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FACT
FILE - Part "P" Building Regulations (Electrical Safety in
Dwellings)
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Electrical
Safety in Dwellings From
1 January 2005, people carrying out electrical work in homes
and gardens in England and Wales have had to follow the new
rules in the Building Regulations. These apply to all properties
either let as holiday rentals, long term lettings or owner
occupied (not let). The rules are set out in Part P Building
Regulations (Electrical Safety in Dwellings). Failure
to comply with these Regulations is a criminal offence, which
could result in a maximum fine of £5,000 and or imprisonment.
Why has the Government introduced the new rules?
To
reduce the number of deaths, injuries and fires caused by
faulty electrical installations and to make it harder for
'cowboy builders' to leave electrical installations in an
unsafe condition.
In very general terms these regulations require that works,
repairs, maintenance etc., on "electrical installations",
in certain areas of a property, are now known as "notifiable"
works and as such must only be carried out by a "competent
person".
Who
is a "Competent Person"?
Someone who is currently registered with an approved self-certification
scheme, which monitors and regulates his or her activities,
competence etc.
The competent person can "self-certify" the relevant works
and he (or she) then has a responsibility to provide the customer
and the local authority building control department with a
copy Certificate relating to the notifiable works. If your
property is let out then you will need to maintain a copy
of any such certificate in their management files for possible
future reference.
Someone who is not a "competent person" could
still do the works as long as they seek appropriate approval
from their local authority Building Control department, before
and after the works are carried out. In most cases an officer
from the department will wish to visit the property and inspect
the works and may require the applicant to submit suitable
drawings or schematics.
What does an "Electrical Installation" mean?
Fixed
electrical cables or fixed electrical equipment located on
the consumer's side of the electricity supply meter in a dwelling
or in the common parts of a building serving one or more dwellings;
and that includes sheds, garages and greenhouses.
Non notifiable works:
Although you should take guidance from the Building Control
department generally these would include repairs, replacements
and maintenance;  
and additions or alterations to existing circuits outside
kitchens and bathrooms: Replacing power sockets
(white laminate with chrome for example), replacing a damaged
power cable, replacing a light switch or ceiling rose, adding
lighting points, sockets and fused spurs to existing circuits
as long as they are not in a special location or special
installation.
Special
Locations / installations: Kitchen - bathroom/shower room,
garden lighting and swimming pools.
 
When
the Notifiable work is carried out Will I get a certificate
that the electrical work meets the requirements of the Building
Regulations?
Yes
- a qualified installer should give you a signed BS 7671 electrical
safety certificate for all types of electrical work. If you
use a registered installer for notifiable work, the operator
of the registration scheme will send you a Building Regulations
compliance certificate. If you use an unregistered installer
for notifiable work, the Building Control Service will inspect
the work to check that it complies with the Building Regulations
before issuing a completion certificate.
What will happen if the owner does not follow the Building
Regulations?
- The
electrical installation might not be safe.
-
You will have no record of the work done.
- You
may have difficulty selling your home if you do not have
the right electrical safety certificates.
- Your
local authority's Building Control Department may insist
that you put right faulty work.
Where can I get more information?
From
your local authority's Building Control Department who publish
a free 'Explanatory Booklet on the Building Regulations'.
Or visit www.odpm.gov.uk/explanatory-booklet for a
copy
N.B. This information should not be relied
on for accuracy and is presented here without the responsibility
of jml Property Service and the website it is being displayed
at. ©jml property Services 04-05
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Housing
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Inventories
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Condensation Problems Click
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Property
News - A 2006 property boom in the UK predicted on back of
pension reform - March 2005 Click
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Problems
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by Philip Suter Click
Here
Arbitration
- April 2008 - by David Smith - Pain Smith Legal update
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