Test failed due to missing RCD

[Peterpipe]

Hi All
Recently joined the forum to ask for some information.
I recently bought a flat to let. I was advised by the letting agent to get the electrics tested, although not a legal requirement. The test was carried out by their electrical contractor. He failed the test due to the fuse board not having an RCD fitted. The fuse board is the original board fitted in 2003 when the flats where built. There has been no mods or circuits added to the system and everything is working as it should. I paid £348.00 for the test and the RCD to be installed. I have since been told that the test should not have failed due to the lack of the RCD. Have I been stitched up.
Any comments gratefully recieved
Peter

 

[Octopus]

Not having RCD's in a rental property is NOT a good idea ......... I would suggest that you may have been taken advantage of .......... and as he was recommended by the estate agent, I suspect they get some form of kick back .............

Next time, plan ahead and don't use a spark associated with an estate agent.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

A very reasonable price for a full EICR, a lot for the RCD, but there may have been complications, changing devices in a CU is not always straightforward, particularly with obsolete boards.

 

[Peterpipe]

I have not received the report yet, I guess it is in the post. It will be interesting to see what it says.

 

[Taylortwocities]

He's taken out the mains switch and replaced it with the RCD

Which contravenes BS7671 as he has now introduced a common point of failure. An earth fault on any circuit will cut the electricity to the entire flat.

So he has changed what was a minor issue - that deserves a C3 (improvment recommended) - to what I regard as something much worse.

 

[Taylortwocities]

He's taken out the mains switch and replaced it with the RCD

Which contravenes BS7671 as he has now introduced a common point of failure. An earth fault on any circuit will cut the electricity to the entire flat.

So he has changed what was a minor issue - that deserves a C3 (improvment recommended) - to what I regard as something much worse.

 

[Octopus]

He did give me two prices £156.00 for the test and £192.00 for installing the RCD.

I would say that you need to go back to the agent / spark and question the £192.00 to fit an RCD

Are you sure it wasn't supposed to be £156 for the test and an additional £36 (making £192) for the RCD.

Talk about over charging ...................

 

[Peterpipe]

Had it been £192.00 or even £250.00 for both, I would have paid without question but £348.00. It's like when you take your car in for an MOT and it fails because the laughter shaft has detached from the giggle pin and its going to cost 50 Groats to get it fixed and you can't drive it as it is.

 

[westward10]

How has the RCD been fitted?

I agree I wouldn't mind seeing a pic of this.

 

[sparksburnout]

Had it been £192.00 or even £250.00 for both, I would have paid without question but £348.00. It's like when you take your car in for an MOT and it fails because the laughter shaft has detached from the giggle pin and its going to cost 50 Groats to get it fixed and you can't drive it as it is.

OK we will assume said electrician is self employed, irrespective of the possible dubious worth of installing an up-front RCD. No holiday pay, no sick pay, scheme fees, insurance, accountants, and so on. You have no idea of the costs involved, do you? How much rent are you charging your Tenant? Bet it's a hell of a lot more than £348 pcm, and your probably depriving someone of buying a first home to boot.

 

[Octopus]

@sparksburnout

You seem to be disagreeing with some of the comments on here ........ why, what is your opinion?

@Peterpipe

Have you received the invoice? Maybe not pay it until you have received the paperwork.

You need an EICR and a MWC or EIC with the invoice

...........

 

[Octopus]

OK we will assume said electrician is self employed, irrespective of the possible dubious worth of installing an up-front RCD. No holiday pay, no sick pay, scheme fees, insurance, accountants, and so on. You have no idea of the costs involved, do you? How much rent are you charging your Tenant? Bet it's a hell of a lot more than £348 pcm, and your probably depriving someone of buying a first home to boot.

So you think £192 to fit an RCD in place of a main switch acceptable?

I don't

 

[MJPD29]

I agree with the spark. Landlords and letting agents can be downright ridiculous when it comes to things like this and you've done the right thing by paying for an EICR and an RCD at least your one of the few who keeps everything right and effectively keeping your tenants safer should an fault condition arise

 

[sparksburnout]

@sparksburnout

You seem to be disagreeing with some of the comments on here ........ why, what is your opinion?

@Peterpipe

Have you received the invoice? Maybe not pay it until you have received the paperwork.

You need an EICR and a MWC or EIC with the invoice

...........

Yes I have disagreed with a couple of the comments on here, it is allowed you know? I think I have made my comments fairly clearly, maybe you need to read through the posts. You yourself agreed with it being madness not to have RCD protection in a rental property so you have lost me on my first one. Regarding the second, I do work for a local estate agent, never had any problems or complaints from any direction, so it is unfair of you to generalise in my opinion. Who are we to know the costs involved in this particular job? Presumably they were agreed between the spark involved and the Landlord beforehand? If not then they should have been.

 

[Octopus]

Who are we to know the costs involved in this particular job? Presumably they were agreed between the spark involved and the Landlord beforehand? If not then they should have been.

The way the OP has presented the information to us is that he wasn't given the choice, or, more importantly the opportunity to get another quote.

A photo of the board would be useful.

As for lettings and estate agents - they have a pretty awful reputation for this sort of thing and I normally decline opportunities from said organisations ............... I do work directly for home / flat owners and make sure that they understand the ins and outs of what is needed ............ and often suggest they get a 2nd opinion.

 

[elsparko]

only new builds and modifications to existing circuits that require rcd protection

existing properties it is a c3 at best.