Bathroom electrics - what to do?

irs101

I'd really appreciate some help from the panel on this one.

I'm having my bathroom fitted by a local business. The fitting is being carried out by a sub-contractor. I have absolutely no concerns at all about his work - I can see that he is excellent.

However, he it not registered (or whatever you have to be) to sign off the electrics he has installed in accordance with the P regs. This wasn't mentioned to me at all by the bathroom company and I only found out by chance (although I'm kicking myself for not asking up front - but I just assumed that they would get this sort of thing right).

Now that I've raised it, the shop have said that they will 'sort it', but what I'm asking is what can I do to make sure that they do? Or what recourse do I have if they don't?

I've had an anonymous conversation with Building Control and they've said that they, even though we should strictly have given them a Building Notice before the work starts, they can come out (usually within 2 days) to have a look at the work before all the wires are covered up. [This is at odds with what the shop are telling me - that the council still haven't taken any action on applications they put in 6 months ago.] There will be a fee involved, but who should pay it - the shop have quoted me an all-in price, shouldn't that sort of thing be included?

Even if it's true that the council are being really slow and, when it comes to it, I'm unlikely ever to need the certificate (my memory of when the bathroom was fitted may well be a bit hazy by the time I sell the house ), I'm really cross that the shop didn't even raise the issue with me and let me make that decision. If I hadn't realised now, they would have happily sold me £8.5K of 'illegal' bathroom.

Any advice on how I should proceesd? Or should I not be bothered about this? Is 'it's a problem for everyone' and 'the rules are unworkable' a good enough excuse?

Thanks

irs

JimArnold

If you are happy with the work then I would just chase the shop to sort it - you have every right to assume it would be dealt with - in fact it may even be illegal for them to charge for the work without part P certification. They just need a part P certified person to check it and sign it off. It may be possible to do it later but it is possible that some of the wiring has been covered by decorting and this may need to be exposed. The regs are - quite rightly - stiffer for bathrooms - esp in regard to earth bonding

At the end of the day you want - and are entitled to
2) a proper job
2) a piece of paper to ensure so that if you sell the house then you can produce it - it has very little other value

Just chase your installer ASAP - you haven't paid it all yet have you ?

Slider

IMO, If your supplier is not complying to Part P, he is failing to complete the contract you have with him. Tell him to get it sorted or withhold payment.

irs101

JimArnold wrote:

you haven't paid it all yet have you ?

No I haven't yet - I've paid a £1K deposit, but am currently refusing to make the interim payment he wants until he's given me a full written quote/invoice - including the extra bits that weren't included on the original. It's only taken him 3 weeks, but he's just faxed it over and he's charged me more on the extra bits than we agreed verbally.....:rolleyes:

Completely disorganised rather than crooked......but that's not much comfort at the moment.

Thanks for your help. Very reassuring.

irs