Covid Shielding and Rewire.

[Nitram]

My Friend has an ex council house (owned privately) that has recently been tested by the Local council ( its on a council estate that all the other properties have been identified as needing refurbishment.) The electrical installation is approx 40 years old and has been identified as out of date (not condemned) by the councils electrical report (which he does not have). The council are trying to force him to rewire although his mother is shielding. Can they do this legally?

 

[Mike Johnson]

As a letting agent the council have a legal obligation to update their installation, if indeed they thought the property was still council owned they could consider legal action to gain access.

 

[Nitram]

I'm very happy to report here that " i spoke to management it looks like some mess up has happened on their end it seems like it was a group letter that went out and didnt get it in that we own it lmao but they are still advising us to get the work done. he said its nothing to actually do with them its just they are doing it to all houses in the area as it was one of their house so it still counts kind of as in the group just a courtesy thing. but it got all mixed up"
You were absolutely right Rockingit - great guess .... Thanks everyone for your input.... Stay safe

 

[Spoon]

I'm very happy to report here that " i spoke to management it looks like some mess up has happened on their end it seems like it was a group letter that went out and didnt get it in that we own it lmao but they are still advising us to get the work done. he said its nothing to actually do with them its just they are doing it to all houses in the area as it was one of their house so it still counts kind of as in the group just a courtesy thing. but it got all mixed up"
You were absolutely right Rockingit - great guess .... Thanks everyone for your input.... Stay safe

Are they going to send you the report?

 

[Mike Johnson]

So did anyone access the property to do an EICR or was it just a letter that was sent?

 

[Nitram]

Are they going to send you the rep

So did anyone access the property to do an EICR or was it just a letter that was sent?

I have advised him to secure a copy of the report. Yes access was granted before the lockdown - the council just made a totally stupid threat that was a clerical error so problem is sorted thanks mate - he is going to have the work done by his own choice of contractor when Covid is no longer a threat to his Mum - Thanks again to everybody who tried to help - some great feedback ...

 

[loz2754]

Are you absolutely sure that a copy of the report was not given to your friends Mother, I don't think any electrician would leave the premises without giving one to the occupier or informing them it will be in the post the next day, I would ring the council and ask for a copy.

Not really. The person ordering the report is the only person entitled to a copy. Unless the property is covered by the 2020 Private Rented Sector legislation, in which case the landlord is obligated to supply a copy of any EICR ordered by the landlord.

 

[Nitram]

Not really. The person ordering the report is the only person entitled to a copy. Unless the property is covered by the 2020 Private Rented Sector legislation, in which case the landlord is obligated to supply a copy of any EICR ordered by the landlord.

Thanks for clarifying : ) I will pass that on to him...

 

[littlespark]

I’m not casting aspersions here, but it is very easy for an elderly person to be duped into having work done.

My mother in law was phoned one day from someone claiming to be from her boiler manufacturer and got her to take out a warranty.... It was already under a paid warranty service from the installer.... Took 6 months to get them to stop asking for money.

I’m glad the issue has been resolved, and the council accepting responsibility, but threatening legal action, especially at this time, was a bad move on their part.

 

[Mike Johnson]

I thought that the legislation says a copy must be supplied to the "user"?

 

[Nitram]

I thought that the legislation says a copy must be supplied to the "user"?

Regs State - The person ordering the report should have received the 'original' report and the inspector should have retained a duplicate. The Original report should be retained and be made available to any person inspecting or undertaking work on the installation in the future.
I can't see any reason they wouldn't give him/sparks a copy but its not a big thing ... the future choice of contractor would likely prefer to do his own anyway... we know the installation is out of date so becomes irrelevant with a rewire... he'll need installation cert after the work is done...

 

[Risteard]

Are you absolutely sure that a copy of the report was not given to your friends Mother, I don't think any electrician would leave the premises without giving one to the occupier or informing them it will be in the post the next day, I would ring the council and ask for a copy.

I certainly wouldn't hand a copy of the Report over to the tenant before leaving the premises. For a start I wouldn't have compiled the Report at that stage, as this would need to be finalised and cross-checked on the computer later. Furthermore I would only ever send the Report to the person ordering the work.

 

[Mike Johnson]

The forms I have state:

"You should have received an original Certificate and the contractor should have retained a duplicate. If you were the person ordering this report, but not the owner of the installation, you should pass this Report, or a full copy of it, immediately to the user."​

 

[dodger421]

The forms I have state:

"You should have received an original Certificate and the contractor should have retained a duplicate. If you were the person ordering this report, but not the owner of the installation, you should pass this Report, or a full copy of it, immediately to the user."​

Which means it’s the person who ordered the report would should pass it on to the user, not the electrician.

 

[Nitram]

Which means it’s the person who ordered the report would should pass it on to the user, not the electrician.

Regs State - The person ordering the report should have received the 'original' report and the inspector should have retained a duplicate. The Original report should be retained and be made available to any person inspecting or undertaking work on the installation in the future.
Page 476 Guidance for recipients (EICR)Req for Elec Inst 7671

 

[pc1966]

I can't see any reason they wouldn't give him/sparks a copy but its not a big thing ... the future choice of contractor would likely prefer to do his own anyway... we know the installation is out of date so becomes irrelevant with a rewire... he'll need installation cert after the work is done...

I would still want to see it just in case there is anything needing more immediate attention.

If it is old but in good clean condition then no real pressure to have rewire work done. If they have found any C1/C2 then it is a very different story and you would want to know, check if the code is really warranted, and correct them pretty soon.

Also if no need for a "rewire" as such (IR good, rings complete, no observations of poor workmanship or damage) so just new CU, and maybe replaced sockets/switches, then you know its a far simpler job.