£30k fine for landlords who do not provide a valid EICR for their rental properties

I regularly disconnect shower circuits, at the bathroom end the cable is often pulled up into the loft and terminated in a Wago box, at the consumer unit end I remove the circuits live and neutral from the MCB and neutral bar then terminate them into the earth bar. Job done, it’s not difficult.


However it is not at all unusual to find a 2.5 mm twin and earth which is still connected in the consumer unit and powered up that doesn’t supply anything that is visible, often it looks like it is the former immersion heater supply that was disconnected in the airing cupboard and probably pushed under floor by a plumber when the water cylinder was removed as the combi boiler was installed. How much time should you allocate to investigating this circuit, should you take the floor up to look for it?


Some years ago I was stood looking at an immersion heater cable that had been cut and left dangling in a airing cupboard by a plumber when he took the cylinder out. I was muttering about the way it had been left and the lady customer said she was sure it would be safe as the plumber would not leave it in a dangerous condition, in a reckless moment I said let see what happens if I turn it on and flicked the switch.


I know I shouldn’t have done it, but it was a quite impressive display of how plumbers and others leave electrical installations in a dangerous condition, the customer will never forget the experience.


Life is much easier when you accept that you are often dealing with stupid people and their handiwork and one of the reasons for doing EICRs is to determine what stupid people have done.


Assume nothing when inspecting and testing to preparing an EICR and never assume that an unknown circuit is safe, either disconnect it or report it with a FI code making the installation unsatisfactory.


I have a landlords EICR to do tomorrow morning, I have stated I expect to be in the two bed house for three or four hours then I will prepare and email the report later, as far as I am concerned I have indicated what the customers expectations should be as regards the time allowed.

I regularly disconnect shower circuits, at the bathroom end the cable is often pulled up into the loft and terminated in a Wago box, at the consumer unit end I remove the circuits live and neutral from the MCB and neutral bar then terminate them into the earth bar. Job done, it’s not difficult.


However it is not at all unusual to find a 2.5 mm twin and earth which is still connected in the consumer unit and powered up that doesn’t supply anything that is visible, often it looks like it is the former immersion heater supply that was disconnected in the airing cupboard and probably pushed under floor by a plumber when the water cylinder was removed as the combi boiler was installed. How much time should you allocate to investigating this circuit, should you take the floor up to look for it?


Some years ago I was stood looking at an immersion heater cable that had been cut and left dangling in a airing cupboard by a plumber when he took the cylinder out. I was muttering about the way it had been left and the lady customer said she was sure it would be safe as the plumber would not leave it in a dangerous condition, in a reckless moment I said let see what happens if I turn it on and flicked the switch.


I know I shouldn’t have done it, but it was a quite impressive display of how plumbers and others leave electrical installations in a dangerous condition, the customer will never forget the experience.


Life is much easier when you accept that you are often dealing with stupid people and their handiwork and one of the reasons for doing EICRs is to determine what stupid people have done.


Assume nothing when inspecting and testing to preparing an EICR and never assume that an unknown circuit is safe, either disconnect it or report it with a FI code making the installation unsatisfactory.


I have a landlords EICR to do tomorrow morning, I have stated I expect to be in the two bed house for three or four hours then I will prepare and email the report later, as far as I am concerned I have indicated what the customers expectations should be as regards the time allowed.