Hi all! Old(ish) spark looking to go it alone but unsure where to start?

[M-B-Electrical-Services]

I do a LOT of consumer unit upgrades and always wonder what the gaffer charges....better in my pocket than his!

 

[Deleted account]

Ah, So what happens when the deadline expires? I presume all the work will dry up? I don't want to jump into this at the very end and "miss the boat" so to speak!

Also, getting registered isn't a quick process so I'm sure that by the time I do get assessed, it'll be around the time (April I presume) that work fades away......

It won’t Dry up.
we are barely coping with the quantity now, if fact we are not. It will over run. Then it’s change of tenancy, every five years or less dependant on what s given and new properties entering the buy to let.

This has permanently increased the work load.

im not just getting existing Rental properties. It’s new rental properties and the tenants cannot move in until the EICR is done.

I would guess that 80% of landlord never had an EICR before this new reg came into force.

 

[Deleted account]

I do a LOT of consumer unit upgrades and always wonder what the gaffer charges....better in my pocket than his!

Consumer unit swap minimum £600.00. Always aim for £300- £350 profit.

different areas different sparks charge differently.

 

[M-B-Electrical-Services]

It won’t Dry up.
we are barely coping with the quantity now, if fact we are not. It will over run. Then it’s change of tenancy, every five years or less dependant on what s given and new properties entering the buy to let.

This has permanently increased the work load.

im not just getting existing Rental properties. It’s new rental properties and the tenants cannot move in until the EICR is done.

I would guess that 80% of landlord never had an EICR before this new reg came into force.

That is very encouraging! I keep looking around at all the apartments/houses and thinking about the 5 year/new tenant thing knowing it needs to be done.

I got pulled a builder randomly the other week, I was changing a consumer unit (for a change) and he asked me if I worked for myself or not. When I explained I worked for an employer, he started on about how foolish I was to be doing that when I could be doing it for myself . Told me I'll never look back and that I should go for it. He really got to me that day and I told the wife that night that I wanted to work for myself.
She's very cautious though and is worried about bills being paid etc......I tried to reassure her but I suppose she's right to be a little concerned as I have a steady income now so why risk it.

Thing is, if you don't take risks in life you never move forward!

 

[M-B-Electrical-Services]

Consumer unit swap minimum £600.00. Always aim for £300- £350 profit.

different areas different sparks charge differently.

I see it the same as you, overheads have to be paid for so the price reflects that.....

 

[telectrix]

Addition to above. Don’t go cheap. You don’t need to.

an example £50 per consumer unit plus £25 - £35 per circuit depending on size, age, access ability etc....

so a flat with one Cu and 6 circuit best case scenario £200.00

that would be more like £150 up here.

 

[Deleted account]

That is very encouraging! I keep looking around at all the apartments/houses and thinking about the 5 year/new tenant thing knowing it needs to be done.

I got pulled a builder randomly the other week, I was changing a consumer unit (for a change) and he asked me if I worked for myself or not. When I explained I worked for an employer, he started on about how foolish I was to be doing that when I could be doing it for myself . Told me I'll never look back and that I should go for it. He really got to me that day and I told the wife that night that I wanted to work for myself.
She's very cautious though and is worried about bills being paid etc......I tried to reassure her but I suppose she's right to be a little concerned as I have a steady income now so why risk it.

Thing is, if you don't take risks in life you never move forward!

totally agree with, you will never look back. This is absolutely the best time there has ever been to do it. I went on my own 7 years ago. I was also 42. Just had 49th birthday.

from day one stowed out.

I got delivered 5000 leaflets professionally done.

big mistake. Should have only done 1000.

got a full rewire from that on my first week.

stowed out ever since.

dispite being rediculously busy for last 7 years, it’s even more busy now.

honestly if your good and you know your good. Do it.

 

[M-B-Electrical-Services]

that would be more like £150 up here.

I'm in Manchester so between 120 - 150 sounds about right....

 

[Deleted account]

I'm in Manchester so between 120 - 150 sounds about right....

Admittedly I hate doing EICRs so have started charging more, but people keep saying yes.

 

[pc1966]

Remember that working on your own has a lot of overheads (costs & time) so you need to be charging about double what you need for a reasonable salary.

Speak to an accountant about what is needed, they should be able to handle most of the stuff (for a fee...) in terms of tax and PAYE management. They can also advise you about trade off going sole, or Ltd company, etc as well as to VAT or not to VAT (short version, keep below threshold unless you can go comfortably above it to pay for extra paperwork).

