Electrical safety cert; new one needed after works?

[keano]

We have an electrical safety certificate issed in June last year (valid for 5 years). If we have electrical work carried out by a fully qualified electrician who will issue a certificate of completion are we legally obliged to get the safty certificate redone?

The local council are saying that we will have to. Our ex-tenants messed around with our house - including some electrical work - to get the council involved after we got their housing benefit paid directly to us. We have to get the house inspected before we can relet and the council worker has implied that he will issue an order if we do not get a new certificate done.

[Interlaken]

This business of electrical safety certs is a grey area. If you have a certificate of completion I would say that fine. That is what a building inspector would want to see if it was a new build.

[westminster]

There is no statutory obligation to provide T with an electrical safety certificate. However, you do have an obligation to ensure the electrics are safe.

If the council (the EHO?) has ordered you to provide evidence of safety, I don't think you'll get very far in refusing to cooperate with them.

[keano]

We aready have a periodic safety report issued 10 months ago and the electrician is providing a certificate of completion saying that work has been carried out to the required standards. Is this not enough?

[property mongrel]

From your OP you appear to be saying that you had an electrical safety test done on premises, and a certificate was issued 10 months ago? You had tenants in who "messed around with our house - including some electrical work".

You can not know exactly what they did to the electrical system, or to what standard, or even if what they did was permitted? Were they qualified to work on the electrical system? You cannot be sure the system is as safe as it was or is legal?

I think you should be able to claim the cost of a check and retest back from your X tenants in these circumstances, and I can fully understand why the council would want a retest and a new certificate as proof of safety.

pm

[pinkwallpaper]

Do I understand correctly that there is no absolute necessity for an electrical safety check when letting a property, but that the landlord is liable if there is loss of life or injury by fire, electrocution ect. if it is caused by faulty electrics. How can a landlord ensure their property is safe. My houses have all had recent electrical checks and have electric smoke alarms, how often do I need to have the checks done to ensure I am not liable in case of any accident to tenant? Is PAT testing necessary every year? What about electrical showers?

[keano]

I had not actually seen what the tenants had done as I am not in the country. But I've told the agent to get the whole house retested after being sent photos of the mess that they have created of installing wiring in the garage. Needless to say I am claiming this back from them.

Not sure that sellotape conforms to current British Standards!!!

[baldelectrician]

If you have a recent PIR (Periodic Inspection Report) then all you will need is an Electrical Installation Certificate (or Minor Works certificate for smaller works) to go in the file as it were

The PIR shows how it was and the MW / EIC shows what you have had done regarding remedials, there is no need for a new PIR as both EIC and MW certificates have a section 'comments on existing installation' where the spark will put comments in