UK Tenant Having Electrical Safety Test Carried Out - What to Look For?

[Ray Pooley]

That’s a bit more than £50.

If I had any idea how many ways he needs I could be more specific. But it's not going to break the bank from a kit perspective.

Axiom Metal Consumer Unit + 80A Type A RCD + 6 MCBs

• 6 outgoing ways• 1 x 80A DP RCD Type A• 6 x SP MCBs: 2x6A, 1x16A, 2x32A, 1x40A• Dimensions (HxWxD): 237 x 199 x 110mm• BS EN 61439-3

www.toolstation.com

 

[Dartlec]

Hi all, I'd be very grateful for any advice you can give me.

I currently live in a rented property which was built in 1972 - it still has the original fusebox and wiring, and some really ropey DIY electrics that the landlord did himself when he lived in the house in the 80's/90's (there's a stereo speaker wired into the bathroom ceiling, for example - it's not connected to anything or live, but it gives you an idea of what kind of DIY he was getting up to).

We're due an electrical safety test next week, which is something that's been kicked down the road since the first lockdown.

My question is, how bad is this report likely to be? He won't spend any money on the house, and if it's going to cost him a lot of money there's a very good chance I'm going to be looking for a new home in the very near future. I just want to be prepared, so any information you can give me would be really appreciated.

Already some good advice been given, but a couple of extra thoughts:

If the house was built in 1972 then the original wiring is probably still OK and clear of some of the worst issues that might have cropped up (Rubber cabling, no earth on lighting, etc).

The fusebox is unlikely to comply on several grounds, though a replacement is not necessarily extortionate.

A lot may come down to how much the landlord tampered with the actual wiring. If it is original then it is probably fine, albeit somewhat limited now in terms of socket placement etc. The issue may be if DIY extra sockets have been added, etc, although there are also (normally) ways of resolving those without needing a full rewire

If the landlord plans to continue to rent the property, then he will need to get a satisfactory EICR either way, so although he may do only the bare minimum, it should be an improvement on what you have.

Definitely keep records of how long the report took, and photos of anything you think are dodgy - and give the electrician a short list of any issues you have had when he arrives as that will be helpful to him.

Once you have the report, we can advise on whether anything dodgy is afoot.

 

[Dartlec]

Here's a few more. There are many options.

Axiom Metal Consumer Unit + 80A Type A RCD + 6 MCBs

• 6 outgoing ways• 1 x 80A DP RCD Type A• 6 x SP MCBs: 2x6A, 1x16A, 2x32A, 1x40A• Dimensions (HxWxD): 237 x 199 x 110mm• BS EN 61439-3

www.toolstation.com

Edit:

Nice that it's a Type A RCD, but that wouldn't comply with even current regulations, let alone AMD 2 IMO - with one RCD up front.

No SPD either of course.

It would be an upgrade on what is there, but that's not a good reason not to at least meet the minimum requirements.

I fit RCBO boards by choice now, but do sometimes give the option of a Dual RCD board and they do have a place, but a more reasonable lower estimate would be £100 IMO, especially with the glands etc needed.

That doesn't include the cost of inspection and certifying it of course.

However, I agree with your other main point that there is no reason why cabling from 1972 needs to be replaced, unless it has been overloaded or fiddled with since it was installed. It was likely installed with a great more pride than most new builds, if truth be told.

 

[timhoward]

Axiom Metal Consumer Unit + 80A Type A RCD + 6 MCBs

• 6 outgoing ways• 1 x 80A DP RCD Type A• 6 x SP MCBs: 2x6A, 1x16A, 2x32A, 1x40A• Dimensions (HxWxD): 237 x 199 x 110mm• BS EN 61439-3

www.toolstation.com

I accept that is cheap but most things that cheap have at least one flaw.
For example after amendment 2 it's going to need an SPD. We are also required by regs to divide up the installation to avoid nuscience tripping and an RCD main switch doesn't achieve that.

