Missing certificate - but might be a bigger mess now?

Kai_63

moved into my home 5 years ago and had a partial rewire and fuse box replacement done. I requested the certification at the time.

5 years later I'm about to move. Can't find the certificate. Call the electrician and it turns out it wasn't issued after all. Call him up and he says I'm right, he never issued one and he'll send one.

The NICEIC certificate is dated with 'Date complete' as today's date which doesn't seem right.

Should I just tell him I don't want it and and get indemnity insurance instead?

anselld

I would not stress over it. Just include it with the other sale documents when you go through conveyancing. Very much doubt anyone will inspect that level of detail and if they do just tell them what has happened.

user1977

I've never bought or sold a property where anybody paid great attention to the electrics, I wouldn't worry.

Kai_63

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82078119#Comment_82078119

Thank you. I just worry that a surveyor might notice or if there's an issue with the electrics a few months after I sell it that it will be pretty clear it wasn't installed today.

Also I'm not sure where I stand legally. If I fill in a TA6 form and say there's a vaild certificate, what would that mean?

I read I could also just get an EICR done now to verify the work is sound, which would probably be safer.

BikingBud

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82078154#Comment_82078154

That seems to be an amazing statement. I am unsure what that says about peoples focus when buying houses perhaps it is why we get the system we do, no accountability as nobody cares.

Safety of my family not important but its got a new kitchen!

Kai_63

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82078199#Comment_82078199

I get the feeling there'a a bit of a spectrum. I would definitely want as much confidence and paperwork as possible but others are very relaxed about it.

The annoying thing for me is that I did everything above board but just don't have the paperwork to prove it. Looking at getting an ECIR and indemnity insurance instead now as it at least gives a buyer some peace of mind.

jbainbridge

You've been given a cert and can explain why the date is wrong .. what's the issue?

BikingBud

But why are you paying for the EICR? And even worse what cover does the insurance provide?

House in England are sold as is. Not a rental therefore not required to have an EICR.

You don't pay for other surveys the purchaser may decide to commission.

My point was even though the seller is not required to, as a purchaser I would consider the risk, relatively new or older house, possibility for changes extension leading to additional circuits, state of outlets when viewing and then decide if I want to procure a EICR.

Chief_of_Staffy

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82078199#Comment_82078199

Electrics was the first thing I had done when renovating this house. Full rewire before anything else could start. The poster is probably right that few people pay attention to the electrics, but they very much should.

OP - I'm fairly certain the certificate is not valid. So if the electrician cannot have one sent with the actual date of the work, you would need to get a separate inspection done and have the work signed off. As this will cost you, I suggest the original electrician needs to pay up.

The lack of certificate will be flagged and the buyer's solicitor will strongly recommended it be sorted. The advantage of getting an independant sign off over indemnity is that the indemnity says nothing about safety. If I were buying such a house, I would want a safety-related sign-off, not insurance that if the house burned down I'd get a pay out.

stuart45

Indemnity insurance normally covers the cost if Building Control issue an enforcement notice, rather than cover you for defective workmanship.

I don't see how the sparks could have back dated the certificate, when he has around 25 days from completion to send it in. I guess the only possible way round it would be to say he has only just finally completed the work, even though it was started years ago. I'm not a sparks by trade, but I don't think a rewire has to be completed in a set time, although 5 years might be pushing it a bit.

daveyjp

Paperwork gets lost and a certificate isn't needed to sell a property.

It is down to the buyer to do their own due diligence, so if they want a certificate you will allow their electrician to undertake an inspection at their expense.