This information will help you make the right choices and ensure you ask the electrician the right questions when they complete a job for you. You might be considering having a rewire in your home or wondering about new electrical legislation, if so this website will help you. The Electrical Safety Council supports all sectors of the electrical industry and works closely with central government.
For further electrical safety information visit www.electricalsafetycheck.com where there is information on how an electrician can help you!
When you have found an electrician what other considerations do you have to make?
Before any work commences:
Scheduling
Ensure you agree a schedule for the electrical work that will take place and obtain confirmation in writing of the expected completion date. For any larger electrical jobs, request updates on their progress directly from the electrician.
Payment Schedule
Have you got the funds available and what payment plan options are there? Agree payment terms that suit you and will ensure an efficient completion of the job. You should be able to negotiate different payment schedules with many electricians especially for larger jobs. Thinking of paying in cash, well don’t as it is easy to lose track of what you have paid. Pay by debit card, credit card, cheque or invoice and always ask for a written confirmation of the job completion form the electrician.
While the work is being completed:
Avoid changes
Sometimes it is hard to know what is behind walls, the electrics could be unsafe, so an electrician may offer solutions mid way through the project. This can be unavoidable but try to avoid it where possible as it could cost more and may cause delays. Remember if an electrician does say that work needs to be done, why not check out the NICEIC website, which is the leading association body in the UK. Remember if you do need to make changes, confirm these in writing with the electrician.
Complaints
You should always use an electrician that is suitably qualified and a member of an organisation such as the NICEIC. If you are concerned about any of the work or have a query talks to the electrician immediately. If you are working with a larger electrical contracting company speak to the person in charge. Describe you exact problems and explain what you want to achieve and give the electrician a chance to correct any faults or explain things in more detail.
If at any point you are unable to resolve the problems with the electrician or the electrical contracting company, contact the approved body of the organisation, such as the NICEIC who will be able to advise you and provide solutions that maybe different to that of the electrician.
If an electrician says they are fully qualified and then they turn out to not be then contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or visit www.consumerdirect.gov.uk.
Finishing the electrical job:
Today there are more and more electrical regulations to consider. Electrical work has been completed and payment has been received by the electrician, but what else should you remember?
Certification
There are many jobs that an electrician will do in the home and commercial premises that will require certification. The electrician should provide an electrical installation certificate which will confirms all work meets the UK National Standard BS 7671 (Requirements for Electrical Installations). This British Standard often changes and currently electricians should be operating to the 17th Edition of the wiring regulations, which has some important changes from the previous edition.
A lot of electrical work is under the Building Regulations and must conform. Part P of the Building Regulations is an important one for electrical work. You should receive a certificate to confirm that the work is compliant.
Landlords require electrical work too and they should receive electrical inspection certificates from the electrician for the related check that should be completed on premises that are due to be let.
Records
The certificate(s) will be sent to you relating to the specific electrical work. You must ensure they are put in a safe place so you have proof that electrical work has been completed. When you come to sell the property prospective buyers will want to see proof of the electrical work.
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