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How much to charge for EML and smoke alarms in small hmo

Former Community Member
Former Community Member
Hi all, 

I'm enquiring has to how much people usually charge to retro fit EML these will be supplied as two radials (ground and upper floor) from the fuse board located under stairs, the cable will be surface ran and housed in white PVC trunking using steel fixings within to support the cable. The smoke alarms will be cabled in a similar manner as the existing ceiling roses only contain a switched live feed, a provision for a new circuit will be made here, these will be interlinked and sited to meet grade D1 category LD1. 


I could do with knowing what members think is a fair price per point for the above which is basically going to be installed into a 3 bed house converted to a small HMO. 


LED EML and Aico interlinked with battery backup. I don't expect anyone to give me exact pricing but in the region of would be helhelpful. 


Been told by client that my price was almost double than what he had been quoted so it's got me thinking, I asked him for the competitors quote so I could do a comparison, quantities etc and he came back with a figure of £1500.00 for the following:

Fuse board change 

EML

Interlinked smoke alarm

The last two item are unknown quantities. 


​​​​​​From our survey they would look like this:

Fuseboard 5+5 RCD split board

6Off LED bulkhead EML

9Off smoke points


Sorry forgot to mention the prospective client failed to supply us with the competitors quote which got me thinking if they were trying to pull a fast one. 


I did post this in the ask the community section but due to the lack of replies assumed I'd posted in wrong section, sorry for the double post. 


Ts
  • I have a invoice to hand for Aico alarms to hand for a job I have just done for two optical, one ion and one multi-sensor ten year lithium battery alarms plus a test switch, I genuinely believe that most people’s eyes would water as they still think alarms are around fifteen quid apiece. 


    Andy B.
  • I'd just estimate the time taken for each task, then multiply that figure against my charge per hour. After that I would add on a percentage for extras and forgotten items and additional costs. Don't we all forget to charge for screws and other fixings at times? Then supply that figure as the estimate. I would only supply an estimate if there are unknowns and not a quotation. I would state the duration for which the estimate is valid, say 3 months. I would request a deposit for materials upfront. Also I would state payment terms. Don't forget to supply an Off Premises Sales Contract Rights to Cancel form from the local Trading Standards Office. (Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation & Additional Charges) Regulations 2013.


    Z.
  • As an aside, last year I prepared an EICR on an HMO for licence renewal and was surprised to find that the 1960’s lighting circuits that didn’t have a CPC had not been replaced when the smoke alarms were installed and floor boards lifted to do so, then to compound this apparent silliness class I light fittings had been installed.


    It does make you wonder about so called “professional landlords” and “professional electricians”.


    Andy B.
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member

    mapj1:

    If there is another quote, perhaps has a much lesser scope- no board change or fewer sensors?




    Totally agree Mike, that's why I told the client that we are unable to provide any movement on the proposal until we have seen the alternative quote so we can make a like for like comparison also wanted to call their bluff. 

    ts

  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member

    Sparkingchip:

    I have a invoice to hand for Aico alarms to hand for a job I have just done for two optical, one ion and one multi-sensor ten year lithium battery alarms plus a test switch, I genuinely believe that most people’s eyes would water as they still think alarms are around fifteen quid apiece. 


    Andy B.




    Andy, I think people forget that we are not registered charities but are indeed registered businesses and therefore should be putting margins on materials and labour. Now the larger the job the better the discount for the client, a smaller job will usually attract a larger margin, this job falls under the latter the only way the price will fall is if their is regular work from the client not empty promises, we've all been there. 

    ts

  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member

    Zoomup:

    I'd just estimate the time taken for each task, then multiply that figure against my charge per hour. After that I would add on a percentage for extras and forgotten items and additional costs. Don't we all forget to charge for screws and other fixings at times? Then supply that figure as the estimate. I would only supply an estimate if there are unknowns and not a quotation. I would state the duration for which the estimate is valid, say 3 months. I would request a deposit for materials upfront. Also I would state payment terms. Don't forget to supply an Off Premises Sales Contract Rights to Cancel form from the local Trading Standards Office. (Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation & Additional Charges) Regulations 2013.


    Z.




    All our proposals come with our standard T&C's. The only bit we have never done is the last bit not sure if we need this has we only supply proposals after a site visit. 


    Wish clients could make the distinction between an estimate and quote/proposal ?

  • This is business to business.