Advice please regarding Electrics issues

Northernjay81 · Nov 11, 2022

Hi, looking for a bit of advice by those in the know.

Living in a rented property (sadly not cheap at all) and had so many issues within 4 months it's unbelievable.

Was just looking for a quick bit of advice in relation the pictures attached. Been advised by a friend in the building industry that the wiring in the pictures is not acceptable. He told me far too much of the I believe (my words not his) insulation / coloured wiring is exposed and that the fact that the outer sheathing has been cut so deep that the copper is exposed is also not correct.

For a brief overview I believe that this socket was installed by my LL's contractor who to date has been found at fault for 5 water leaks, 1 yet to be found, 1 gas leak and a ever growing list by the day.

My next question is I'm pretty sure this guy is unqualified in every field. Given the socket in question is new due to alterations to the properties original layout, should this have 1. been subject to building regs and 2. done by a qualified electrician.

Any help would be hugely helpful

Thank you

[ElectriciansForums.net] Advice please regarding Electrics issues

DPG · Nov 15, 2022

Rapskallion said:
there is obviously a concern over the validity of the cert, just on the first pages suggests it was 25% tested, yet there are readings for every circuit which tells me it was 100% tested, there are no comments on the existing installation, None, think of this cert as an MOT certificate for your electrics, how often do you take an old car for an MOT and have no advisories. bring this up with the landlord or go directly to the accreditation company, quoting the enrolment number as they will have a complaint dept. that can look into their members.
there's nothing else I can really add. I have just offered my opinion.

To be fair, the 25% figure is the coverage of the report, ie testing and inspection. Its not necessarily saying that only 25% of circuits were tested, probably that 25% of accessories were removed and inspected.

Northernjay81 · Nov 15, 2022

Quick follow up while I think of it. Looking at the EICR again, it states approx age of the Wiring system to be 1 year. This suggests that the property was completely rewired whilst being renovated. As such it is highly likely this was done by the contractor (one guy) responsible to date for a multitude of issues.

As such, would rewiring a property require notice to Building regs and have to meet standards set out by them, and additionally would the person doing the work require by law to be trained and certified to any standard as per UK regs.

Rapskallion · Nov 15, 2022

Northernjay81 said:
Quick follow up while I think of it. Looking at the EICR again, it states approx age of the Wiring system to be 1 year. This suggests that the property was completely rewired whilst being renovated. As such it is highly likely this was done by the contractor (one guy) responsible to date for a multitude of issues.

As such, would rewiring a property require notice to Building regs and have to meet standards set out by them, and additionally would the person doing the work require by law to be trained and certified to any standard as per UK regs.

Carrying out a partial or full rewire will often involve creating new circuits or a consumer unit change. This means the work is notifiable to your local building control department. and the landlord would have received an Electrical Installation Certificate

Northernjay81 · Nov 15, 2022

Thank you.

So I emailed building control yesterday who first replied saying it would not be them I need to speak to, it would be the local Environmental Health dept. Looking at their website it all relates to work related issues so I emailed again this morning and they replied with:

"I had referred this surveyor for additional advice who had informed me that as the works are over 2 years old we cannot take enforcement action and recommended you to contact environmental health in this instance.

We do not have record that the works were carried out by an installer registered to the competent persons register."

I am not sure where they are getting the over 2 years ago part from as my understanding is that it was done more recently than that so I have asked the question.

littlespark · Nov 15, 2022

Photograph of the consumer unit that the report corresponds to would be good.

The rcd time column should be filled in with the measured time displayed on a specialist RCD test device, which will be measured in milliseconds…. And should be less than 40ms.

Northernjay81 · Nov 15, 2022

Had to google what a consumer unit is, complete novice here.

Can try and get a better picture later my partners home and can assist, not much room between the hatch and Fridge Freezer and is difficult trying one handed whilst holding open the flap for the unit.

Apologies, I have no understanding of the RCD portion of your reply.