EICR – Consumer Unit installed by unqualified electrician?

EICR – Consumer Unit installed by unqualified electrician?

9:47 AM, 24th November 2020, About 3 years ago 19

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I hired an electrician to do an EICR who found the Consumer Unit needed to be replaced. I then gave the job to him to complete.

However, after the job was completed, it turned out he isn’t qualified to register the installation with Building Control at the local council, so called Part P Certificate (Building Regulations Compliance Certificate), which is required by law for a noticeable change such as a new consumer unit.

I initially agreed to pay him £500, which isn’t a low price, but at the high end for such a job if anything.

What’s my best approach here?

Should I pay him? Should I move to another qualified electrician to re-do the job?

Mike


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Comments

Prakash Tanna

7:52 AM, 28th November 2020, About 3 years ago

The question of should you pay him or not comes down to what was contractually agreed with him at the time you hired him and not what the regs say in this situation and imo. Did you ask him to replace the consumer unit and provide a certificate or just replace the unit? Did you ask him if he was a qualified electrician and able to sign off the job with B.Regs and a certificate at the end or not? As others have rightly pointed out he did not need to be a registered qualified sparky to carry out the job. My take is this is more of a contract law issue. My advice, get him to find someone who can sign it off and agree that cost comes out of his £500 or get somebody yourself and agree it is deducted from his bill.

michaelwgroves

11:23 AM, 28th November 2020, About 3 years ago

I should like to dispel some myths and out of date information in this thread.
I am a 'skilled' and 'registered' electrician; I am also a landlord.
As mentioned by Paul, there are several Certified Installer schemes, all meet the required standards. As the person requesting the work, you only need to find out if the electrician belongs to one of these schemes. So just ask the electrician for his ID.
As for doing the work, the regulations changed in July 2018. Previously you had to be 'competent', the new regulations require you to be 'skilled'.
But what's the difference?
To be skilled, you must have passed the relevant exams. Of which there are many. Included in these exams is one specifically for BS7671:2018
Just because you know how to wire a plug, does not mean you understand the regulations. 560 pages of small print.
It is fine for one electrician to certify another's work. But the certifier should check the work he is certifying has been completed by a skilled person. This is typical in larger organisations.
But you have to question why a self employed 'skilled' Electrician is not part of a Certified Installer scheme. Because, if you are truly skilled, it cost from as little £354 per year to join.
In summary, if your electrician is not a member of a Certified Installer scheme, find one that is.

Jontyv

11:30 AM, 28th November 2020, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by michaelwgroves at 28/11/2020 - 11:23
Which scheme offers membership for £354? I cant find anything for anywhere near as small as that. Double it and you might be getting closer!

michaelwgroves

11:31 AM, 28th November 2020, About 3 years ago

In answer to the original question, I would employ a certified electrician to complete an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) and submit the findings to HSE.

michaelwgroves

11:32 AM, 28th November 2020, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Jontyv at 28/11/2020 - 11:30
My invoice this year was £354, look at Stroma.

Landlord Phil

14:14 PM, 28th November 2020, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by michaelwgroves at 28/11/2020 - 11:32
For me, get the eicr done. Add to it a detailed inspection of his work. Get it certified. Deduct your excess costs from the eicr & pay him the difference, advising that he is free to bring court action to to recover the rest. Assuming you don't have a written agreement as to price & exactly what work was to be contracted, he would be mad to pursue you for the remainder. Mad because he may open himself up to a minefield of further investigation & I imagine a court would consider your actions to be fair, reasonable & above all safe.

Jontyv

21:05 PM, 28th November 2020, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by michaelwgroves at 28/11/2020 - 11:32
Stroma told me last year they were not accepting new clients - I understand they have been bought out by Napit and Napits (considerably higher) rates apply

michaelwgroves

21:17 PM, 28th November 2020, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Jontyv at 28/11/2020 - 21:05
I wonder if they will keep ex-STROMA electrician prices low for a while, then slowly creep us all up to the standard NAPIT price. My renewal was last month.
NAPIT CPS renewal is £474.

Jontyv

22:30 PM, 28th November 2020, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by michaelwgroves at 28/11/2020 - 21:17
just double checked the Napit Website. It says £455 plus VAT for competent person scheme but then to inspect and test needs another membership category, the EIS or Electrical Inspector Scheme, also £455 plus VAT, making £910 + VAT = £1,092!

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