Landlords are unwittingly exposing their tenants to the serious danger of fire because they opt for the cheaper option when hiring an electrician for their EICR report.
That’s the claim from Landlord Licensing & Defence which says many landlords don't appreciate why some electrical firms charge more than others for the Electrical Installation Condition Reports.
Landlords were given responsibility for having an electrical inspection carried out every five years under Section 5 of the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 which states that landlords should hire a 'qualified and competent person' to do the work.
The firm says: “Most landlords haven’t a clue how they should judge who is qualified and competent and simply chose the cheapest.
But there are one week and two-day courses that claim to train almost anyone to meet the minimum requirements for testing electrical installations. As a result, many landlords are unknowingly putting their tenants at risk by hiring the cheapest, rather than the most qualified, electricians.”
It says this issue has become so widespread that several councils with selective licensing regimes now insist that EICR certificates be carried out only by NIC/EIC or NAPIT-registered electricians.
Phil Turtle, fire compliance expert at Landlord Licensing & Defence, says: "We believe that this is a step in the right direction, as some electricians have been known to carry out up to 10 inspections per day, which is simply not enough time to ensure a thorough check.
"To put this into perspective, a thorough inspection of a flat takes around three hours, while a small house takes four hours. This means that a proper inspection will cost a landlord up to £500. However, many firms are offering cheap inspections for as little as £80."
He says that while the low price may seem like a good deal on paper, it is important to remember that cheaper inspections will not provide the level of detail required to ensure tenant safety.
He points to a report by the Institute of Engineering and Technology published last year that found evidence that inadequate EICR safety inspections on buildings across England are increasing the risk of fire.
"As a responsible landlord, you have a duty to ensure that your tenants are safe and secure in their homes. That's why we recommend that you use the services of a reputable company to carry out an inspection that only uses properly qualified NIC/EIC or NAPIT-registered electrician. Please don't put your tenants' lives at risk by cutting corners” he concludes.
The firm offers a free booklet for landlords that explains the cause of fires and how landlords can prevent them.
Landlords can use the Registered Competent Person website to find a Registered competent tester by selecting ‘to undertake an electrical safety report’ on the search page.
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Surely the onus is on the trade bodies to ensure that anyone trained to undertake the EICR is competent not on LLs to work it out!
Agree Tricia- and to inspect a say 3 bed house it takes nearly a full day. In order to get your certificate.
Not interested. How many electrical inspections are owner occupiers subjected to - none.
A basic inspection is better than no inspection at all. If the property has a board fitted with RCD’s it’s safer than most. The banning of plug in air fresheners is what should’ve promoted along with Tenants being mandated to attend training sessions on how to look after a property covering routine cleaning, basic repairs, gardening. Ventilating the property to stop mould etc. The importance of paying your rent and being civil to neighbours and the landlord/letting agent. This licensing officer should stick to his clipboard and stop promoting practices that will only increase rents to tenants
I got charged about £700. The tenant said they didn't do any work!
Was an agent involved?
Some agents put an add on, mine forwards me the invoice which I pay direct
Most agents will add a 15% clip, but that still doesnt explain how you got to £700.
I just got charged £1014 for an EICR and new CU with surge protection, which I am told is obligatory under Sec2 of the 18th edition wiring regs. Another to do at £888 next month.
What will they dream up over the next 5 yrs? There’s always something.
Well it’s all going on the rent, no longer am I prepared to cover these endless demands.
I was charged £80 for each report and then £90 to do the essential earthing work for two flats - £45 each. I had lots of quotes before I gave the work to an electrician. He then installed a hard wired smoke alarm system for £130. I bought the appropriate smoke alarms myself
My electrician was highly qualified -post-graduate maths degree from abroad, too.
Hi Ellie, my properties are also in central London.
I've tried contacting my Electrician (who does exceptional work) to sort out a problem for me, but have had no reply. Perhaps he's on holiday.
No harm having a "Plan B" though, so wondered if you wouldn't mind passing me your Electrician's details? Hopefully it's possible on this forum?
Thanks!
Hi Daniela,
My electrician's name was BAYARSAIKHAN TSENZEEVANCHIG
Mobile: 07730015142
He gave me a special price on all the electrical work because he was sympathetic to the amount of money I was paying in inheritance tax and council tax at the time. I don't know what he is charging now.
THANK YOU, Ellie!
