EICR has thrown a complete spanner in the works?

EICR has thrown a complete spanner in the works?

11:34 AM, 14th April 2021, About 3 years ago 71

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Can anyone help? We have 10 properties all currently let and very few issues – life good right?

Along comes the EICR legislation and throws a complete spanner in the works. We have used the same Electrician for a number of years and trusted him completely, he’s never let us down before but its almost like he thinks we have an open cheque book when it comes to these reports.

We have been charged £150 per report and the quotes to correct just the C1 and C2’s are in the thousands. I discussed correcting the C1 and C2’s only for now and putting the C3’s on a rolling programme throughout the year and suddenly what he told me verbally was a C3 is now a C2 on the report and needs fixing now.

It didn’t feel right, so I consulted a new Electrician (at a cost of £120 per report) and the quotes are HALF the cost of the original Electrician. He confirms that a lot of the C2’s on the reports are actually C3’s and some of the C2’s don’t even exist. One of these is a core showing on a light pendant which turned out to be DIRT, and would have cost me £40 to replace had the original Electrician been tasked with the work.

Is there any recourse for landlords who are being taken for a ride by Electricians – surely this is fraudulent? Do I just have to suck it up and chalk it up to experience?

Julie


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Comments

Paul landlord

9:18 AM, 17th April 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Happy Landlord at 15/04/2021 - 10:20
"The main problem is that the authority who has drawn up the requirements is also the body who an electrician has to belong,"

Absolute garbage!!

The British Standards Institute (British Standards) in conjunction with the IET (Institute of Engineering Technology) are the uk wiring regulation makers.

The CPS (Competent Persons Scheme) that we have to pay an arm and a leg to for membership each year are in place to ensure that electricians meet a standard they make no rules.

And forget 5 year changes the regs have been changing every 2 to 3 years.

2008 17th edition, 2011 ammendment 1, 2013 ammendment 2, 2015 (where your metal boards came in) ammendment 3. 2018 saw the 18th edition with plans already in place for 2020 ammendment 1 and in 2022 we have ammendment 2.

Important to note the vast majority of changes are not retrospective so will give you a C3 on your future reports for non compliance.

Such rubbish on here

Paul landlord

9:25 AM, 17th April 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Sanjeev Markanday at 15/04/2021 - 10:30
An EICR is far more than an hours work.

These 'one hour merchants' are quite simply not doing the job properly if tgats what your getting.

I challenge you to dismantle and inspect and reassemble your outlets in a property in an hour never mind do a full EICR.

Paul landlord

9:33 AM, 17th April 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Rosanne Turvey at 15/04/2021 - 10:57
I work similar to your son.

All minor and low time consuming non compliances are put right as I go without charge. I contact the customer towards the end of the eicr and report any things that need attention at cost and try get everything done whilst im there. A very cost efficient business model.

Obviously if there is a more major (in terms of time consumption) item then a return visit can be discussed if they want it passing.

Dont see the point in issuing failure reports (taking time to write up 6) only to have to do it all again after any remedials.

Andrew57

9:43 AM, 17th April 2021, About 3 years ago

For anyone in the West Midlands I have a superb electrician who prides himself on doing a quality job at a good price.

Paul landlord

9:43 AM, 17th April 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Silver Flier at 15/04/2021 - 11:24
The NIC is only one CPS provider. His inspector may not be with the NIC- I'm not im with NAPIT- there are at least 5 scheme providers out there.

electricalcompetentperson.co.uk holds the register of all registered electricians.

But bear in mind that you dont have to be registered to do an EICR- dont believe me? Then see EICR on .gov. Shocking to registered sparks like me but true. Makes me wonder why I pay my annual membership fees.

Paul landlord

9:55 AM, 17th April 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Alan Wong at 15/04/2021 - 12:22
A few points.

Yes a lot of coding is down to the inspectors interpretation of the regs in any given circumstance. This is an industey system fault not the fault of individual electricians.

In regards to test instruments these need to be sent off to a specialist lab annually to test for 'calibration ' at substantial costs.

Wearing rings? Necklaces? Ghat is just garbage talk my friend.

As for tenants alrering the way we set things up for testing- mucking about with switches, socket outlets altering results then yes your right. Tell them to keep their hands off during testing. They drive me f'in mad sometimes. The jobs hard enough as it is without occupants pratting about with things when I've taken time to set things up then stand scratching my head at why I'm getting duff results

Sanjeev Markanday

10:00 AM, 17th April 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by aga smart at 17/04/2021 - 07:50
Yes

Paul landlord

10:02 AM, 17th April 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by DSR at 15/04/2021 - 13:27
Ok as an exercise and may yield a result i suppose but for most part pretty much a waste of time. I GUARANTEE I could dupe you with or without your photos and your worthless self done landlord check. Its really not tha difficult!! Sorry.

Paul landlord

10:06 AM, 17th April 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Ajay Pamneja at 17/04/2021 - 07:45
Thats a pretty sweeping statement about the integrity of all us electricians! But then again lets not forget we are are rip off, fat cat, slumlords aren't we. Please consider what you are saying as a slandered body yourself before slandering others.

Paul landlord

10:17 AM, 17th April 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Dixie at 17/04/2021 - 08:09
Not surprised at that price ha! For a 10 way 18th edition compliant board with rcbo's and SPD you are looking at £160 minimum just for materials. Downgrade to a dual rcd board rather than rcbo and you looking at saving about £50. Take the spd off (not a good idea) and then you get to your screwfix boards at about £80.

Doesn't leave a lot for labour to board change and full EICR complete with 3 hours worth of paperwork conprising 7 page EIC, 7 page EICR and 2 page building notification cert complete with their fees.

You think im working for £100 a day? Or less? Not a chance.

My advice- Id check who is doing your job

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