EICR Confusion – ReTest ambiguity?

Reply to the comment left by Able Services at 24/06/2021 - 11:29It's the same systemic problem throughout society and it is worse now than it has ever been. This "engineer" should never have received whatever "training" he did actually receive, in the first place. Society is absolutely saturated with these people in every walk of life. Those that have the ability to actually display sound judgement are prevented from doing so by the requirement to replace it with process so dumbed down that any biological algorithm can convince itself that it is actually capable of adding anything other than a net burden.
You must decide whether to act on your own judgement and accept the consequences or spend more of your time fighting this burden, possibly by paying out yet again.

I'm and electrician and landlord.
The legislation requires either and EICR, or an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC). Some councils are still confused by this.
If you have a new consumer unit etc, you will get an EIC, so you don't need an EICR.
If you had an unsatisfactory EICR, and had minor works carried out to rectify, you will be given a Minor Works Certificate. You would then put this with your EICR to prove compliance.
Once an EICR has been submitted, it can't be changed.

Although a little confusing there are differences between an Installation certificate and a condition report mainly concerning the particular detail of checks made to the wiring accessories. An EICR is required by the agents to confirm those checks have been made. The NICEIC support have advised in this matter of reporting practices. However, If a practical approach is taken in the first place (as would be similar in a Car MOT), any initial installation precheck will usually determine the state of the installation, and if requiring a change of Consumer Unit (CU) (for the correct reasons! which is not merely based on age!) along with any other pre authorised C1, C2's would get a 'satisfactory' and the issuing of both EIC and EICR certificates. Businesses should adopt a practical approach as with any new legislation, and those premises who require their installation updating will be discovered just as easily.
Costs Issuing a FAIL with ensuing remedials (possibly including a change of CU as as part of those remedials) and then the further issue of a PASS may be possibly correct (as a MOT would) it’s not in the spirit of the changes! and would increase the costs unnecessarily for both Client and I'm guessing eventually their tenants!

Reply to the comment left by John Taylor at 26/06/2021 - 15:30
You do not need an EICR and EIC in any event. Both reports satisfy the legislation in their own right.

Having commented earlier on in this thread I am seeing the comments of others, some of which surprise me.

The legal requirement for an electrcial check is recent, but was known about for some time. However, landlords haver always had a general obligation to ensure that property they let is safe. As a layman when it comes to electrical matters the only way this could be achieved is by having an EICR in place. This was actually a longstanding requirement of the Private Rented Sector Code of Practice (RICS).

It seems odd to me that so many landlords are being caught out by the need to have checks and remedial works done. What condition were the electrics in at all these houses previously? This is a concern.

As for the costs, it sounds like many landlords are caught out by the level of works required (if no prior chekcs undertaken) and a shortage of contractors. If more landlords had planned then there would not have been such a rush.

Finally, whether or not an individual contractor is taking advantage is difficult to address on this forum. I am sure we have all been taken for a ride occasionally, it's part of doing business. Perhaps we don't fully understand what's being done or we are too busy to ask the right questions. We have to rely on others to advise us; some advice will be excellent, some may be weak, some may be downright fraudulent. However, as business owners don't we have an obligation to sort the wheat from the chaff, build good relationships and move on from those who don't serve us well.

It seems unfortunate to me that there is a lot of moaning about costs, especially when related to safety issues. Landlords are not popular at the moment, so we must get our houses in order (literally).

Rant over.

Having commented earlier on in this thread I am seeing the comments of others, some of which surprise me.

The legal requirement for an electrcial check is recent, but was known about for some time. However, landlords haver always had a general obligation to ensure that property they let is safe. As a layman when it comes to electrical matters the only way this could be achieved is by having an EICR in place. This was actually a longstanding requirement of the Private Rented Sector Code of Practice (RICS).

It seems odd to me that so many landlords are being caught out by the need to have checks and remedial works done. What condition were the electrics in at all these houses previously? This is a concern.

As for the costs, it sounds like many landlords are caught out by the level of works required (if no prior chekcs undertaken) and a shortage of contractors. If more landlords had planned then there would not have been such a rush.

Finally, whether or not an individual contractor is taking advantage is difficult to address on this forum. I am sure we have all been taken for a ride occasionally, it's part of doing business. Perhaps we don't fully understand what's being done or we are too busy to ask the right questions. We have to rely on others to advise us; some advice will be excellent, some may be weak, some may be downright fraudulent. However, as business owners don't we have an obligation to sort the wheat from the chaff, build good relationships and move on from those who don't serve us well.

It seems unfortunate to me that there is a lot of moaning about costs, especially when related to safety issues. Landlords are not popular at the moment, so we must get our houses in order (literally).

Rant over.