Buying a house that had a full rewire in 2010, which wasn't registered with Building Control?

JohnB47

Surely plasterwork or floorboards needn't be removed to check wiring. A visual inspection inside each wall plate should suffice, along with the electrical test already mentioned.

Risteard

KeysMcK said:

Thanks all - they've ticked on the TA6 that they have had wiring done, and in enquiries that it was a full re-wire, so without certificates I'm sure my conveyancer will catch it... I'm hoping they push the seller to get the EICR done too, but I can't see that happening. 

I've been told that we wouldn't be able to rent the house out without building control checking the wiring. We didn't plan on doing so, but it's still annoying. The price of plaster and flooring these days, there's no chance I'm having the cables looked at closely!

I've worked in numerous places where the owner has claimed that it's been rewired and it's been complete nonsense. To be fair people may often not be aware precisely what work was done.

FFHillbilly

I think it's reasonable to get the seller to pay for an EICR in this case. if they do that and the outcome is satisfactory it's ok
if they don't provide the EICR, they can't say it's been rewired properly as they have no certificates, so negotiate the price down by the cost of a rewire

daveyjp

KeysMcK said:

I'm buying a 1930s house that has quite obviously had a re-wire at some point (sockets all over, spot lights etc). The owners say they had one done when they moved in back in 2010, which is great. 

I've checked building control and there's absolutely no record of a rewire being registered with them. There's the boiler install, the insulation, but no re-wire. 

The fuse box/consumer unit looks about right for 2010, RCD protected etc, so I don't think they're lying about having the work done. They've just not had it registered. 

How much of an issue is this? 

Your survey will advise having gas, electric and plumbing installation checks.  The electrical inspection will flag how much of an issue it is. 

CSI_Yorkshire

FFHillbilly said:

if they don't provide the EICR, they can't say it's been rewired properly as they have no certificates, so negotiate the price down by the cost of a rewire

If you actually have any evidence that it needs a rewire, maybe.

Ectophile

Beware of getting the seller to arrange the EICR.  There are plenty of dodgy electricians out there who specialise in "drive by" EICRs for slum landlords.  They are the sort who have a set of ready filled-out "satisfactory" EICR certificates to hand out to customers.

And if the electrician wasn't working for you, then they have no legal duty towards you if it turns out to be wrong.

Bigphil1474

We had an EICR done recently when selling my dad's house. They don't cost a lot and we know it was done properly. My dad had lived there since it was built in the 90's, was a qualified electrical engineer and had done some electrical improvements himself, but the buyers asked, so we got it done..
We're about to sell our house and I'll get a certificate for the gas and electrics done. For the cost, it's not worth not doing it. If I was the seller in this case, I'd get one done. Our house has wiring from at least the 1980's but was checked last year and was fine. Consumer unit is one year old. 

Risteard

Ectophile said:

Beware of getting the seller to arrange the EICR.  There are plenty of dodgy electricians out there who specialise in "drive by" EICRs for slum landlords.  They are the sort who have a set of ready filled-out "satisfactory" EICR certificates to hand out to customers.

And if the electrician wasn't working for you, then they have no legal duty towards you if it turns out to be wrong.

I don't disagree, although it's a report - not a certificate.