I commissioned an EICR to be done on a property that is in Wales as this is now a requirement in order to let on any new tenancies after 1st December 2022 (Renting Homes Act 2016). I was at the property whilst the EICR was being done and was told that it would fail on a hairline fracture on a plastic lamp holder (a C2 fault). The electrican told me that if I fixed that whilst he was there he would be happy to pass it (assuming no other faults were found in the meantime - luckily none were). So I rushed out to get a replacement socket and returned 30 minutes later. I was going to install it but he offered to do this. So I got on with some other jobs and left the electrican to it (there were 2 of them - main guy his apprentice as I later learnt). They were in the property a total of 2 hours, it is only a 2 bed a bungalow so I thought this was reasonable.
After they left I saw the lamp holder that had been replaced. It was now only held to the wall with 1 screw instead of 2 and it wasn't flush with the wall - cable enters from the side via some ugly conduit rather than coming out of the wall. Back box that stands the lamp holder off from the wall and allows cable in from conduit at the side and then underneath the lamp holder had been removed. Without the back box the lamp holder simply cannot sit flush on the wall. All this meant the whole socket could rotate on the wall and cause mechanical stress on the wiring terminals. I really wasn't happy about this so got hold of another light socket as the new one was now damaged and did it myself properly. Later that evening I got invoice from the electrician for EICR (as agreed) and the lamp holder (no charge was ever mentioned prior to this). Given the quality of the install I really didn't think it was correct to pay the latter charge and expressed my concerns in response. An apology was received and that charge was removed and the invoice as agreed at engagement was generated which I duly paid on the understanding that EICR would be generated the next day.
It is now 6 days later and no EICR has been received following payment on Saturday morning and the property has been rented out as of Sunday - I felt that it was unfair to delay the moving date as my tenants had been staying in hotels at huge expense to them. My tenants love my property and I think keeping them happy is my best way forward in managing this situation. I've been verbally told by the electrician on Friday that my property is safe but I do not have the legal document to prove it. In Wales my tenants legally do not have to pay rent if a property does not not have an EICR. Further more I will have to pay compensation if EICR is not sent to them within 14 days of occupation date. I have email evidence from the electrican saying that EICR would be generated on Saturday. I already have the cost of the bills at the property (circa £300-400 per month, rent is £850) so this is potentially a nightmare and I feel like the apology that the electrician gave me simply wasn't sincere and he is doing this intentionally to cause me problems. What can I do in this situation? I seems wrong to deny somebody a home because you don't have a certificate and in the area where the property is located there are already very few homes to rent because many have turned into 100% holiday lets. I wonder if anybody else has faced this dilemma.
After they left I saw the lamp holder that had been replaced. It was now only held to the wall with 1 screw instead of 2 and it wasn't flush with the wall - cable enters from the side via some ugly conduit rather than coming out of the wall. Back box that stands the lamp holder off from the wall and allows cable in from conduit at the side and then underneath the lamp holder had been removed. Without the back box the lamp holder simply cannot sit flush on the wall. All this meant the whole socket could rotate on the wall and cause mechanical stress on the wiring terminals. I really wasn't happy about this so got hold of another light socket as the new one was now damaged and did it myself properly. Later that evening I got invoice from the electrician for EICR (as agreed) and the lamp holder (no charge was ever mentioned prior to this). Given the quality of the install I really didn't think it was correct to pay the latter charge and expressed my concerns in response. An apology was received and that charge was removed and the invoice as agreed at engagement was generated which I duly paid on the understanding that EICR would be generated the next day.
It is now 6 days later and no EICR has been received following payment on Saturday morning and the property has been rented out as of Sunday - I felt that it was unfair to delay the moving date as my tenants had been staying in hotels at huge expense to them. My tenants love my property and I think keeping them happy is my best way forward in managing this situation. I've been verbally told by the electrician on Friday that my property is safe but I do not have the legal document to prove it. In Wales my tenants legally do not have to pay rent if a property does not not have an EICR. Further more I will have to pay compensation if EICR is not sent to them within 14 days of occupation date. I have email evidence from the electrican saying that EICR would be generated on Saturday. I already have the cost of the bills at the property (circa £300-400 per month, rent is £850) so this is potentially a nightmare and I feel like the apology that the electrician gave me simply wasn't sincere and he is doing this intentionally to cause me problems. What can I do in this situation? I seems wrong to deny somebody a home because you don't have a certificate and in the area where the property is located there are already very few homes to rent because many have turned into 100% holiday lets. I wonder if anybody else has faced this dilemma.
- TL;DR
- Electrician not sending EICR as promised after payment
