Hello,
I had my kitchen renovated last year. Unfortunately I got a builder to do it all which included installing new sockets and ovens etc.
I know I should of got an electrician and accept this was a costly mistake now.
Today one side of our kitchen stopped working and we got a reputable electrician out to fix it. The electrician examined and believes the wiring has been done illegally noting spurs off spurs damaged accessories and insulation showing outside of outlet plates. The electrician claims it’s awful dangerous work which is really disappointing. He’s coming back tomorrow to fix the issues and then complete EICR as we never got certification originally. Which was an oversight on our behalf not asking
Any thoughts on what we should do, Is this now an expensive lesson and take it on the chin or should we take it further with the builder.
Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?
Its too late once remedial work has already started. To make a successful claim against the builder you would have had to give him notice and a reasonable opportunity to put it right. Going down legal routes is frustrating and costly as proof is always needed. In the circumstances you have recognised your mistake and accepted the consequences so you have done all you can do.
Small claims court? Not costly. The EICR should be done first. Then you can use this as evidence against your builder. You should be able to get a full refund for the remedial works. Take a load of pictures. NB make sure your electrician is up to the job of the EICR. Alot of these certificates are rushed for the benefit of securing the remedial work. Also remember an EICR isn't an installation certificate that you should of received for the original electrical work. It's an inspection. You have this done FIRST and then remedial work done AFTER! I would definitely seek compensation.
>> https://www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money
Contact the NICEIC for an electrician that is trained to do EICR's. W
Answered21 January 2021
1
Anonymous user
Should always get a qualified electrician electrical shocks can kill i suggest u learn a costly lesson and move on and keep in touch with a good electrician. Taking this to court can be costly and very stressful
It’s all been covered in the answers above , was the builder Part-P registered or was he registered with one of the electrical regulatory bodies like Napit or NICEIC? Any new cables would have required an installation certificate or the very least a minor works certificate.
Yes you can get a current assessment of the state of the wiring and yes spurs on spurs are not allowed in the regs BS 7671.
There is a small claims court possibility and yes lessons to be learnt all round. I wish you well and hope that it doesn’t cause you too much stress.
