There's a similar but perhaps more clear cut version of this issue in this thread below:
While in communication with my electricity provider, Octopus, about fitting a smartmeter, and providing photographs, I have been told that my electric meter has been illegally boxed in. The kitchen was professionally fitted 4 years ago with the resulting boxing in of the meter.
Please could you advise the minimum I need to do to make it legal again as I wish to have a smart meter installed, as I am concerned that the current meter may be expired and unsafe.
The shelf that obstructs access is currently easily removable, it rests on a few removable pegs.
How far do I need to cut back the...
- benawhile
- installed meter supplier
- Replies: 14
- Forum: UK Electrical Forum
I don't fully understand why a surveyor working for you should be so insistent that you need to take action on this, unless you are hoping to use his report to inform buyers prior to a sale.
I don't believe there would be anything illegal in you leaving the issue unresolved. It's not as if you are personally responsible for it having arisen. The surveyors reasoning seems to be based on "in case the buyers want to put in a new kitchen". What if they don't? What if they did and their new kitchen fitters were happy to carry on with the existing arrangement (which is likely!).
Since the Surveyor is working for you, I would discuss with him the downside of leaving the installation as it is. Is it really going to put someone off purchasing if they like the house? You can always haggle price, but it seems rash to commit £5K or whatever to rectify something that others may not perceive as a problem.
our issue is different. We are having to sell our late parents home. We’ve accepted an offer and the buyers surveyor has done the survey. On returning the keys to the estate agent it was mentioned a few issues that will go on his report. This one being the biggest issue it seems. The estate agent said we might be keen to sort it?!. I’m assuming the potential purchasers weren’t aware at that point and no further communication as yet has been made (it’s only been a day).There's a similar but perhaps more clear cut version of this issue in this thread below:
While in communication with my electricity provider, Octopus, about fitting a smartmeter, and providing photographs, I have been told that my electric meter has been illegally boxed in. The kitchen was professionally fitted 4 years ago with the resulting boxing in of the meter.
Please could you advise the minimum I need to do to make it legal again as I wish to have a smart meter installed, as I am concerned that the current meter may be expired and unsafe.
The shelf that obstructs access is currently easily removable, it rests on a few removable pegs.
How far do I need to cut back the...
- benawhile
- installed meter supplier
- Replies: 14
- Forum: UK Electrical Forum
I don't fully understand why a surveyor working for you should be so insistent that you need to take action on this, unless you are hoping to use his report to inform buyers prior to a sale.
I don't believe there would be anything illegal in you leaving the issue unresolved. It's not as if you are personally responsible for it having arisen. The surveyors reasoning seems to be based on "in case the buyers want to put in a new kitchen". What if they don't? What if they did and their new kitchen fitters were happy to carry on with the existing arrangement (which is likely!).
Since the Surveyor is working for you, I would discuss with him the downside of leaving the installation as it is. Is it really going to put someone off purchasing if they like the house? You can always haggle price, but it seems rash to commit £5K or whatever to rectify something that others may not perceive as a problem.
Just putting some feelers out for some advice as to whether we will be forced to change it or not to get this or any other sale through. Obviously my parents have lived with this situation for around 40years and a few kitchens later where the meters position hasn’t ever changed but the cupboards have. So we’re none the wiser there would likely be any issue. I know my parents wouldn’t have been happy to let something go that’s wasn’t legit and more than once. My uncles kitchen has the same placement of the meter.
The post you’ve linked is about access, ours is more that the original backing board which the meter is attached to is attached to a cupboard and not a solid wall, although the cupboard is secure. The original wall (a coal store) was taken down about 40years ago and a kitchen put in its place. The surveyor is concerned in case the new buyers want to change the kitchen. But like you say, maybe they won’t
