The EICR and competence. What are we going to do about the endless problems brought to the forum?

davezawadi (David Stone):

I last idea, a box of batteries in the van is the best solution, all round. They are not expensive in bulk (about £1.00 Duracell professional), and then you can check that the alarm works too, although someone will now say that this is a repair. So it might be, a bit like tightening loose screws, which I do all the time! No complaints so far.

O.K. that is a good idea. But certain sealed units do not have replaceable batteries. If my daughter was staying away from home for studies or work I would not be happy if her digs' smoke alarms did not work. If I am testing the operation in rented accommodation I am looking after others, and I feel obliged to do so. I am in a responsible position. If I tell the tenants, if they are there, they have the option to get one or two cheap stand alone units while the landlord's ones are being replaced/serviced. Perhaps that is wrong, but I can then sleep at night. I recently came across two life expired units. I told the tenants and they said, "It's the landlords responsibility". Fine, but at least they and the landlord know. I have done my job.



Z.

 I hope you see that a letter is the only way because anything else could be expensive to you, or the Landlord, who may attempt to recover the cost of not being able to rent from you. 

WHAT? Or the landlord could get the faulty smoke alarms serviced or replaced perhaps. It is just so easy.


Z.

davezawadi (David Stone):

.. Anything on the EICR itself which is not a positive "satisfactory" means that the property cannot be legally let ...

Not quite true, although managing agents would want you to believe it is so. The legislation is quite clear about what to do with an "unsatisfactory" EICR, it needs sending to the local authority (amongst others) with a "written confirmation" that the remedials have been done and the installation complies with the safety standards. Just a thought, would you need professional indemnity insurance to write such a statement?

I have asked my local authority which department it should be sent to, how many they have had and whether they are happy that managing agents insist on "satisfactory" EICRs, thus depriving them of potential information on installations which could be substandard. Have had no reply for over a month, the legislation is not even referenced on their website (Lambeth), but excuseable I suppose for a cash-strapped council. If they aren't even ready for action, they are the enforcers of the legislation after all, why bother?

OlympusMons:

Just a thought, would you need professional indemnity insurance to write such a statement?

It would be wise and not terribly expensive.

 Have had no reply for over a month, 

Our local council workers have not been into the office for nearly a month now. They work from home by laptop. Things are going very slowly as they do not always have info;

. immediately  to hand to progress an enquiry from Joe Public.


Z.

OlympusMons:

 The legislation is quite clear about what to do with an "unsatisfactory" EICR, 

Not quite. The legislation does not mention "EICR".