Practical Advice To Help You Profit From Rental Property
Tips On Working With The Electrician
The electrical work that a member of the public can perform is now limited to simple procedures such as replacing damaged sockets. All electrical work carried out by an electrician, even simple jobs such as installing an extra socket, must now be recorded. There are guidelines to good practice called the IEE Wiring Regulations and an installation which complies with them will, by definition, be safe and will satisfy your local electricity supplier.
The best way to find an electrician and ensure that you get a professionally qualified and competent electrician is to choose a member of one of the industry's professional organising bodies.
National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC) Tel. 02075 642 323 They produce a list of approved contractors available at electricity showrooms and public libraries.
Electrical Contractors Association Tel. 02073 134 800 They run a guarantee scheme.
Check with the relevant organisation to ensure that an electrician who claims membership is really a member.
Plan your job. Before you select your electrician consider in detail the work which needs doing. Your property may need a complete rewire or, more likely, simply bringing up to standard with a new consumer unit, improved earthing and some additional sockets. You may also need to consider things like: outdoor power and lighting, television aerial sockets, telephone points, heating system controls and alarm systems.
Once you are sure of the work which needs doing obtain a fixed price quote from at least three electricians for the job.
Discuss the work schedule to ensure the electrician can proceed with the work as you require. When the work has been done the system should be properly tested to ensure it is safe and up to Regulation standard.
As with all tradesmen keep a daily check on the work and challenge any inadequacies at once. It is easier to get things put right straight away when the item is being worked on rather than leave it to the end. If you allow unsatisfactory work to pass at the start of the job it is more difficult to challenge the same standard of work later on.