To comply with new regs the electricity consumer unit in our flat has to be changed, does anyone know how...

ccnp06/04/2022 15:42

You propose to charge the tenant for making the change that is a …You propose to charge the tenant for making the change that is a Landlord's obligation? Isn't that how Landlords (correctly) get a bad name?No one can answer that question without inspecting the premises. Could be £1k, £2k, £3k, £4k or more quite easily if the wiring is old and dodgy and all needs replacing (which is why the EICR was bought in).Read lessRead more

I think OP was talking about how long the job would take when they said would let tenant know.

flang06/04/2022 16:26

How do you know the consumer unit requires replacing?There is no …How do you know the consumer unit requires replacing?There is no requirement for an electrical installation to be compliant to current regs (18th edition).Providing the install was compliant at time of install and is safe for use it will pass an EICR. A lot of electricians are failing EIRCs to make money or have incorrectly interpretated the law.Read lessRead more

I'm an electrician and this guy is spot on

I was quoted 550 about 18 months ago, not London prices though

I have had some done in London. It is about £400 - £500 depending on the current set up. There are additional costs if there are remedial work needed to pass the EICR.

You should budget for around £500

It can take anything from half a day to a whole day to do depending on the existing set up. Get an electrician round to quote.

Sorry, forgot to say that is the cost of replacing the consumer unit. The EICR report is £100 on top, then the additional remedial work on top of needed to pass the EICR. (edited)

Answer - If just a straight board change with zero other issues then 1 day, To upgrade board, recertify the whole installation local bonding if needed and testing the whole installation before reconnecting. In london from people i know in my trade up there (Also an electrician) you are looking at 800-1200. Yes the odd person may well be able to get cheaper but that is the ball park. Remember people London = Parking charge, Congestion Charge, Clean air charge....BEFORE you even get out the van.
for what it's worth I charge £650 in Kent but the recent amendment may result in an even higher charge due to even more new requirements (Arc Fault Detection Devices (AFDDs)) these are quite an added expense likely to push prices up by £40 per circuit.

How do you know the consumer unit requires replacing?
There is no requirement for an electrical installation to be compliant to current regs (18th edition).
Providing the install was compliant at time of install and is safe for use it will pass an EICR.
A lot of electricians are failing EIRCs to make money or have incorrectly interpretated the law.

she-is-it06/04/2022 15:34

nice info, the flat is in London, so how much you think regarding labour …nice info, the flat is in London, so how much you think regarding labour cost and time to do so i can let the tenant know?Read lessRead more

You propose to charge the tenant for making the change that is a Landlord's obligation? Isn't that how Landlords (correctly) get a bad name?

No one can answer that question without inspecting the premises. Could be £1k, £2k, £3k, £4k or more quite easily if the wiring is old and dodgy and all needs replacing (which is why the EICR was bought in).

OP, are you on Facebook?

If so, I would join some neighborhood groups where the flat is and ask for recommendations for an electrician.

If your wiring is OK, then it is just a consumer unit change and subsequent EICR that you require.

I would also suggest, as you will be hiring an electrician anyway, to ask the tenant if there are any other electrical issues that require attention (broken/non-working switches or sockets etc) and get them sorted at the same time.

Also, does the lighting in the bathroom meet the current regulations? If not, I would get this attended to at the same time.

If the property is quite old then yes it is probably best if its changed but if its safe for use there is no requirement to meet the latest regs just a recommendation.

IMO you probably looking around £700-1000 for a board change and test.

You really need to arrange for an electrician to visit, advise and quote.

Any advice on here will only be a guide - in order to do this, you need to provide some more information:

1) Where are you in the country - prices vary across the UK
2) How many circuits do you have - do you need more - post a picture of your current consumer unit

BTW, are you the landlord of the property?

You'll need a consumer unit that complies with 18th Edition regulations. The cost of the unit will vary depending on how many RCDs it has.
If you're letting, you'll also need the EIRC sorted too.
Labour depends a lot on what part of the country you're in.

she-is-it06/04/2022 15:29

Yeah all I need for now is a guide really and yes I am the landlord and …Yeah all I need for now is a guide really and yes I am the landlord and the flat is in London and it only a small flat and i think its 2 circuits, A & B circuits and don't need any more circuits, will post pic when i can get some from the tenant.Read lessRead more

Does the property have a currently valid EICR?

