Consumer unit

[peevee]

Following an EICR I was asked to have fitted a consumer unit in my rented property.

I subsequently received the bill for £672 and paid. For this sort of outlay and given that as a landlord it's my responsibility if anything goes wrong I asked for the guarantee for the unit installed. Neither the agent nor the contractor are able (or are unwilling) to provide this. I was simply sent a link to a website which didn't even specify the type of unit installed.

I've no proof of purchase, no proof of the type of unit installed and whether it's an approved model so if it's faulty I'm likely to have to cough up again.

Surely this isn't normal ? Who do I contact to get satisfaction ?

Thanks

 

[nicebutdim]

The OP has no proof of purchase because he did not purchase it. Any future claim would need to be made against the one who provided and installed it.

That's what my last words were intended to convey, provided the OP received a receipt for works carried out.

 

[peevee]

Westward10 is right so I'm not able to take a photo of the unit personally. I had a receipt but no detail, I quote "Supplied and fit consumer unit"
In response to Risteard, the issue is that the company only gives a 12m guarantee. Not only is this a bit short but what if they go out of business or change their legal status ? Don't you think that paying out so much and being personally accountable for the quality of the unit merits a bit more info. Why are they so coy about being open about this unless they were bulk-bought via an oriental website ?

 

[loz2754]

Westward10 is right so I'm not able to take a photo of the unit personally. I had a receipt but no detail, I quote "Supplied and fit consumer unit"
In response to Risteard, the issue is that the company only gives a 12m guarantee. Not only is this a bit short but what if they go out of business or change their legal status ? Don't you think that paying out so much and being personally accountable for the quality of the unit merits a bit more info. Why are they so coy about being open about this unless they were bulk-bought via an oriental website ?

Most companies will only issue a 12 month guarantee. But that does not affect your statutory rights as a consumer. In England, you have up to 6 years to pursue a claim for an inherent fault. You would have to pursue this claim through whomever your "contract" (verbal or otherwise) was made with. This may in fact be the letting agent, or the electrical contractor hired by the letting agency.

 

[peevee]

Thanks loz2754, It's a bit more reassuring but I'd still like to know how I go about a claim if this occurs. It might sound like I'm overreacting but I get the impression that the only loser out of all this is the owner who has to cough up. The tenant is protected by law, the contractor hides behind a short-term guarantee and the agent sits on the fence

 

[Risteard]

12 months is not short term but standard in law.

 

[Dartlec]

Most consumer units do come with a 'manual' - albeit often only one piece of paper - which may well detail whatever guarantee they offer against manufacturing defects in their product - They are supposed to be left with the consumer unit on installation for the user, but never get looked at. I try to ensure they are left on site.

Fortunately defects are fairly rare, and should have been picked up on install - the certificate is proof that the installation was tested and working to the current standards at time of install.

There will also I presume have been a notification to Building Control under Part P (If the property is in England) which is a declaration by the installer that things have been installed to the relevant building regulations. That may take a little longer to come through but should give you some peace of mind that things are as they should be,

Not sure whether it is the same with all schemes, but the NICEIC in theory covers the notifiable work for 6 years from the date of install, and should cover the costs of correcting any faults if not done correctly.

Though warranties don't cover external influences like surges etc. if you have the two relevant certificates then you should have covered yourself in terms of your liability to maintain a safe installation.

 

[andyb]

The electrician will guarantee the work Peevee. A consumer unit is not one item but several, and there are other things to consider like tails, glands and any work required to bring the installation to a condition that a board change can go ahead.

As a responsible landlord, you would have used a qualified electrician registered on the CPS register Home - https://www.electricalcompetentperson.co.uk/ He/she will put right any problems that arise and by using someone from a scheme you can rest assured that they are fully insured.

Relax.

