My daughter is in the process of moving into a rented flat and I am looking over the associated documentation for her and advising. I am having a hard time getting the letting agent to understand the need for certification following remedial work on a rented property though.
The back story is that an EICR was done on the property in November 2020 showing an unsatisfactory result - mostly C2 relating to no RCD on anything and a C1 relating to an L-E swap on a cooker circuit. Not sure how that didn't go bang or actually fry somebody but we'll leave that to one side. We asked the agent for certificates relating to the remedial work, or an updated satisfactory EICR. They responded with a copy of the quote for the remedial work - which was a board change to fix the missing RCD issues, and they had managed to fix the C1 at the time of the test anyway.
We challenged this and they responded with a copy of the invoice for the remedial work.
We asked for copies of the EIC following the board change (the quotation included this specifically) and the agent clearly doesn't have this, and they are refusing to accept the need for it (or a written confirmation from a qualified person that the electrical safety standards are met), despite having had this pointed out to them in terms of both the requirements in BS7671 and the text of the ESSPRS Regulations 2020. They maintain there is no need to re-test after remedial works and 'all that is needed is a quote and proof the works have been carried out'.
We asked them to approach the electrician who carried out the remedial works and they are refusing because 'the electrician might not work for that company any more'! A quick search shows that company to still look active and likely to be a one-man type operation so I have approached them directly for a copy of the EIC for the board change. Will see what I get back.
The ESSPRS regs say the following in relation to remedial works:
(5) Where paragraph (4) applies, a private landlord must—
(a)obtain written confirmation from a qualified person that the further investigative or remedial work has been carried out and that—
(i)the electrical safety standards are met; or
(ii)further investigative or remedial work is required;
My question to the learned body is would you consider a simple invoice for remedial works, with no associated certificate, and no written confirmation as required by the ESSPRS to be compliant?
I would happily accept an EIC as this confirmation, or a clearly worded statement stating that the standards are met but in this case we have neither. Is it accepted practice to just accept an invoice as the confirmation required under the ESSPRS Regs?
Provided the electrician did issue an EIC then I don't think they did anything wrong and the property is probably fine so they will move in, but I am considering taking this further with the agent once they are in.
Thanks in advance,
Jason.