A decent Pre-populated consumer unit shouldn't be any higher than £100 Inc VAT. This unit should be more than capable for a 2 bed.
The advice from someone above, however, is accurate. Get an electrician in to do the change and the EIRC at the same time. I have no idea re London prices. Try Mybuilder to get some quotes too. I'd think it would take at least 4 hours to change the unit with the appropriate tests completed after, but I'm no electrician. If the wiring is old and needs replacing = £££. (edited)

ccnp06/04/2022 15:42

You propose to charge the tenant for making the change that is a …You propose to charge the tenant for making the change that is a Landlord's obligation? Isn't that how Landlords (correctly) get a bad name?No one can answer that question without inspecting the premises. Could be £1k, £2k, £3k, £4k or more quite easily if the wiring is old and dodgy and all needs replacing (which is why the EICR was bought in).Read lessRead more

no no no, i dont plan to charge a 10 year tenant for something that i have to do, maybe my wording was ambiguous, i meant so i can tell the tenant how long it will take to do ie timeframe so they know how long the electrician will be in the flat.

Regarding the cost 1-4k, that much, it only a small one bed flat (edited)

she-is-it06/04/2022 15:34

by EICR i think you mean Electrical Installation Condition Report and it …by EICR i think you mean Electrical Installation Condition Report and it doesnt, have had the flat for about 10 years and same tenant since and if it did, dont know where that is after this long. will need to get that done first i guess.Read lessRead more

Sorry to break it to you, but this became a legal requirement as of June 2020 for new tenancies and, April 2021 for existing tenancies such as yours.

Does the property have any gas appliances? If so, do you have a current Gas Safety Certificate?

Yes, but the bathroom lighting requirement will be highlighted in the EIRC if needed.

britlad06/04/2022 16:07

Yes, but the bathroom lighting requirement will be highlighted in the EIRC …Yes, but the bathroom lighting requirement will be highlighted in the EIRC if needed.Read lessRead more

I know but best tended to beforehand so you get a pass first time.

The electrician will fail the EIRC if the consumer unit or bathroom lights don't meet regs. They'll complete required work and shouldn't charge to retest. The electrics should be tested after any work anyway. I'm pretty sure a lot of landlords don't know if the IP rating of their bathroom lighting and would need to seek the advice of an electrician anyway.

britlad06/04/2022 16:59

Section 3 (1) A private landlord who grants or intends to grant a …Section 3 (1) A private landlord who grants or intends to grant a specified tenancy must:(a) ensure that the electrical safety standards are met during any period when the residential premises are occupied under a specified tenancy;Section 2 … ‘ “electrical safety standards” means the standards for electrical installations in the eighteenth edition of the Wiring Regulations, published by the Institution of Engineering and Technology and the British Standards Institution as BS 7671: 2018’How can a landlord adhere to current requirements to have electrics tested every five years if their property isn't compatible with 18th Ed regs?Read lessRead more

Maybe (edited)

HappyShopper06/04/2022 15:23

You really need to arrange for an electrician to visit, advise and …You really need to arrange for an electrician to visit, advise and quote.Any advice on here will only be a guide - in order to do this, you need to provide some more information:1) Where are you in the country - prices vary across the UK2) How many circuits do you have - do you need more - post a picture of your current consumer unitBTW, are you the landlord of the property?Read lessRead more

Yeah all I need for now is a guide really and yes I am the landlord and the flat is in London and it only a small flat and i think its 2 circuits, A & B circuits and don't need any more circuits, will post pic when i can get some from the tenant. (edited)

britlad06/04/2022 15:30

You'll need a consumer unit that complies with 18th Edition regulations. …You'll need a consumer unit that complies with 18th Edition regulations. The cost of the unit will vary depending on how many RCDs it has.If you're letting, you'll also need the EIRC sorted too.Labour depends a lot on what part of the country you're in.Read lessRead more

nice info, the flat is in London, so how much you think regarding labour cost and time to do so i can let the tenant know?

