appliance until the fault(s) have been repaired. - British Gas'.

Apparently, the vendor doesn't intend to sort it and they moved out already. May I know how serious it is and how much it would cost if I repair it myself? or should I just walk away???

Thanks in advance!

user1977

None of us can answer without knowing what the problem actually is. Get your own electrician in to have a look.

canaldumidi

user1977 said:

None of us can answer without knowing what the problem actually is. Get your own electrician in to have a look.

Or simply budget for a complete re-wire and new consumer unit: £3-4K?

mutein

canaldumidi said:

user1977 said:

None of us can answer without knowing what the problem actually is. Get your own electrician in to have a look.

Or simply budget for a complete re-wire and new consumer unit: £3-4K?

thank you guys!! much appreciated

Noneforit999

That consumer unit looks like it has 6 circuits maybe? That seems low for an average house.

As others have said, without knowing why BG deemed it unsafe, we can't really help.

Perhaps some of the sockets are not earthed, perhaps the earth bonding does not exists. Perhaps the ring circuits are split somewhere, perhaps the wrong thickness of cables have been used supplying a cooker/hob etc.

Could be a number of things. 

The second part about the garage is likely fine, its common to spur off a socket for garage lighting as long as its fused down with a smaller fuse before it goes onto the light switch. 

GDB2222

A complete rewire effectively makes the house uninhabitable for a couple of weeks, and everything will be covered in dust. You will need at least a full redecoration afterwards.

Or, it may just need a new consumer unit, which would cost around £500 and cause no mess. 

You really need an EICR.

dimbo61

So the property is not brand new ?
It does not meet the 18th edition of the Electrics standard.
Did you count the number of sockets in each room ?
3/4 double sockets in every bedroom
10/12 double sockets in a modern kitchen

Did you turn the lights on and off ?
Only 6 fuses makes me think complete Rewire needed.
Better to get done after you have purchased the property and before you move in !

Section62

dimbo61 said:

Only 6 fuses makes me think complete Rewire needed.

Without a lot more information that seems a bit OTT.

If there's no electric cooker, no immersion, no electric shower for example?  What would more than 6 circuits be needed for in an existing installation?