Electrical

Buying a house where the owner says electrical work hasn't been done when I believe it has

Anonymous user 15/03/2024 - 2.32 PM

Ok, to try and cut a long story short, I'm buying a house and the owner has written in the property information form that the house hasn't had any electrical work done on it since 2005. However google street view tells a different story. There is some electrical conduit running down the side of the house in 2012 but not in 2009. The position of the conduit outside the house relative to two mains sockets inside the house suggests that someone has spurred off the ring main of one socket inside the lounge of the house, routed the cable through the wall, along the exterior of the building via the conduit and back into the house to the spur socket in the lounge. The socket appears to be powering the TV on the wall. I know that the conduit doesn't house something innocent like a TV aerial cable or satellite cable because they enter the building at a different point. So my questions are: Assuming it is mains electricity running through that conduit and not something innocent: Should they have a certificate for this work? And what position am I in if I purchase the property without obtaining this certificate? The work looks fairly decent to be fair: someone has routed the conduit in a manner that appears to follows rules and regs. But I don't know if it has been done to the letter. Given that it is metal conduit, I'm assuming it should be earthed too? I also don't know if the appropriate cable has been used..... To be honest the work could have been done several years ago and the owner could have completely forgotten.... but then....... To avoid annoying the owner and keep the exchange smooth I'm tempted to let it go and get it sorted after the sale, but then why should I have to pay for it, and never mind face the possibility of prosecution...... Sorry, I'm rambling, but this is causing me an unnecessary headache, and I wouldn't go as far as say as it's causing me worry, but I do know there are substantial fines. ---------Update--------- Thanks for your time everyone. I will do as you say. And yes Tony, it does concern me a bit too...... it was the first thing that crossed my mind after posting the message.