EICRs and LANDLORDS

[marconi]

Rather than add to 'Thoughts on recommendation' I thought it better to begin a new one.

I am a landlord in London. I think it should be mandatory for an in-date EICR whenever a new tenant takes up a lease and of course after electrical works. I present to my tenants both the EICR and Gas Safety certificate in an information pack. I also tell my insurance company and letting agent and send them a copy of both. For me it is a question of discharging my duty of care responsibilities. I know several good landlords who follow suit.

I always use the same electrician - not a friend, friend of a friend, etcetera - completely independent of me and I have checked his qualifications. This way he knows my properties and remarkably he seems to be able to remember even the make of CU - or does he look up the last inspection? I send him an email to arrange the EICR which he acknowledges so I have a record of the formal request for an EICR. I pay him up front in cash - (a cheque could be cancelled) - and he gives me his bill with the EICR, VAT inc, and marked 'paid in full' and referring to the EICR form serial number dated. I leave him alone to do the EICR and he either leaves the EICR in the flat or posts it to me. I then read it, discuss with him if necessary and arrange any remedials, etcetera.

 

[Octopus]

Please see Information for Landlords & Responsibilities | Electrical Safety First

Hum.... every 5 years - what a load of tosh.

When I do an EICR, I give the recommended retest date based on the condition of the installation and NOT based on a 5 year term stated on a website.

 

[marconi]

See it for what? It just another in a line of 'guides' presenting opinions as facts from another self serving spin-off of the NICEIC

Mmm. I think I will disengage.

 

[marconi]

Hum.... every 5 years - what a load of tosh.

When I do an EICR, I give the recommended retest date based on the condition of the installation and NOT based on a 5 year term stated on a website.

If not an HMO, the reference actually says 'at least every five years'. I think we are agreeing.

 

[Octopus]

If not an HMO, the reference actually says 'at least every five years'. I think we are agreeing.

Er no... I may recommend 2 years, or I may recommend 10 years.

are you a sparky?

 

[marconi]

Er no... I may recommend 2 years, or I may recommend 10 years.

are you a sparky?

No, if by sparky you mean a qualified electrician. I am a chartered electrical engineer and chartered engineer.

 

[Merv]

How do you know the property is safe and sound?
An inspection by a competant person should be carried out before each tenant moves in.
I do such things for a local letting agent and some of the things I've found where previous tenants have fitted their own light fittings etc have rendered the installation somewhat less than 'safe and sound'

Well dave, you've answered your own question there.
The property would be safe and sound because it's been checked. It doesn't have to have a certificate saying as much. Which is the case with the vast number of owner occupied properties.

 

[Merv]

I apologise to marconi.
I misunderstood his second sentence about EICRs and newtenants.

Not surprisingly, my provocative claim that this idea issimply a money spinner for electricians has been sidestepped.

Which speaks for itself.

 

[Dave OCD]

I apologise to marconi.
I misunderstood his second sentence about EICRs and newtenants.

Not surprisingly, my provocative claim that this idea issimply a money spinner for electricians has been sidestepped.

Which speaks for itself.

So you think the EICR is an easy money spinner that electricians constantly push to do ? You couldn't be more wrong - personally I find inspection and testing tiresome,a lot of responsibility is attached and it's very frustrating when genuinely made observations and recommendations are treated with general distrust and/or subsequently ignored by the 'client' - because they have little or no understanding of the potential dangers involved.

 

[Merv]

Dave OCD,
I certainly do think that EICRs are money-spinners for thetrade. The enthusiasm displayed on thisforum to force people to buy EICRs is all the evidence that is needed toconclude that.
Especially when the law already states that it is the responsibilityof landlords to keep their properties in a safe condition .

When tradesmen on here propose to make criminals out ofdecent landlords for not having an in date EICP on a perfectly safe property,then what other conclusion can one come to?

