EICRs From Hell?

EICRs From Hell?

11:34 AM, 20th May 2021, About 3 years ago 30

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I have a rented property with no problems from the electrics over a 10-year period. I had an EICR carried out in December 2011 that was satisfactory. A week ago the electrician EICR checked the house and found some minor problems with the earths plus the need for a new consumer unit and left.

Within 20 minutes my tenant had no ring main. The electrician returned checked the main and left. 10 minutes later the ring main failed.

On the third trip, the electrician identified a neutral open circuit and jury-rigged some extension leads. He quoted £1750 to trace and fix the problem.

In another rented home, I had no problem for 10 years and had a 10-year-old EICR. I again had a recent EICR and a new consumer unit was fitted. I had 4 call-outs due to tripping circuit breakers and was near to buying a new cooker at £650 when the fault went away.

I have one further property that needs an EICR no problems with the electrics at the moment. By next week I would have spent around £3000 on electrics that previously had no problems.

Is this a common landlord problem?

Mike


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Comments

Ian Narbeth

10:28 AM, 24th May 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Paul landlord at 22/05/2021 - 00:26
Paul as you have criticised my suggestion and insulted me, allow me to reply.

I found a very good electrician through a recommendation from an agent and have employed him for over 6 years now. Not all agents are incompetent and as they will be instructing electricians rather more regularly than the average landlord they will get to know the good and the bad in your area.. I have also received good recommendations from specialist electrical retailers, plumbing retailers and builders' merchants.

You propose giving the sparky a right to respond and then reporting the guy to his regulatory body. Mike's problem, like that of many non-specialists is that he won't know what he doesn't know so an articulate but incompetent electrician may bullshit him. Mike quite reasonably wants a second opinion - which means calling on a different person.

Apart from trying to impress us with your knowledge of RCDs and MCBs. I did not read any suggestion as to how Mike might find a competent electrician. You asked for "far greater 'proper' technical information and inspection" which of course is why Mike needs advice. Most landlords won't have your electrical expertise so cannot provide proper technical information.

Seething Landlord

10:49 AM, 24th May 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Allshepdog at 22/05/2021 - 10:21
The problem with your suggestion is that without carrying out all the necessary tests an electrician cannot know for certain what work will be required before a satisfactory EICR can be produced.

Sandy

10:40 AM, 25th May 2021, About 3 years ago

If anyone needs an electrician in the London area to do EICR's - I can recommend one who visits the property first for free, provides a written quote and then does what he thinks is necessary and then issues the certificate. So far so conventional. However, on more than one occasion he has invoiced for less money than he quoted, because something took less time or actually didn't need doing. It doesn't make him a saint, but he seems to know his stuff, is pragmatic and is trustworthy.

Chiew Loo

9:40 AM, 8th June 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Sandy at 25/05/2021 - 10:40Hi Sandy, we do need an electrician in the London area to do EICR's. Could you please recommend one? Many thanks.

Sandy

10:59 AM, 8th June 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Chiew Loo at 08/06/2021 - 09:40
Hi his name is Marcus and can be contacted via:
aptsmarcus@outlook.com
Thanks

Ingrid Bacsa

10:19 AM, 17th June 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Sanjeev Markanday at 21/05/2021 - 10:36
are you an electrician?

Ingrid Bacsa

10:37 AM, 17th June 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Ian Narbeth at 24/05/2021 - 10:28
I have a similar situation to Mike. The inspector was thru an agent. he spent 2 hours looking but at least half that time he was.out in the street on his phone.
He never told me it failed. I got an online quote from the agent who organised this: £2300. A further quote to add light fittings etc of £2000.
When I complained about the inspection not being discussed with.me on the day they said it was all itemized in the report. But no itemized prices were shown and the electrician jargon was incomprehensible.
This was just a 3 bed semi. I think the agent themselves had added a few hundred. I am paying another electrician for an inspection next week, so another £135 ... The government really have generated a lot of scope for domestic technicians ! Landlords are just the whipping boys, funding the housing sector for the government to Lord over.

Seething Landlord

12:30 PM, 17th June 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Ingrid Bacsa at 17/06/2021 - 10:37
The EICR should specify the matters that need attention, allocating codes C1, C2 or C3 to each item.

C1s should have been dealt with on the spot so I assume there were none.

C3s are recommendations only.

C2s are requirements to be dealt with within 28 days.

Why not simply ask the second electrician to quote for dealing with the C2s and advise you accordingly if he considers that they have been wrongly coded or are unnecessary?

Seething Landlord

12:42 PM, 17th June 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Ingrid Bacsa at 17/06/2021 - 10:37
The EICR might also show FI items - further investigation needed. If so, the second electrician will also need to address these.

Tasky

19:24 PM, 28th July 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Chiew Loo at 08/06/2021 - 09:40
Hi Chiew

Did you use the electrician recommended by Sandy? Wondering how you got on. I am looking for an electrician in London.

Thanks.

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