As above, don't get in to a race to the bottom on pricing, keep to what is reasonable in your area for reputable sparks.

EICR are in such a race but demand is high, so make sure you sell yourself as doing it properly and fixing trivial things included in the cost (e.g. odd cracked socket) - give folk a reason to pay you a working wage instead of a drive-by monkey filling a form and not actually doing the safety work needed.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Glad you touched on prices to honest, another avenue I'm unfamiliar with!

If it's purely EICR's then you don't need to be registered. However, If you want to get the remedial work as well then it's definitely going to be worth your while to get registered with a scheme. Basically it's NICEIC or Napit now as Stroma are part of Napit and I think elecsa is with the NICEIC (Certsure I think??!).

To be registered with a scheme you need the following ...

1. Public liability insurance (£2 million minimum). You dont need professional indemnity insurance, I am not too sure of the difference though.
2. Health and safety Policy. Don't let this title frighten you, it is just the same piece of paper used each year, just with the date changed.

3. Risk assessment template. Again, for a small one man band this is rarely used. I dont mean I don't make risk assessments, I do, however they tend to be automatic when you approach a job. I fill this in a little differently once a year when I have my assessment.


4. Up to date copy of BS7671. They will not accept an out of date copy.

5. In date calibration document for your multi function tester.

6. Complaints form, complaints procedure and complaints ledger. I just cant seem to attach them here, sorry.

7. Up to date copy of the building regulations. I have always shown them the Building Regulations Explanatory Booklet which they have always been happy with, see link Building regulations explanatory booklet (2005 amended reprint), Office of the Deputy Prime Minister - Publication Index | NBS - https://www.thenbs.com/PublicationIndex/documents/details?Pub=ODPM&DocID=276909
but this may be out of date. Worst case scenario is they ask you to find it online and send them a picture showing them you have found it.

8. Up to date copy of Part P approved document.

Approved Document P - Part P - Electrical Safety - Planning Portal

Details of Part P (Approved Document P) of the Building Regulations

www.planningportal.co.uk

9. Evidence of learning.
This can be a tricky one for a small sole trader. Sometimes I don't have anything to show them and I am just honest. They suggest one or 2 sights to go on for some online training and that's that. It's never failed me. I do however usually have some simple bits to show them like an online manual handling course I have completed or a working at heights on line course. They are free and they keep the assessor happy.

10. Copy of the Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) that you completed for the job you have carried out that you will be assessed on.

11. Have all the bits above ready and to hand. You will be stressed on your first assessment so don't add to that stress by not having things ready and organised.

12. Brush up on some of the BS7671 basics as they will ask you some basic questions about the regs.
I always quickly go through zones in bathrooms, safe isolation procedure and the correct testing order as these seem to be regular questions. Oh yes and they tend to ask me for some examples of where other parts of the building regulations relate to electrics.

For example part M... heights of sockets. can't think of any more, but I will do before my assessment!

13. You will pass. Even if you have a non-conformity, which is likely on your first assessment, they will simply ask you to remedy it and then send a picture into them, they will then pass you.

14. I forgot your qualification! Not sure about this as it has changed since I registered. Looks like you have to have level 3 now, but I am not sure.

15. This is for anything I have forgotten that the other members will fill in ?

 

[pc1966]

She's very cautious though and is worried about bills being paid etc......I tried to reassure her but I suppose she's right to be a little concerned as I have a steady income now so why risk it.

There will be occasional jobs you don't get paid for - that is part of the overheads you have to allow for. But if there is enough work you will be fine.

Also if your wife can handle some of the paperwork in any spare time it is a massive advantage, saves you doing that instead of the electrics you get paid for. Remember if you don't invoice you won't get paid!

Obvious I know, but I have had to chase some folk before to actually pay them!

 

[telectrix]

Admittedly I hate doing EICRs so have started charging more, but people keep saying yes.

well of down there though. all us silly buggers from up north coming down for cream teas, spending our hard-earned.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Happyhippydad said the important bit in his first sentence, if you just do EICR's to get yourself started, you don't need to be registered.

 

[telectrix]

happy. PI insurance is essential for EICRS. it covers you against cocking something up ( giving bad professional advice, etc.). PL just covers you for damage to propery claims.