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Electrical Certificate Part P

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Pening | 18:32 Sun 16th Apr 2017 | Home & Garden
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I am curious to know. What if there is no Part P registration from a property's past owner on the electrical installation that was done in the past ? Example - putting up a fan / cooker, etc in the property. Is there still possibility for me to get Part P after a few years via 3rd party part P registered electrician ? How to go about this ?
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The present owner cannot be held liable for this situation. Just contact you nearest friendly Part P registered sparky who will issue the certificate following inspection. However, be aware that the sparky cannot back date the certificate.

This situation occurs daily and the Building Inspectors are well aware of it. You cannot be held responsible. Besides, have you considered that the installation might have been done prior to Part P regulations?
Question Author
Hi, thank you for kind reply.

Just checking through.

1) Are all NICEICR electrician automatically Part P certified ?

2) I did consider the situation could have been done prior to Part P regulation. But since I have taken over the property after the Part P regulation becomes effective, I don't know when things were done by the previous owner.

3) Is it ok for certs to be issued following the inspection even when works were done years after that ? It logically should be ok yes, as this will ensure all are in safe order ?

I understand the certs are important documents especially for when the property needs to be sold. Just want to make sure I do what is right.

1) no, they are not. Be aware that electricians can be registered with bodies other than NICEIC.

2) I understand the point, but there is no need for you to go out of your way to obtain Part P certification.

3) Yes, any Part P registered electrician will provide you with a certificate following inspection. I assume that you are referring to retrospective work on the property when you say "years after that" ie "years before that"

I wouldn't dwell too much on the need for certificates in your circumstances. Certificates are important for new-builds and should be retained. However, there is no evidence that the absence of certificates is detrimental to the value of a house at sale. Although you will have to disclose the fact to a potential buyer via your estate agent's documentation. If someone wants the property, they'll pay the asking price for it.

I think you need to remember that the ability to issue Part P certification can be based upon attending a £180 course at your local college for a few hours. Experience plays no part in it.
I should have made clear that registered electricians require additional certification in order to certify a previous electricians work.
To find a competent electrician, registered with a Government-approved scheme (enabling them to self-certify their work), use this website:
http://www.electricalcompetentperson.co.uk/
Question Author
1) Noted that not all certified electrician (NICEIC / NAPIT / ETC) are Part P certified. I thought they would be as Part P is a small part of the works they would cover and it would be handy to be certified.

2) Yes, you are right. I meant 'if works were done years after that'.

3) Are you an electrician, Iamcazzy ? If yes, is there any way I can be linked to you via IM or anything of such ? I am new to this site and don't know how it really works.

4) You have mentioned that registered electricians require additional certification in order to certify a previous electricians work. Could you advice what certification is this ?
In order to 'sign off' other people's work, an electrician requires the appropriate 'third party' registration with either NAPIT or STROMA.

To find an electrician who is able to carry out third party certifications under the NAPIT scheme, enter your postcode in the search box at the top right here:
http://www.napit.org.uk/
Then, importantly, do NOT select 'Electrician' but choose 'Electrical Certifier' instead.

STROMA's website has a similar facility here:
https://www.stroma.com/certification/find-a-member/
Select your region and then 'Third party'.
(NB: That search facility doesn't work for me with Firefox but it does with Chrome)
Question Author
Thank you very much, Buenchico. Much appreciate this. Is NICEIC also able to certify works done by 3rd party ? Or it is only Napit and
Stroma ?
NAPIT and STROMA are the only two third-party certification schemes:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/third-party-certification-schemes-for-domestic-electrical-work

NICEIC don't operate their own scheme for either self-certification or third-party certification. All of their members hold self-certification qualifications though, through schemes operated by other bodies. Some of their members might also be registered with NAPIT or STROMA for third-party certifications.
Question Author
Thank you for this guide, Buenchico. Much appreciate guide.

Are you able to advice approximate cost for such certification (for 3rd party works done) ?

Iamcazzy mentioned they will be able to certify works that are done years before. What is the process like ? Or is it just as straightforward as contacting a Napit electrican and work things out from there ?

Are you an electrician ? If yes, is there any way I can be linked to you via IM or anything of such ? I am new to this site and don't know how it really works.
No, I'm not an electrician but having (in the days before lots of paperwork was required) rewired houses, added new ring circuits, installed stage-lighting circuits and done loads of other electrical stuff I can't see how simply checking whether existing circuitry meets the legal requirements or not should be particularly time-consuming. Therefore I wouldn't expect the cost of getting third-party certification to be particularly expensive. (However it would definitely be worth asking several different contractors for quotes, as they might differ wildly).

The Answerbank doesn't have a 'private messaging' system, so there's no direct way for one member to contact another. However people sometimes get themselves a 'throwaway' e-mail address and post it within a thread here, asking that a particular member contacts them through it.
Question Author
I see .. do you have such an address ? ;)
Question Author
Hi Iamcazzy, Buenchico, my apologies on the below checking on other ways of contact. I understand it is against Site Rules. Please do disregard my requests accordingly. Thank you.
pening, although it's handy to have Part P, it's far from essential. Many independant installation contractors get by without it as crazy as it sounds, and they still earn a good living. As I said, there are some out there that feel that the cost of the course is prohibitive.

Yes, I am and I've got over 30 years experience in domestic installation and practice in an employed and self-employed capacity. I also lecture part-time on electrical installation at the local FE college

As Buenchico says, The Answerbank doesn't do instant messaging. I'm only on here today because I'm at a loose end over the Bank Holiday!

Buenchico has provided a comprehensive explanation of NAPIT and STROMA.

Third-party certification is straightforward but be aware that a competent certifier will take his or her time checking the property. You need to discuss this with the certifier on the phone BEFORE you appoint them to do the job. A competent certifier will check your property from top to bottom before agreeing to issue a certificate. I won't give you an estimated time to do the job as it depends on the size of the property, the condition of the wiring, access issues to lofts, external buildings etc and a whole host of other things.

You would think that the cost is based purely on the certifiers hourly rate plus a top up for his experience. However, there is far more too it than that. The instrumentation needed to provide figures for entry on the certificates are expensive and need expertise to interpret. Furthermore, the instruments require independant calibration relatively frequently and this costs the certifier money. The regular tinkering around with the wiring regulations also means that he has to be up to date with his knowledge usually by compulsory courses that again cost money.

You've not given us any information about the property, which would have been helpful as it might be very pertinent when considering the work that needs to be done. Bungalows for example, are generally much simpler to certify than a three-storey terraced property or HMO's!
Question Author
Thank you Iamcazzy. It is a 1 bedded flat. I have just changed my consumer unit 2 years ago through a registered electrician and have an EIC for the works done. I also have an EICR done recently with satisfactory result.
Pening, I'm puzzled exactly why you appear to be running two threads simultaneously here on The Answerbank. It's not really the way thing are done on The Answerbank. It would have better if you had combined the information.

You've not disclosed what type of building you are living in. How many floors has the building? It's difficult to work in the dark (no pun intended)

I'm inclined to tell you once again to forget about arranging certification. As I said, it will make no difference to the selling price. I've never known it detrimental to a property sale.

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