It's no wonder as Dave OCD states ''recommendationsare treated with general distrust and/or subsequently ignored by the 'client' -because they have little or no understanding of the potential dangers involved.

I doubt if it's the potential dangers involved that putsthem off.

 

[Octopus]

Dave OCD,
I certainly do think that EICRs are money-spinners for thetrade. The enthusiasm displayed on thisforum to force people to buy EICRs is all the evidence that is needed toconclude that.
Especially when the law already states that it is the responsibilityof landlords to keep their properties in a safe condition .

When tradesmen on here propose to make criminals out ofdecent landlords for not having an in date EICP on a perfectly safe property,then what other conclusion can one come to?

It's no wonder as Dave OCD states ''recommendationsare treated with general distrust and/or subsequently ignored by the 'client' -because they have little or no understanding of the potential dangers involved.

I doubt if it's the potential dangers involved that putsthem off.

Utter. Utter tripe

 

[Hellmooth]

Dave OCD,
I certainly do think that EICRs are money-spinners for thetrade. The enthusiasm displayed on thisforum to force people to buy EICRs is all the evidence that is needed toconclude that.
Especially when the law already states that it is the responsibilityof landlords to keep their properties in a safe condition .

When tradesmen on here propose to make criminals out ofdecent landlords for not having an in date EICP on a perfectly safe property,then what other conclusion can one come to?

It's no wonder as Dave OCD states ''recommendationsare treated with general distrust and/or subsequently ignored by the 'client' -because they have little or no understanding of the potential dangers involved.

I doubt if it's the potential dangers involved that putsthem off.

Fair to say you are a landlord who doesn't like paying out for anything?

Just the usual then, talk about money spinners!

 

[Merv]

''Utter. Utter tripe''

Is that what you call a reasoned and constructiveargument?

''Fair to say you are a landlord who doesn't like payingout for anything?''

Or if you can't construct a counter argument simply makeassumptions about the messenger, and then attack him from that angle.

I think I've made my point about drumming up work and nicelittle earners.
And if you could get the law to find your work for you, then that would bethe icing on the cake.

 

[Octopus]

''Utter. Utter tripe''

Is that what you call a reasoned and constructiveargument?

''Fair to say you are a landlord who doesn't like payingout for anything?''

Or if you can't construct a counter argument simply makeassumptions about the messenger, and then attack him from that angle.

I think I've made my point about drumming up work and nicelittle earners.
And if you could get the law to find your work for you, then that would bethe icing on the cake.

Hum. EICR's are not just for landlords. I am doing one on Friday on a 1950's house to determine the condition of the installation and see if it's good enough to fit the new fuseboard the client wants.

Me thinks you've had a bad experience with an EICR. Have you read the best practice guide about condition reports which covers coding etc?

 

[Andy78]

Merv, You have asserted your opinion that electricians on this forum and electricians in general would like to see mandatory EICR to able to fleece landlords. Have you any evidence of this other than your own assumptions ? Are you aware this thread was started by a landlord and not an electrician ?

You criticise others for making assumptions about you as a landlord but that is exactly what you have done about the electricians on this site.

You ask what other conclusion could you come to other than electricians wanting a money spinner if the industry was to push for mandatory EICR. Has the possibility of a conscientious trade focussed on tenant safety never entered your mind ?
I think it would be fair to say that every electrician who deals with rented accommodation will have at some point come across a dangerous condition which is the result of a badly maintained electrical system. Could mandatory EICR prevent this ?

If you want clarification about the reasons and motives for mandatory EICR for rented property, you could contact the Scottish parliament as they will be bringing in mandatory 5 yearly EICR starting this December. You could aim your accusations of the industry being a set of money grabbers in their direction, although calling Scots penny pinchers may see you fall foul of asserting negative racial stereotypes.

 

[DPG]

Me thinks Merv is trolling on this forum to get a reaction. Don't rise to it. I can't see the point of arguing with him until he puts forward a reasoned argument with evidence. Daz