 

[UNG]

Thanks loz2754, It's a bit more reassuring but I'd still like to know how I go about a claim if this occurs. It might sound like I'm overreacting but I get the impression that the only loser out of all this is the owner who has to cough up. The tenant is protected by law, the contractor hides behind a short-term guarantee and the agent sits on the fence

I'm not sure what guarantee / warranty you are expecting could it be 5 or 10 years would you pay for a yearly or 2 yearly check on your installation to maintain your warranty like you do on a new vehicle, I very much doubt you would as you appear to be complaining about the cost of the CU, was the this work organised by a letting agent and did they take their %age adding to the cost

As a responsible landlord, you would have used a qualified electrician registered on the CPS register Home - https://www.electricalcompetentperson.co.uk/ He/she will put right any problems that arise

I don't know why people keep on peddling this after seeing some of the posts on here the CPS is an embarrassment to this industry

 

[andyb]

I'm not sure what guarantee / warranty you are expecting could it be 5 or 10 years would you pay for a yearly or 2 yearly check on your installation to maintain your warranty like you do on a new vehicle, I very much doubt you would as you appear to be complaining about the cost of the CU, was the this work organised by a letting agent and did they take their %age adding to the cost

I don't know why people keep on peddling this after seeing some of the posts on here the CPS is an embarrassment to this industry

And I don't know why people keep on pedaling using unregistered un vetted electricians UNG, some of the posts on here regarding work done by handymen and chancers are an embarrassment to this industry.

For what it's worth, I was not 'peddling' anything, you do what you like. I pay to have my business checked annually by NAPIT, they check I have all the necessary insurances, qualifications, up to date publications, test equipment, knowledge of the regs and they inspect my work. All being well I go onto the CPS list. Now, by no means perfect but it's better than what was there before. Sure there are rogues out there, but as a layman with no electrical experience and not knowing any electricians, what's the best way to source someone to change my CU?.

What’s your message to any youngsters just getting into the industry? ‘You don’t need to bother with all that registration and red tape rubbish, just wing it’

I don’t think you'd say that.

 

[Deleted account]

another piece of reassurance is most electrical registration schemes have insurance to guarantee works for seven years For any notifyable works.

a board change is notifiable.

it’s good your a Concerned responsible landlord, but a think you are over thinking things A bit.

 

[Teddy Lop]

Its easy to be judgemental on the OP, but plenty in his position have trusted and been led by their letting agents in recent times to use utter cowboys and chancers. Of course, letting being an industry that makes the entire building game look virtuous.

 

[Mike Johnson]

That's a good point, I will have to look up how qualified a letting agent has to be and the required professional indemnity insurance against recommendations for contractors, if recommended by them they must be liable for the standard of work!

 

[Teddy Lop]

That's a good point, I will have to look up how qualified a letting agent has to be and the required professional indemnity insurance against recommendations for contractors, if recommended by them they must be liable for the standard of work!

If only!

 

[Mike Johnson]

Lots of codicils in these type of contracts, would have to see the contract between the letting agent and the property owner to be sure, but any advice given by any letting agent must make them liable for the contractors performance, but not necessarily for the standard of work, especially if the letting agent asks the property owner to sign and accept the quotation.

 

[andyb]

The point I was trying to make is, the consumer unit as fitted is a construct of the electrician. Sure the consumer unit as bought will have a warranty but the 1st thing the sparky will do is knock holes in it, he will then fit other items such as mcbs, rcbos and maybe other things. It is a device made by him and he will guarantee it. If a device fails, the electrician will replace it under warranty.

I’d be interested to know if the OP demands the receipts for the various parts when he has work done on his car in case the mechanic goes out of business.

I will say however, I think for the electrician to say that the work is guaranteed for 1 year is a bit poor. Fine to say that the parts will be covered by the manufacturer's warranty, but the work itself should be covered for life. By this I mean if I’ve done something wrong and it comes to light, I will go and put it right whenever. If an electrician fits an mcb poorly, let's say he fit it to the busbar incorrectly and it starts to burn, he can’t really say ‘I fitted that 2 ½ years ago mate so it’s out of guarantee’.