Private Jobs

[JeanGenie]

Hi all, I've been lurking a while and enjoyed reading all your posts. I've been in the trade since 1994, did a full apprenticeship, Nvq3, 2391, 17th edition, and have always worked for companies, never self employed. Been with the same company for over 10yrs now, which specialise in pretty much anything domestic/commercial/industrial.
As all electricians do, we get asked by mates, mates of mates to do jobs on the side to save them a bit of cash. What is the proper way of going about this? Obviously there's the not paying tax issue, but asides from that what about from an electrical point of view.
Obviously I carry out work to as high a standard privately as I would working for my firm. I've even give out certificates( the ones you can get from the wholesalers). I know they have no legal backing but surely a set of results is better than no results?
From my interpretation of the rules I shouldn't really be carrying out alterations in my own house without getting someone with Part P to sign it off for me, who may be less skilled than myself.

 

[snowhead]

You need,, Part P, Scheme Membership, Public liability Ins., to name a few.

 

[JeanGenie]

Part P: Surely the qualifications I have are above that? A plumber who just connects a spur can have part P, and how would you go about getting that if you already work for someone?
At the end of the day for the few jobs you do a year doing all the above would never be financially viable.

 

[Fin170]

At the end of the day for the few jobs you do a year doing all the above would never be financially viable.

That's part p in a nut shell

 

[telectrix]

all depends if you are doing notifiable jobs or not. if it's a complete rewire, then it might be viable to pay LABC their extortionate fee. for smaller notifiable jobs, it's more economical to join a scam such as elecsa, at £400+ per year. ( with your qualifications, there's no need to get more).

 

[Octopus]

Or pay LABC for each notifiable job you do.

 

[JeanGenie]

So by what you guys are saying, if I wanted to add a new shower circuit in my own house I'd have to get someone in?
Maybe I could get the company I work for round to quote? I'd pay them £500 then maybe Id get the job of doing it anyway and I'd get paid a few hours wages back out of it...

 

[telectrix]

TBH, if you fit a new shower circuit in your own house, keep your gob shut, who's to know? part p is a farce. nobody cares untill something goes wrong ( fire, electrocution, etc. ) . it allows numpties who have got a 5 week course under their belt and shelled out ££££s to bodge jobs, whilst preventing experienced sparks from working.

 

[richy3333]

The 'Asda money' aside, the issue of Part P has been discussed to death on this forum. Some will tell you to ignore it, others won't. It's up to you. Some schemes - NAPIT, I think have a facility where you can notify less jobs per year for a lesser fee. But at the end of the day if you do notifiable work then it should be notified. Unless of course you are elsewhere in the UK apart from England or Wales, where Part P isn't applicable.

One area of potential concern for you is insurance. If something was to happen and for the best will in the world things do go wrong, it sounds as though you have no PL insurance. So if you damage something in a 'customers' house or burn the house down then if you have no insurance any damages will come out of your pocket.

My accountant says that the HMRC are cracking down on small businesses and scrutinising everything claimed for. The small guys are easier targets than the big fraudsters who employ people to help the swerve the tax laws.

 

[MDJ]

My accountant says that the HMRC are cracking down on small businesses and scrutinising everything claimed for. The small guys are easier targets than the big fraudsters who employ people to help the swerve the tax laws.

Yes Mine has told me the exact same thing and says it is worrying for the small company.

 

[Octopus]

My accountant says that the HMRC are cracking down on small businesses and scrutinising everything claimed for. The small guys are easier targets than the big fraudsters who employ people to help the swerve the tax laws.

My accountant this year told me I was too honest!!!!!!!

 

[JeanGenie]

Thanks for the info guys, I'll probably look into getting insured at least if something substantial comes up. Obviously work round my own house I always would have done it myself and kept my gob shut.

 

[Octopus]

Thanks for the info guys, I'll probably look into getting insured at least if something substantial comes up. Obviously work round my own house I always would have done it myself and kept my gob shut.

Elecsa about £450, PI less than £100, tools and calibration and books - I guess it depends on how much you do - plus if you declare the work all the expenses come off you tax bill

 

[JeanGenie]

Another thing that annoys me while working through the company is when customers ask "have you got Part P". They've obviously read about it in the paper and heard it on the news and think this is all you need. When I say I've been doing it 18yrs now, fully timed served and hold this, this and that, they don't know what I'm on about.
I'd be a little concerned if someone was re wiring my house and the only qualification they did have was Part P.

 

[MDJ]

Even building control doesn't understand it, I had my loft converted recently and the guy from the council wanted a part p certificate for a light up there, about time they abolished it and brought a proper certified scheme.

 

[polo1]

Fortunately we don't have Part P here north of Hadrian's Wall. But you've been given good advice about PL insurance (and indemnity insurance if you are doing EICRs). You don't have to be a member of a scheme for your certs to be 100% acceptable, but here if you want to do work which is subject to Building Warrant, you either have to be a scheme member or pre-notify for the Council to arrange certification (the former is by far the best route financially if you are going to be doing just a few warrant jobs).

As has been said, HMRC are now much more proactive with small traders and cash in hand (and football clubs!), so in my view better to declare income and expenses than face a tax investigation.

Regards

 

[ayjay]

perhaps its easyer to get part p?

 

[JeanGenie]

Ayjay, but wouldn't that be like taking a GCSE IN Physics when you already had passed an A level in it?

 

[snowhead]

Ayjay, but wouldn't that be like taking a GCSE IN Physics when you already had passed an A level in it?

Not if possessing GCSE in Physics was specifically identified as a requirement.

 

[ashrow]

Just keep doing your jobs on the side
If you get caught you do, if not then no worries
You are a sparkie trained and working for another firm (i did my apprenticeship else where and then the privates at weekends, then got so busy started up on my own)
If you want to do it legit, pay the LBCA fee and they will sign off the works until and if you ever wish to join a scam (i recon you should stay with a firm to get your basic and then earn some £ on the side)
Others here will not agree with me though but i hate the tax man so go earn yourself some money after doing the hours you do elsewhere (its like a perk, like MPs get hehe)

Note i work/have worked for 11 people now that work for the tax/vat office for cash, i get done i got proof............