I suppose I should have expected it. Look what I've just read on the NICEIC website:
Face up to new electrical safety law or face fines Homeowners warned to SWITCH ON to new building regulations
The NICEIC is urging homeowners who plan to tackle home improvement projects to be aware of tough new changes to building regulations, which if not complied with, could land you with a massive £5,000 fine and a property you can't sell.
The new building regulation Part P, effective since 1st January 2005, requires most electrical work in the home to be carried out by a government-approved electrician, such as one registered with the NICEIC. Its aim is to stop the rising number of deaths from faulty electrics, much of which is undertaken by over ambitious DIY enthusiasts and cowboy electricians.
Under the new law, homeowners are still able to replace accessories such as light switches and sockets to an existing circuit, although there are exceptions for locations such as kitchens and bathrooms. An electrician registered under a government-approved scheme must undertake all other work. The alternative, for DIY'ers, is to notify a local building control body before starting any work and pay the appropriate fee for an inspection and a certificate after work is completed.
"This law will make homes safer and is long overdue", says Jim Speirs director general of electrical safety body, the NICEIC. "Homeowners will now be protected from dangerous electrics as a competent electrician will provide them with a certificate once they've completed the work. If you don't get a certificate or do the work yourself without getting it checked, you will not only be sitting on a potential electrical time bomb, but committing a criminal offence too. Your local authority can order the removal or correction of any work and fine you up to £5,000."
Failure to comply could also make it difficult to sell your house in the future. The NICEIC advises that electrical installation certificates are likely to be included in the government's proposed home sellers' packs. These are designed to offer prospective buyers reassurance and peace of mind about the safety of homes being offered for sale. Amazingly, electricians have never been regulated despite faulty electrics causing an average of 12,500 house fires, 750 serious injuries and 10 deaths each year.
The NICEIC welcomes the government's decision to finally clamp down on the cowboys who cause these deaths and is advising homeowners to make sure they only employ government-approved electricians
No need to restart the arguments, we can all Google. I just needed to pass this on having had one of those "grrr..." moments.
Hwyl!
M.