Do i need my electric system recertified to take in a lodger?

pieroabcd

Hi,
I've decided to take in a lodger.
Reading the various guides on the subject it seems that both the gas appliances and the electric systems need to be certified.

As for the boiler, it was service 2 months ago with an "All ok" in the note. Do I need to have the has hobs certified too?

For the electric system the situation seems more complicated: I have a certificate of installation for the whole of the kitchen extension that was built in 2011, plus an additional certificate of installation for 
"Cooker, upstairs ring, downstairs ring, plugs in cupboard, kitchen ring, washing machine, intruder alarm, loft power, upstairs and downstairs lights" that was done by the same company at the same time.
Strange that the 2 ovens aren't mentioned.

Is this certificate too old?

Changing the light switches I also noticed a lot of black and red wires instead of  brown and blue, even though they are almost always accompanied by the ground wires.

Do I need to have the system recertified to be compliant if I want to take in a lodger?

Thanks 

GrumpyDil

For a lodger you don't need either a gas safety certificate or an electrical condition report (at least not in England). 

You would need them if you were entering into a tenancy agreement though. 

FreeBear

GrumpyDil said:

For a lodger you don't need either a gas safety certificate or an electrical condition report (at least not in England).

https://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/landlords/safetycheckswho.htm - Yes you do need a gas safety certificate (for both the boiler and gas hob/oven).

You do not need the electrical inspection condition report or an EPC though.

It is advisable to have an agreement drawn up (just do not use the word "tenant" anywhere in the document), and have some basic house rules in writing.

pieroabcd

Very useful, thanks.

The has engineer didn't give me any certificate after the servicing. Is it something that comes at an added cost or should he have released it from the start?

FreeBear

pieroabcd said: The has engineer didn't give me any certificate after the servicing. Is it something that comes at an added cost or should he have released it from the start?

You would have had a gas safe certificate when the boiler was installed (valid for just one year). A new certificate will cost £12-25 depending on who you get to do the annual service. Expect to pay around £50 if you just want the certificate without a service (prices do vary though). And don't forget to include the gas hob/oven.

pieroabcd

For electrcicity it seems that the relevant legislation is https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2020/9780111191934
and that lodging agreements fall under the "Excluded tenancies" clauses.

Shared accommodation with landlord or landlord’s family

2.—(1) A tenancy under the terms of which the occupier shares any accommodation with the landlord or a member of the landlord’s family.

markin

Not an Excluded tenant! Excluded occupant

You don't want a tenant. And No lock on their door!

"An excluded occupier is a term in English property law used to describe someone with limited rights to remain in a home. If you share your accommodation with your landlord you are likely to be an excluded occupier."

pieroabcd

There are no locks, except in the bathrooms.
The contract that I've prepared never mentions "tenant/tenancy". It always used the words "License/Licensee".
It's basically a copy and paste of my contract when I was a lodger. The owner was a lawyer.

pieroabcd

Btw, I have a niceic certificate for the installation that the previous owners requested in 2014. It has a code beginning with dcp4/.
Is there a way to find the company that released it?
A search of that company at the given addresses doesn't return results.

mexican_dave

Clearly you do not want Landlord & Tenant situation, you are taking in a lodger into your home. As far as I know there is no "certification" required of anything, your home should be safe, if you think it's safe that's fine. For more information check-out Citizens Advice and search for Lodger. Reckon you will need something simple in writing setting out what parts of your house the lodger has access to what's included eg use of kitchen (yes/no); cost per week; notice period; etc. Make sure to keep to the facts. Check out if this will effect your home insurance or your mortgage provider, if any, before you get you lodger. It's only Landlords under Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs) or the like that have to jump through hoops with certification etc.

Honeylife

When we started taking in Lodgers we only had a Gas check done.  However, about 8 years ago, the Electrics were completely overhauled and updated throughout the house, with additional points in all the rooms. As a 'new' Resident Landlord it would be worthwhile to get all the Gas and Electrics certified for your peace of mind.  I have a Gas Check every year and show the certificate to the new lodgers when they come to view it.