I've just paid £150 + VAT each for 3 EICRs. Carried out by a very experienced NICEIC electrician I've been using for years. One of them needed something new in the meter cupboard so that was another £200 or so.
I had two done a few months ago for about the same price by a NAPIT registered electrician who looked like he was just out of school. One passed, the other failed. He was supposed to come back the following week to do the remedial work but simply didn't turn up. No communication, nothing. He'd been paid for the inspections and that was all he was interested in. The NICEIC one came out as the fails sounded like they needed immediate action and couldn't see why two items had been failed in the first place. The first chap had left a screw loose in a socket face and didn't like the plastic back box on another socket. It was perfectly safe but should have been metal. The only other thing was an earthing continuity issue in the kitchen. To be fair to both electricians the state the tenant had let the kitchen get into didn't make it a very attractive job to trace the fault.
Jo, the other ones are annual, Emergency lighting & Hardwired Fire Alarms that will be another £150. minimum for those two,
Part of the licensing requirements.
Gas is annual mandatory anyhow.
My fire alarms and emergency lighting are £180 + VAT per property for two visits a year.
Ellie. Not to disagree with you but can’t be in London they wouldn’t turn up for that.
It must be a small Flat even then its probably surface can’t see anyone lifting flooring boards for that.
Also it has to be on its own independent circuit breaker back to the Consumer Unit.
Just a thought might as well also incorporate the Monoxide Detector.
Certificate’s can cost me that annually without any remedial work.
It was London, Michael, and the electrician was very diligent about following all the regulations. I had a number of quotes from My builder and a number of conversations about the work and the costs before going ahead. I should say my electrician has put his prices up now. The maisonette where the hard wired smoke alarm system was installed is huge - on 3 floors. It was a very complicated job
I had such a massive inheritance tax bill that I had to be careful about costs.
I'd attach the receipts to my post if I could, but that is not possible on this site.
Cost is all determined by the number of circuits with larger properties/houses having more circuits and from a practical perspective it takes longer to test a circuit in a house, walking upstairs etc. Entry point is £150 plus VAT up to about £350 normally. £20 a circuit is another rough guide. All assuming no remdial work required for a pass.
Good luck to you it not ever been the case in my experience, alway costs more and I think Matthew was not far out but obviously not to including installation.
How much an hour does an Electrician earn, business and Van to supply and run, parking stuck in traffic down time between jobs it all must be covered, we won’t mention the Mayor.
I don’t get Quotes the majority would laugh at me, just happy if I can get someone to come and do it. We are only small LL begin to have it done to comply we are not McAlpines.
Michael, that electrician was exceptional. I am sometimes fleeced. I am adopting a new method of maintenance - buying all necessary materials and tools - and paying by the day or the hour depending on the work. I am going to be in charge from now on, not the person I engage. I've just been unblocking drains and clearing a basement area where people throw bottles over. If I can do the work myself I will do it. My tenants keep volunteering to do it or help, but I don't want to take advantage particularly as I may not continue to let to them because of the RENTERS REFORM LEGISLATION. I know you are an expert builder, Michael, I am not, but I will have a go at most things. You are so right that one needs to keep active and agile or one becomes fat and helpless. Also eat plenty of foods containing anti-oxidants to prevent cancer and cataracts- having enough folic acid is particularly important.
I do much the same Ellie Do what I can myself and I also like to supply my own materials where ever possible, oh and by the way I'm off to Papworth Friday for a chat might know more then and maybe a date for the op
I do hope it goes well at Papworth, Andrew. Also really hope that you are making a very good recovery - the medical problems must have been so worrying for you and your family. I know what a conscientious landlord you are - and so responsible towards your tenants. Everyone will be wishing you well!
I suppose we all do as much as we can ourselves but some electrician’s like to use their own probably MK or something one of the better makes.
A kin to Garages they won’t like fitting tyres ones you bought on line yourself.
Andrew good luck on Friday you are going to the best place in the World, a few stents or something you’d be right as rain in a couple of months Best wishes.
Those are good points about the materials, Michael - I will buy the best you can buy from now on.
I find it useful, too, to ask the manufacturers which is the most suitable product to buy for the job - recently needed to repair some masonry and the technical department was helpful in telling me which was exactly the right product. I emailed them a photo of the damaged area. The right product was a bit more expensive, but labour saving, too, because the substrate didn't need to be primed.
You're right, Michael, that Andrew is going to just the perfect hospital for his problems - that makes such a difference!
My electrician likes to supply materials, generally MK
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