What should I do in this situation of poor and incorrect wiring?

[SeanA]

A friend of mine is having some building work done by some incompetent tradespeople and the wiring in their bathroom was done by a plumber who is not a qualified electrician my friend was having problems so I agreed to have a look at it (I am not a qualified electrician I should point out).

The first thing I noticed was that the plumber had attached a shaver socket and a towel rail to the lighting circuit but not put that on the consumer unit isolator for the lighting circuit. I then found that the shaver socket was only being held in by one screw and was loose. Also the earth in the light switch on the wall outside the bathroom was not connected inside the switch.

My friend was also having problems with lights further on in the circuit and I found out that the neutral had come loose as it was attached to the circuit using a terminal block connector. I have replaced the terminal block with a junction box as I personally don't like terminal blocks especially for work intended to be permanent. The earth was also not properly connected as well.

While fitting the junction box to replace the terminal blocks I noticed that the wiring is using incorrect colours for example there is several instances of brown and red neutral wires with no sleeving, there was also a blue live wire. None of the wiring or junction boxes have been fastened to the rafters and an excessive amount of wiring has been used so its become tangled.

I have spoken to the electrician for the project who has mentioned that they put in a quote to do the bathroom electrics but the person overseeing the project declined it and choose to have it done by the plumber so the electric work in the bathroom has not been certified and signed off, my friend wasn't aware of this. The electrician has offered to certify it for a fee however given how bad it is I don't think the electrician would be able to certify it without major changes.

Given the state of the electrics and the incorrect wiring I have suggested the best cause of action is for my friend to get a new electrician in and replace it all and maybe report the plumber and the person overseeing the project to trading standards. What would you say the best course of action is?

 

[Deleted member 9648]

I'd tell your friend they have got everything they deserve for getting the plumber to do the electrics. Did they ask the electrician to do the plumbing?
It's a product of their own stupidity, don't get involved.

 

[Wilko]

Hi - I’d say the best thing to do is tell your friend what you’ve seen so far and that it needs to be done again by someone qualified to do the job. Safety, reliability, insurance and building approvals are likely at risk just now.

 

[davesparks]

You can try telling them what is wrong an dthat they should get the electrician who is doing the rest of the work to re-do it, but if they've already decided they'd rather put their lives at risk getting a plumber to do it just to save a few quid I doubt they'll now pay to have it re-done.

 

[A032701]

definitely sounds quite a lash up.
I would definitely get a registered sparky to come in and have a look at it.

 

[GBDamo]

Is this your friend that has got a plumber to do the electrics, if so then you reap what you sow. Take the hit and get it done properly.

However if your friend has hired a main contractor to do the works and he has hired a plumber to do the electrics then they should be demanding the whole lot is ripped out an done by a qualified electrician, they should take the hit to get it done properly.

You really can't be too careful with electrics and doubly so in a bathroom.

 

[Dustydazzler]

OP , I admire your tenacity for trying to rescue the situation, but the reality is once the wiring starts getting closed in there will be very little you can do.

The customer is very unlikely to pay twice to have it all ripped apart and re-done

 

[FatAlan]

Just because he’s a plumber doesn’t necessarily mean he isn’t a competent electrician. If his wiring is dodgy .... are you sure he’s actually competent plumber and not just an all round bodger?

 

[The Ghost]

Sadly you have made matters worse in that you have worked on the installation changing to a junction box. So if you went to trading standards the persons who did the original work will say it is not their work someone else has worked on it. You may be in the frame instead of the rogue traders. As you say you are not qualified you may put yourself in the way of prosecution and your friend as he is responsible for ensuring electrical work is undertaken safely at law. So it may backfire spectacularly! First, never involve yourself in this manner and tell your friend unsafe work may leave him open to prosecution. His insurance will be void in the event of an electrical fire or someone being harmed through his cavalier approach as well as prosecution and difficulty selling the house. Sheesh!

 

[SeanA]

She didn't ask the plumber to do it, the builder overseeing the whole project asked the plumber and the electrician to give quotes for the electrical work in the bathroom and the builder overseeing it chose the plumber although my friend wasn't made aware of it until she noticed the electrics in her attic looked a mess and she spoke to the electrician who mentioned to her that she didn't install the electrics.

She has mentioned that she is wanting to have the whole electrics re-done so its a new electrician by the sounds of it. From what I gather though the builder who oversaw the building work is not very good as there are some structural issues with his work.

Regarding me installing the junction box I have photographed everything before and after several times to show what it was like.

 

[Charlie_]

Notifable work?
Plumber and your mate both breaking the law?

 

[Charlie_]

Probably all ok though, unless the plumber is using an nic logo

 

[GBDamo]

Notifable work?
Plumber and your mate both breaking the law?

Plumber and the main contractor surely?

I've a feeling this builder is running amok and baffling the lady client with BS.

OP, tell her to stand her ground and Insist it is all redone by a competent electrician

 

[Charlie_]

I thought part p also put the onus on the homeowner?
That’s how it started off

 

[magnoliafan89]

using incorrect colours for example there is several instances of brown and red neutral wires with no sleeving, there was also a blue live wire.

Do you mean they've used to red and brown as neutrals and blue as a live....or are you assuming that those are the relevant colours?