Electrical

New house with dodgy electrics - can I get fined?

Anonymous user 09/03/2024 - 2.35 PM

We've recently moved and it is apparent that some of the electrics in our new house may be sub-standard. There's a new(ish) consumer unit and a new(ish) electric shower, a collection of half original (1969) and half new(ish) circuits, lots of spurs, lots of new lighting circuits. Some seem to be well fitted and some a a bit rough and ready. The consumer unit has two light circuits, two ring mains and one shower breaker. However, the main worry is the two ring circuits are wired together somewhere (both breakers have to be turned off to kill the power to sockets). There is also no documentation for any electrics in the paperwork I got when I bought the house and a search of the local building regs and notifications don't mention any electrical work (i.e. the new consumer unit) My question is this. I've been recommended to get it safety checked just in case. If it is found to be unsafe, or circuits fitted without relevant notifications or regs, or work not carried out by a competent person, could I get fined for this as I now own the house? If not could / would they go after the previous owner? I'm just concerned I'll end up paying £150 for a safety check followed by a 5k fine and the cost of a whole house rewire...