Electrical Testing

[Sunnykeats]

good morning. We bought a Grade 2 listed thatched cottage in 2020 and our insurance company now say that we must have our 5 year electrical testing completed within a month. Have you an idea of how much this will cost to have the electrical test done and do we require a specialist electrician to carry this out. Many thanks in advance, Nicki

 

[Feltwell]

Any general electrician should be able to do that for you, doesn't require a specialist. I couldn't comment on cost. It does take a while - when I had our consumer unit replaced and moved, the testing after took as long as the move did.

 

[noj]

Had one done last year to keep NFU happy. It was £180.

The insurers insisted that the electrician was certified with either one out of two acronyms (which I can't recall), but do check what your's requires!

 

[Cubist]

I was about to say approx £200 until I saw Nojs reply. However, I would add...pretty much in the same way as the electrician.....except without a £sign... be ready for extras to comply with Building Regs e.g. steel consumer units, metal boxes behind wall light fittings, metal trays/sheathing in loft spaces and lots more.

Did you ask the previous owner for a copy of their certificate? If so, it may have some time to run and, as far as I know, there are no regulations concerning its transfer.

 

[noj]

Yeah, I didn't mention the remedial costs that followed...

Needed to run an earth from the CU to gas and electric, downrate the smoke alarms from a 32a circuit, and trace an earth continuity fault on the downstairs ring. Ended up replacing the CU since it's now obsolete and RCDs not available. But no complaints about the bakelite light switches.

 

[fernicarry]

be ready for extras to comply with Building Regs e.g. steel consumer units

You don't have to comply with current regs. The regs move forwards from time to time but that doesn't automatically make all pre-existing installations dangerous. Metal cased consumer units being one example.

The electrician should flag his observations with a code. Not all codes require action to make the installation 'satisfactory'. Does your insurance company say what they consider to be satisfactory?

This guide is quite helpful: https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/media/fpton1au/bpg4-a5-2022.pdf

I had a huge fight on the EICR for my rental place as the electricians (two different ones) just took it as an excuse to print money. Everything they flagged as C2 should have been C3 according to that guide. Wish I'd had it at the time.

 

[Cubist]

Fernicarry is quite correct but sadly the insurers, brokers and underwriters often take a position regarding some observations making them mandatory for insurance purposes even if the installation is deemed and recorded as 'Satisfactory' by the electrician.

 

[Lacan07]

Is this a thing for listed buildings?

Fernicarry is correct, there's no obligation to comply with current regs. God knows what kind of ancient electrics are out there. If the insurers saw the rusty old Steel incoming junction box on the side of my house they'd pass out. Even SGN engineers refused to open it.

 

[Mrs McG]

I don’t know if it’s a thing for listed buildings generally but it is for thatch cottage insurance. And any work flagged by the report as necessary needs to be actioned within 30 days.

 

[Lacan07]

I don’t know if it’s a thing for listed buildings generally but it is for thatch cottage insurance. And any work flagged by the report as necessary needs to be actioned within 30 days.

Ah, I see.

 

[tobydog]

I see Sunnykeats refers to a 5 year electrical testing. We had our electrical test carried out in March 2019 and it's valid for 10 years. This is evidenced in the insurance renewal documentation. Just renewed again through Lloyd & Whyte with Ageas Insurance for our thatched house and no problems with the 10 years. Just had to reconfirm it was still current and what the expiry date is. When the certificate expires in March 2029 I need to make sure I get the test carried out well ahead of this date so there is plenty of time to fix any issues that come up. I know it's a long way off but I'm sure that trying to get a good electrician to do the test, and carry out any remedial work, will likely take far longer than 30 days. I have tried switching insurers a while back only to find they needed a number of issues sorted within a totally unrealistic timeframe.

 

[Cubist]

I see Sunnykeats refers to a 5 year electrical testing. We had our electrical test carried out in March 2019 and it's valid for 10 years. This is evidenced in the insurance renewal documentation. Just renewed again through Lloyd & Whyte with Ageas Insurance for our thatched house and no problems with the 10 years. Just had to reconfirm it was still current and what the expiry date is. When the certificate expires in March 2029 I need to make sure I get the test carried out well ahead of this date so there is plenty of time to fix any issues that come up. I know it's a long way off but I'm sure that trying to get a good electrician to do the test, and carry out any remedial work, will likely take far longer than 30 days. I have tried switching insurers a while back only to find they needed a number of issues sorted within a totally unrealistic timeframe.

The 'term' of the certification always appears rather arbitrary to me and I have felt that it depends more on the whim of the inspector at the time than any particular guidance. Since taking on this place it has thus far been certified for two terms of 5 years and the latest for 10. The only reason I can discern for the latest being that the inspection was conducted by the son of the chap that did it the first two times. I shouldn't be surprised I suppose - the father was a Terry Wogan GOG.

 

[88v8]

good morning. We bought a Grade 2 listed thatched cottage in 2020 and our insurance company now say that we must have our 5 year electrical testing completed within a month. Have you an idea of how much this will cost to have the electrical test done and do we require a specialist electrician to carry this out. Many thanks in advance, Nicki

Some electricians can be right fusspots. If you're unlucky in that respect try another one.
Be warned that some insurers require remediaton of recommendations as well as requirements.
I took the view that the recommendations are for me to decide and none of their business.
Which is one reason that we no longer bother with insurance.

Ivor

 

[Zebra]

Indeed, the "term" of the inspection period is somewhat arbitrary, as it is based on the judgement of the person carrying out the test. That is what the regulation permits - for the electrician to assess and decide upon the duration until the next inspection. This is intended so that they can nominate shorter periods in the event of a concern. I used to give most inspections 10 years...