Yet Another Dodgy EICR

[JK-Electrical]

A prospective customer has contacted me via a recommendation received from a mutual contact and asked me to provide a quotation for remedial works that have arisen from an EICR that was recently undertaken at a three-bedroom property he rents out. In his initial e-mail, he said that the letting agent has told him that the following remedial works are necessary:

Replace Fusebox then test and certify
Materials to replace a double socket
Materials to install main gas bond, 10m of 16mm earth cable, 2 bonding clamps

I asked the property owner to forward me a copy of the EICR. I have redacted all personal details contained therein and have uploaded the report for your consideration, scrutiny and appraisal. My own personal assessment is that the property owner has been ripped-off by a drive-by tester and that the report isn't worth the paper that it's written on. Although the property owner was charged just £95.00 by the letting agent, even this amount could be considered excessive given the poor quality of the report.

Over to you guys .....

 

[David Prosser]

Why not get the customer to "whatsap" you a couple of pictures of the consumer unit a random socket and light and if you want to do a decent job a picture of the gas meter as well.

You could then do all the paper work from home !

 

[static zap]

..... I use 60947-3 type usually !!

.... inputted 60497-3 ...(for)...60947-3

@NDG Elecs Give that man a "Cheesecake" ...

Ooops I'm getting my Spoons mixed up with
Spoonerisms!
(No Awards -"Reaction")
Well Done NDG Elecs.

 

[andyb]

I have just done an EICR , I waved my note book at the consumer unit , poked my head round a few doors did i mention I left my tester in the van but no matter I know what the readings will be anyway.
I am going to scribble some notes on my test sheets , tick a few boxes at random as you do and head down the pub for lunch.
£195 cash in my pocket for 45mins work.

Am I doing this right ???

Don't worry Dusty, you'll soon get faster with some experiance.

 

[Toneyz]

I have just done an EICR , I waved my note book at the consumer unit , poked my head round a few doors did i mention I left my tester in the van but no matter I know what the readings will be anyway.
I am going to scribble some notes on my test sheets , tick a few boxes at random as you do and head down the pub for lunch.
£195 cash in my pocket for 45mins work.

Am I doing this right ???

No you should be doing it from your van.

 

[Risteard]

4. Mandatory inspection and testing of private rented accommodation in Scotland takes place every five years, not three as is stated on the report.

Much of what you point out is valid, however I will have to disagree on this point. Regardless of whether the legal requirement is for these to be carried out five-yearly or not, the Report must surely state a recommendation to next inspection based upon the condition of the electrical installation. Otherwise the box would be pointless.

So if the condition of the installation warranted the advice of three years to the next inspection, then that is the interval that should be stated. Or if it was in really bad condition then perhaps six months or whatever. I have had this issue before with business owners complaining that I had not given a five year recommendation for their business premises. I pointed out that my assessment was based on the installation as inspected - as it is required to be.

 

[JK-Electrical]

Much of what you point out is valid, however I will have to disagree on this point. Regardless of whether the legal requirement is for these to be carried out five-yearly or not, the Report must surely state a recommendation to next inspection based upon the condition of the electrical installation. Otherwise the box would be pointless.

So if the condition of the installation warranted the advice of three years to the next inspection, then that is the interval that should be stated. Or if it was in really bad condition then perhaps six months or whatever. I have had this issue before with business owners complaining that I had not given a five year recommendation for their business premises. I pointed out that my assessment was based on the installation as inspected - as it is required to be.

I understand and would not normally take issue with what you say. However, in this particular instance I seriously doubt that an installation which the tester has assessed as being only 15 years old would require periodic testing at three-year intervals. Fifty years, perhaps, yes. Fifteen, no. Not unless the installation was in unusually poor condition for its age. But in the absence of any test results we have no way of determining if this is actually the case here.

 

[JK-Electrical]

Out of curiosity, what would you guys usually charge for undertaking an EICR in a three-bedroom property?

 

[Dustydazzler]

[in all seriousness you should probably charge around £250

Which allows you a full day to do the things properly and a full lunch hour to nip to McDonald’s

 

[Andy78]

Out of curiosity, what would you guys usually charge for undertaking an EICR in a three-bedroom property?

According to a landlord customer of mine £65. Can I beat that price she has been quoted ?

 

[Dustydazzler]

According to a landlord customer of mine £65. Can I beat that price she has been quoted ?

Yes of course madam , and I will drive past tonight and compile my report this evening. I won’t even have to disturb the tenants.
It will be with you via email at 9am tomorrow morning

Please deposit £64 into this bank account

 

[Dustydazzler]

I remember when I was an apprentice you could get a pir done at £4 per circuit

That was 2o years ago thou

 

[Dave OCD]

I've just quoted a private landlord £250, it's a 3 bed house. I always explain that I have to be thorough as it's important and need a day to do it right including the paperwork. Accepted immediately. But in that price we'd replace the odd damaged socket or light switch for example and if we complete the job in say 6 hours I'll knock a little bit off the quoted cost, they like that.

 

[DPG]

I've just quoted a private landlord £250, it's a 3 bed house. I always explain that I have to be thorough as it's important and need a day to do it right including the paperwork. Accepted immediately. But in that price we'd replace the odd damaged socket or light switch for example and if we complete the job in say 6 hours I'll knock a little bit off the quoted cost, they like that.

And the screw heads would be lined up

 

[JK-Electrical]

According to a landlord customer of mine £65. Can I beat that price she has been quoted ?

I've just quoted a private landlord £250, it's a 3 bed house. I always explain that I have to be thorough as it's important and need a day to do it right including the paperwork. Accepted immediately. But in that price we'd replace the odd damaged socket or light switch for example and if we complete the job in say 6 hours I'll knock a little bit off the quoted cost, they like that.

£250.00 sounds about right Dave. Alas, it just isn't possible to get anywhere near that kind of price accepted around Glasgow, not when you have "landlord compliance certification" companies offering to do EICRs in three-bedroom properties for £95.00.

I'm considering withdrawing EICRs from the list of services that I offer and withdrawing from this saturated market altogether as it's become a race to the bottom.

 

[Dave OCD]

And the screw heads would be lined up

Of course, vertical ! Even on an accessory with the white caps over the screws.