HappyShopper06/04/2022 15:33

Does the property have a currently valid EICR?

by EICR i think you mean Electrical Installation Condition Report and it doesnt, have had the flat for about 10 years and same tenant since and if it did, dont know where that is after this long. will need to get that done first i guess. (edited)

HappyShopper06/04/2022 15:50

Sorry to break it to you, but this became a legal requirement as of June …Sorry to break it to you, but this became a legal requirement as of June 2020 for new tenancies and, April 2021 for existing tenancies such as yours.Does the property have any gas appliances? If so, do you have a current Gas Safety Certificate?Read lessRead more

yeah, thanks just realised that myself re legal req since 2020 I blame covid for the lapse and no to the gas question, the flat is all electric. (edited)

HappyShopper06/04/2022 16:00

OP, are you on Facebook?If so, I would join some neighborhood groups where …OP, are you on Facebook?If so, I would join some neighborhood groups where the flat is and ask for recommendations for an electrician.If your wiring is OK, then it is just a consumer unit change and subsequent EICR that you require.I would also suggest, as you will be hiring an electrician anyway, to ask the tenant if there are any other electrical issues that require attention (broken/non-working switches or sockets etc) and get them sorted at the same time.Also, does the lighting in the bathroom meet the current regulations? If not, I would get this attended to at the same time.Read lessRead more

will do, thanks for all your suggestions.

britlad06/04/2022 16:16

The electrician will fail the EIRC if the consumer unit or bathroom lights …The electrician will fail the EIRC if the consumer unit or bathroom lights don't meet regs. They'll complete required work and shouldn't charge to retest. The electrics should be tested after any work anyway. I'm pretty sure a lot of landlords don't know if the IP rating of their bathroom lighting and would need to seek the advice of an electrician anyway.Read lessRead more

indeed, i dont but now one has a better understand of things

flang06/04/2022 16:26

How do you know the consumer unit requires replacing?There is no …How do you know the consumer unit requires replacing?There is no requirement for an electrical installation to be compliant to current regs (18th edition).Providing the install was compliant at time of install and is safe for use it will pass an EICR. A lot of electricians are failing EIRCs to make money or have incorrectly interpretated the law.Read lessRead more

now I am confused (edited)

flang06/04/2022 16:26

How do you know the consumer unit requires replacing?There is no …How do you know the consumer unit requires replacing?There is no requirement for an electrical installation to be compliant to current regs (18th edition).Providing the install was compliant at time of install and is safe for use it will pass an EICR. A lot of electricians are failing EIRCs to make money or have incorrectly interpretated the law.Read lessRead more

exact same flat on the top flat above mine tenant i know tells me his has to to be changed but hasnt been done yet and so doesnt know how much it will be etc as the landlord didnt tell him.

Section 3 (1) A private landlord who grants or intends to grant a specified tenancy must:
(a) ensure that the electrical safety standards are met during any period when the residential premises are occupied under a specified tenancy;

Section 2 … ‘ “electrical safety standards” means the standards for electrical installations in the eighteenth edition of the Wiring Regulations, published by the Institution of Engineering and Technology and the British Standards Institution as BS 7671: 2018’
How can a landlord adhere to current requirements to have electrics tested every five years if their property isn't compatible with 18th Ed regs?

she-is-it06/04/2022 15:29

Yeah all I need for now is a guide really and yes I am the landlord and …Yeah all I need for now is a guide really and yes I am the landlord and the flat is in London and it only a small flat and i think its 2 circuits, A & B circuits and don't need any more circuits, will post pic when i can get some from the tenant.Read lessRead more

You are the reason why landlords should be educated, if you want to legally offer your property out for rent then a suitable course should be created and made to pass a pointless licence is worthless. You are licenced yes?

To many wannabe's who haven't got a clue

Also what PPE do YOU believe is necessary to ensure safely and to ensure their are OTT protected for a vulnerable tenant (edited)

charleaward8108/04/2022 18:14

You are the reason why landlords should be educated, if you want to …You are the reason why landlords should be educated, if you want to legally offer your property out for rent then a suitable course should be created and made to pass a pointless licence is worthless. You are licenced yes?To many wannabe's who haven't got a clueAlso what PPE do YOU believe is necessary to ensure safely and to ensure their are OTT protected for a vulnerable tenantRead lessRead more

I vote that we should have an 'ignore' button on hotukdeals

Thanks everyone for your helping hands, I believe I have got all I need now to make the changes