I could be wrong posting here but i need help

[imjustanonymous]

Dear All,

Newbie here, not sure if this forum is for those who specifically electricians only or if general people can join for help and advice, so im taking a shot here, if this is the wrong website then please let me know and ill just copy and paste it there or wherever is appropriate

I need help as im in a dispute with someone who i hired to fit an electrical shower. Me and my family live in a housing association house who were East Homes but now are L&Q. In 2016 i started looking for a trader to help fit this shower for me, through word of mouth i came across someone who was hired by a family friend to do some painting job even though he says hes like an all rounder person. He came to view the house and where we wanted the shower and advised etc He said he would take on the job, i wasnt around home at the time due to university and my mum was when the actual works were being done, he did this around Mid 2016. He charged about £400, no proper contract or receipt given. He also had brought in another electrician to actually certify the work and to make it go live, have a copy of this certificate also. Managed to find out this electrician was with the NIC and Napit but no longer is since 2015

The work wasnt good, the conduit pipings he fitted started to fall off from the walls and tape also, he did this around the front main door and i kept having to fix them, he made some holes which werent correct and never repaired them, he left a breaker box not screwed down properly either, contacted him to try and fix this and he said he would come round but never came, after many calls to him and no answer, i gave up and did my diy of the conduit pipes but not the breaker box.

Fast forward to late 2018, L&Q came for a random inspection and basically saw the work and complained for health and safety and complained about the holes etc and basicaly disconnected the shower, we have been out of the shower since around November of last year. The L&Q electrician came and saw this and then went to the person who i hired, to his house left him a note about his work and there was some words between the two exchanged. The person i hired came round instantly said that his work is immaculate and nothings wrong with it. We said that we he needs to fix what the landlord said and he said he would after christmas, now its 2019 and April is almost ending and still nothing.

He came around in the end of February and said that he will charge more for having the conduits fixed, L&Q said he needed to have put metal brackets which he didnt and some exposed wire and to correct the amp also. He said all this costs extra money, i said surely not because he shouldve known this. He then said to me that all this about metal brackets on conduit pipes has only come in the new regulation of 2019 and when he did the work in 2016 it didnt matter he also gave an example of Grenfell to me. He also said id have to pay another electrician to get this certified

What i need to know is this:

Is he right about the regulation for 2019 where all conduit pipes need to have brackets which are near fire exit routes?

Do i have to pay more? I mean shouldnt have offer something

Where can i go to report him and get this work done because isnt listening to me and is adamant that he will only do more work for more money

I can provide pictures of the job but im not sure if this could be the right website, if this is then let me know please and i will because its been so long to get this sorted out, im busy with university and my mums busy with hospital runs with my sister

Any advice or information will be appreciated

Thanks

 

[Deleted member 26818]

He’s not correct, the requirement for metal fixings was introduced in the 17th edition 3rd amendment 2015.
In fact the change introduced this year is that it applies everywhere, not just escape routes.

 

[westward10]

You can put up some pics, we like pics.

 

[magnoliafan89]

You can put up some pics, we like pics.

I like me some purdy pictures....

 

[ChrisElectrical88]

If he was with the NIC when he did it start the process with them to honour their plateninum promise or however you spell it.

 

[BruceBanner]

Pics are great! Grenfell had nothing to do with introduction of fire clips, this goes way before that. & to my knowledge that fire had bugger all to do with the fixed wiring, it was the fabric & construction method of the building along with an appliance fault (allegedly).
I have a good idea but what is the "amp" issue refered to?
As far as who to complain to, the body the signing off electrician is affiliated with would be they. Given its a notifiable job the ref number & membership number should be on the certificate. Other than trading standards you will no recourse with the handyman. Even they might not take it up.
Give us more info, & pics as already said.

 

[45140]

Legally the only Contract was between you and the man who installed the shower. The electrician would be classed as a sub-contractor and so is too remote legally from you to take any action.
In the absence of any form of written Contract there would be an assumed Contract which ultimately could need a Judge to rule on the terms and the liabilities to you, and you really do not want to go there, trust me.
If you try to sue the shower man on the basis that the electrics are not safe then potentially you would have to explain and defend why you allowed a non-competent person to work on your electrical system in breach of the EAWR - and that is not going to help your case.
Probably best to ask the Housing Association to undertake any remedial work or find a professional yourself.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Legally the only Contract was between you and the man who installed the shower. The electrician would be classed as a sub-contractor and so is too remote legally from you to take any action.
In the absence of any form of written Contract there would be an assumed Contract which ultimately could need a Judge to rule on the terms and the liabilities to you, and you really do not want to go there, trust me.
If you try to sue the shower man on the basis that the electrics are not safe then potentially you would have to explain and defend why you allowed a non-competent person to work on your electrical system in breach of the EAWR - and that is not going to help your case.
Probably best to ask the Housing Association to undertake any remedial work or find a professional yourself.

While it is correct to say the only contract would have been between the OP and the Installer, the person who signed the Certification (unless a 3 part EIC was used) would have signed as being responsible for the design, construction and I&T of the work. That person would also have signed to confirm the work complied with the Regulations in force at that time.
It’s not necessary to try to sue the Installer on the grounds that the work is unsafe, just that the work does not comply.

As for the EAWR, there is no reason for the OP to know or even suspect the Installer was or is not competent.

 

[Diver233]

Complain to the NICEIC, explain what’s what and see what they say. They should be able to mediate and tell you the facts.

 

[magnoliafan89]

The most shocking thing was that someone was hired to fit electrics who was recommend from a painting job and considers himself an all rounder.....

 

[PEG]

Hi,i'm afraid all bets are off,if you undertook this work without the permission from the landlord.
I would say that you probably need to employ a competent person,and get the installation to a state where the landlord is content.

It sounds from your post,that the landlord is taking a fairly relaxed attitude...this may be because they could demand the work done,is removed or made good,or even do that themselves and charge accordingly.

Not very cheerful,or helpful,i admit,but this is how i see it,at this stage.

 

[Markyd]

why would you get a painter to wire an electric shower........FFS

 

[imjustanonymous]

You can put up some pics, we like pics.

If he was with the NIC when he did it start the process with them to honour their plateninum promise or however you spell it.

Apologies for my quick writing, the person i hired wasnt with NIC, the subcontractor who certified the job, the electrician basically, was with NIC and Napit but sicne 2015 he has been with no one and my job was done in 2016

 

[imjustanonymous]

You can put up some pics, we like pics.

why would you get a painter to wire an electric shower........FFS

I now think why aswell, he had referrals from others who seemed happy, now im regretting it... FFS

 

[imjustanonymous]

Complain to the NICEIC, explain what’s what and see what they say. They should be able to mediate and tell you the facts.

The subcontractor was a member with NIC not the installer himself, if anything, NIC said go to trading standard straight