Hi, I am in the process of buying a house. I had a survey done which advised me a replacement consumer unit had been installed and to check relevant approvals had been obtained.
My conveyancer checked with the seller and they provided a Domestic Electrical Installation certificate. The work was done a few months ago. My conveyancer queried if they had a completion certificate and the answer was no. Long story short the people I am buying the house from are using it as part exchange to buy a new build, so I’m actually buying it from the builders who are the ones answering the queries, and they have pretty much said you have the domestic electrical installation certificate and that it all you are going to get. The certificate states NAPIT in the place for registration number if that’s any use.
My query is, is this a major problem for me or could it cause me a major problem? My solicitor advised me to get an electrician in when I move in to check everything is ok but apart from that not to worry.
Is there anything else anyone would recommend? Would it put you off buying the house?
Sorry if I have asked any stupid questions but i know very little about this.
Thanks
Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?
Hi Jimmy. I am registered with NAPIT. The way the certification and Part P process works with NAPIT is quite straightforward. They require that the electrician provides an electrical installation certificate for the new work carried out and notifies the work online to them. The Part P compliance certificate is emailed directly to the customer as part of the notification process. I don't understand why the sellers are being difficult about providing the paperwork unless they are trying to hide something. Your conveyancer can report the lack of evidence of Part P compliance to the local building control office but unfortunately they don't seem to bother too much. Part P, being a building regulation, is a statutory legal requirement and you can push to get answers. How successful you are depends largely on the local authority you deal with. Electrical Installation certificates are a non-statutory document so cannot be enforced. The only way of challenging them is to go directly to NAPIT and ask for their support in getting it verified as bona fide. If they are wrongly claiming to be a NAPIT member, NAPIT can take legal action against them for impersonation which is a very serious offence. Ultimately it is your choice as the buyer as to how much paperwork concerns you or whether you want to just accept what you have. As a buyer you should 'beware'.
Hi there,
First of all there is no such thing as a “Completion Certificate”, so if the Consumer Unit has been replaced then an Electrical Installation Certificate should of been issued (which you said has), as well as the relevant Notifications to the LABC as per Part P Building Regulations.
The Local Area Building Control would then send out a letter confirming this has been Notified by the Contractor (usually takes approx 14-28 days).
Hope this helps.
Steve
S.C. Electrical Contractors
(Wirral)
Part p is to do with building regulations, certain electrical work is deemed notifiable to the local building authority, work such as a board change, a full rewire or anything deemed a new circuit. It is advisable a full electrical installation condition report is carried out before buying a property as it looks at the entire electrical installation and will give you a good idea of its condition.
Hi the electrician that changed the consumer unit should have tested the wiring and should have left a electrical installation cert the best thing to do is when you get into the house is to get a electrician to do a ecr on the electrical installation and check it all out
Answered3 November 2021
2
Anonymous user
A domestic installation certificate is what will be issued on completion of a new consumer unit. By the sounds of it work has been carried and a electrician certified by napit (which is same as NICEIC or gas safe for plumbers). In my opinion nothing to worry about works have been signed off as complete by a competent person.