(I'll save you some time - this is the lowest to which I'll sink:

https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/briti...tegrity-dual-rcd-consumer-unit-with-spd/972kr

and only then in exceptional circumstances, such as an impoverished pensioner still running a Wylex rewireable)

99% of the time most of us fit surge protected double pole RCBO boards, and they provide excellent fault tolerance and easy fault finding.

 

[Ray Pooley]

All I'm trying to do here is give the OP, the tenant, a little insight into the costs involved in bringing the premise up to code.
I get the impression that if it's mega bugs the landlord might take the eviction option instead and he doesn't want that.
If the cabling is solid the consumer unit upgrade is not a major expense I think we can agree.

 

[Dartlec]

I accept that is cheap but most things that cheap have at least one flaw.
For example after amendment 2 it's going to need an SPD. We are also required by regs to divide up the installation to avoid nuscience tripping and an RCD main switch doesn't achieve that.

(I'll save you some time - this is the lowest to which I'll sink:

https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/briti...tegrity-dual-rcd-consumer-unit-with-spd/972kr

and only then in exceptional circumstances, such as an impoverished pensioner still running a Wylex rewireable)

99% of the time most of us fit surge protected double pole RCBO boards, and they provide excellent fault tolerance and easy fault finding.

Ironically, after AMD 2 it will actually be "easier" to leave out the SPD - if you get them to sign something they don't want it.

In which case the lowest option I might consider is

https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/mk-se...d-high-integrity-dual-rcd-consumer-unit/679vf

- though I would still have gone for the SPD version which was only £20 more, but doesn't seem to be on SF's site at the moment...

 

[Deleted account]

If I had any idea how many ways he needs I could be more specific. But it's not going to break the bank from a kit perspective.

Axiom Metal Consumer Unit + 80A Type A RCD + 6 MCBs

• 6 outgoing ways• 1 x 80A DP RCD Type A• 6 x SP MCBs: 2x6A, 1x16A, 2x32A, 1x40A• Dimensions (HxWxD): 237 x 199 x 110mm• BS EN 61439-3

www.toolstation.com

I stated Upfront RCD in earlier post may be £50 mark, but I also said this does not comply with current regs.
scraping the barrel there I’m afraid.

 

[timhoward]

All I'm trying to do here is give the OP, the tenant, a little insight into the costs involved in bringing the premise up to code.

I appreciate the sentiment and agree the CU upgrade is not a major expense. In the wider scheme of things landlords are getting money for rent whatever condition the electrics are in, and the cost over the lifetime of a consumer unit is nothing.
Failing to take the chance to fit something decent isn't really in anyone's long term interests.

If it's true that the landlord would rather sell up than improve the place, then I empathise with the OP. I'd have thought most landlords would want the ongoing rental income though. Any potential buyer will be asking for money off after seeing an EICR anyway, so he'll pay one way or another.

 

[KevinH]

New consumer unit needed is almost certain as it's more likely to currently be rewirable fuses or at best 3871 plug in MCB's.
What about the 2.5mm T&E cable for that era...didn't it have 1mm CPC? Could that tip the max required Zs readings of some circuits over the edge?
Also tails, main earth and bonding sizes probably not up to today's recommendations. And not to mention that sticky "green goo" from the untinned conductors inside the accessories.
Possibly no CPC on the lighting.
At best it's gonna be a new CU, upgrading earthing, rewire lighting circuits and replacing accessories.

 

[pc1966]

I think the whole discussion of raw CU cost is missing the point, it is the labour that usually dominates any replacement work. But even that is getting the priority wrong, as the real risks are not going to be the use of use wire and no RCD, but all of the other sort of faults or incorrect modifications that might have taken place since to the original installation in the 70s.

The free download of Best Practice Guide #4 has the sort of thing that an EICR inspection should be looking for, and the related guidance on coding it for severity of risk:

Best Practice Guides | Electrical Safety First

Electrical Safety First produces, in association with other industry bodies, a range of Best Practice Guides which provide definitive information and guidance on a range of technical subjects.

www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk