Electrical certificate – replacing all the sockets?

Electrical certificate – replacing all the sockets?

0:02 AM, 20th April 2023, About A year ago 26

Text Size

Hello, I have recently received a satisfactory electrical certificate. However, one recommendation is to change all the sockets due to age.

The flat was built during the copper problems with aluminium conductors (still in very good condition) as I am going to change my tenant I am hoping to do all the recommendations.

Can I use a standard 13 amp cover or is there a special one? It’s a massive disruption to fully rewire.

Thank you,

Peter


Share This Article


Comments

Chris Bradley

9:26 AM, 22nd April 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Dennis Forrest at 22/04/2023 - 08:33Double check with electricians as I rent to students so have yearly PAT testing and a few years back I was informed the fixed goods like fridges washing machines oven and hobs needed PAT testing. As I pay a fixed amount for all appliances (not per appliance) it was more work for them for the same price so I believe that you now may need yearly PAT testing if it's on a plug not wired in

Dennis Forrest

10:35 AM, 22nd April 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Chris Bradley at 22/04/2023 - 09:26
Lot more wear and tear renting to students. Have never rented to students and probably never will. It is very easy to keep on spending on this test, that test, this extended warranty etc. going far beyond what is legally required. It may give you peace of mind but I am more concerned in doing what is required legally to maximum my net profit. Most of my tenants stay with me for several years. With students, some but not all, think that as they are paying £150 p.w. per room think it's OK to use/abuse the property as they think fit. If you have a high turnover of tenants you just don't know how good or bad they are going to be and I quite understand that you might feel more checks are necessary compared with a normal AST let to a couple or a small family.

Rennie

12:39 PM, 22nd April 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Chris Bradley at 22/04/2023 - 09:26
I used to think that other electrical appliances that are not portable should be tested under PAT but this is not the case. Anything that is portable that the landlord has supplied should be PAT tested (Not sure whether this is mandatory re England/Scotland/Ireland/Wales.)
Other appliances are NOT PORTABLE so they would need a FAT test (Fixed appliance test) so it is up to you to check out what the law says for the country your property is in and whether or not it is the responsibility of the landlord.

Chris Bradley

13:11 PM, 22nd April 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Dennis Forrest at 22/04/2023 - 10:35
My students stay with me for three or four years property well looked after much better than a couple in a family home who ruined new laminate flooring within 12 months, the student property haven't needed new flooring in 10years, so it depends entirely on the tenants. PAT testing costs me £20 a year and they test everything from the kettle to the fridge. Only about 4 years ago did the fridge and freezer come under the annual testing requirements. In the family homes I only supply a fixed wiring in cooker everything else.belongs to the tenant

Peter Edmonds

13:17 PM, 22nd April 2023, About A year ago

Thank you for all the comments. My problems were connecting to the aluminium conductors. If anybody knew a socket manufacturer suitable for this. I understand the regulations as I regularly drink with an old colleague of mine who is a trainer at college fore electrical installers. It was the socket make I was after. I emailed both MK and the manufacturer toolstation use Axiom. MK technical department said none of there sockets were suitable Axiom replied these were. I am awaiting replies from other manufactures.

Aasif Chaudry

0:20 AM, 28th April 2023, About A year ago

Pretty sure you don't need a minor cert when replacing socket/socket faces/light switches etc.
Cert needed when installing a new circuit or modifying an existing one.
Replacing sockets will however render that area of your EIRC invalid. If you have made a mistake or made terminations badly/overstripped cable and left too much conductor visible/touchable etc. it would fail on resistance benchmarks/safety benchmarks respectively for example.
Recommend the NAPIT codebreakers book if you don't already have.

Leave Comments

In order to post comments you will need to Sign In or Sign Up for a FREE Membership

or

Don't have an account? Sign Up

Landlord Tax Planning Book Now