UK Advice needed please: Electrical set-up in 1950s/60s Maisonette - Potential Purchase

[tinnedrice]

Hi,

I'd be very grateful for any advice/views available please on the electrical set-up in a ground-floor maisonette that we are in the early stages of purchasing, our offer having been accepted.

We went to the property today to inspect a few things, and noticed a lot of electrical wires/boxes in the airing cupboard. Apart from the obvious-looking fuse box, we don't know what any of the other wiring is for and how old /safe it may be. We also observed a random wire that didn't seem to connect to anything.

We're considering getting an electrical survey done but thought would ask on this forum first.

We're first time buyers with no experience in this area, and so any advice given would be gratefully appreciated.

We had a home buyer survey done, with minor comment on the electrics to say the surveyor 'saw no features that concerned them', and to ensure an electrical safety test had been done in last 12 months (we don't think there has been one.

Please find photos of the electrics. Thank you in advance for any advice!

 

[PEG]

Hi,first thing,is if you have paid for a survey which says a test has been done,get the evidence. Who did it,when,and what were the results.

Second,if you have concerns,as purchasers,get a proper inspection done. Do not use your previous surveyors,if they are lead swinging,get some legitimate results,you can base decisions on.

Although these type of investigations,do not always give the news you desire,they will give you the news that matters.

 

[westward10]

I assume it is a block of flats. Those orange cables appear to be aluminium sheathed MI cables, probably perfectly safe but highly unusual and rare. They are normally copper sheathed but during the copper shortage many years ago aluminium was used. Definitely 50s from the disc colours on the service head.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

The cream coloured metal box contains the fuses that feed your (future) home plus three other consumers. The box, and the orange cables leaving it, belong to the network operator and are not part of the installation of your property itself, hence would not be included in an inspection of your wiring. It is very much of its time, probably perfectly sound, but in any event not your responsibility to maintain. One minor drawback is that in the unlikely event of a problem in another part of the building that requires access to the box, they will be knocking on your door.

The box below the meter is a Teleswitch, an older style of remote control system for a multi-rate meter from before the advent of 'smart meters'. There's a telephone junction box above it that it might be connected to. Again, nothing specific wrong with that and not your responsibility (it's the MOP's).

Your own installation starts with cables leading to the consumer unit on the right hand wall. That looks pretty normal, it's a dual RCD board so all your circuits have additional protection against electric shock. It looks like it was installed under the previous version of wiring regulations by firm registered with the NICEIC, so probably not a DIY or fly-by-night job.

The 2015 inspection date may well have been the date the consumer unit was fitted. The rest of the wiring may or may not be from the same date; it is not uncommon to upgrade the CU to add extra safety features, while retaining all the installed cables if they are in good condition.

In short, looks superficially OK iso far, get an EICR (electrical installation condition report), that's the only way to know what's hidden inside. Not all EICRs are done to the same level of detail. Someone trustworthy on here might be able to help you.

 

[tinnedrice]

Hi,first thing,is if you have paid for a survey which says a test has been done,get the evidence. Who did it,when,and what were the results.

Second,if you have concerns,as purchasers,get a proper inspection done. Do not use your previous surveyors,if they are lead swinging,get some legitimate results,you can base decisions on.

Although these type of investigations,do not always give the news you desire,they will give you the news that matters.

Hi PEG,

Many thanks for your reply and advice. ?
[automerge]1577553251[/automerge]

I assume it is a block of flats. Those orange cables appear to be aluminium sheathed MI cables, probably perfectly safe but highly unusual and rare. They are normally copper sheathed but during the copper shortage many years ago aluminium was used. Definitely 50s from the disc colours on the service head.

Hi westward10,

Many thanks for the reply and helpful advice, it is indeed in a block of maisonettes ( X2 ground floor, X2 first floor).

That's cleared up the mystery then of the extra cables.
[automerge]1577553620[/automerge]

The cream coloured metal box contains the fuses that feed your (future) home plus three other consumers. The box, and the orange cables leaving it, belong to the network operator and are not part of the installation of your property itself, hence would not be included in an inspection of your wiring. It is very much of its time, probably perfectly sound, but in any event not your responsibility to maintain. One minor drawback is that in the unlikely event of a problem in another part of the building that requires access to the box, they will be knocking on your door.

The box below the meter is a Teleswitch, an older style of remote control system for a multi-rate meter from before the advent of 'smart meters'. There's a telephone junction box above it that it might be connected to. Again, nothing specific wrong with that and not your responsibility (it's the MOP's).

Your own installation starts with cables leading to the consumer unit on the right hand wall. That looks pretty normal, it's a dual RCD board so all your circuits have additional protection against electric shock. It looks like it was installed under the previous version of wiring regulations by firm registered with the NICEIC, so probably not a DIY or fly-by-night job.

The 2015 inspection date may well have been the date the consumer unit was fitted. The rest of the wiring may or may not be from the same date; it is not uncommon to upgrade the CU to add extra safety features, while retaining all the installed cables if they are in good condition.

In short, looks superficially OK iso far, get an EICR (electrical installation condition report), that's the only way to know what's hidden inside. Not all EICRs are done to the same level of detail. Someone trustworthy on here might be able to help you.

Hi Lucien,

Many thanks for this thorough breakdown/description of all the different components, that's really appreciated and has helped put our minds at ease! Especially about the consumer unit that's actually ours.

We hadn't realised we were housing elements for the whole block (4 flats total), so hopefully there will be some further information in the leasepack about rights of access.

We're going to arrange for an EICR survey as suggested.

Best wishes,

 

[snowhead]

A Slight revision on what Lucien has said about the possible Phone connection.
That will be a BT junction box for all 4 flats.
There a 3 small cables (2 creamish, 1 Grey) going off to the right, they will be for the other 3 Maisonettes.
The black cable coming up out the floor below will be a BT multicore cable.
There is also a bare copper earth cable which BT used to use for shared service/party line.
2 small cables head down as well, they are probably both for "your" maisonette.

So not only have you got the Main fuses / supplies for the other 3 you've also got their phone lines.

At least if you have any trouble, no-one has to go door knocking elsewhere.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

Good point, I hadn't noticed the 1-in 4-out, must go to Specsavers.

 

[snowhead]

Good point, I hadn't noticed the 1-in 4-out, must go to Specsavers.

If you can find them.

 

[dmxtothemax]

I would say for it's age it appears in reasonable condition,
Nothing imeadiately dangerous pops up.
Get it fully tested if you want,
but I would not be too worried.