Electricity

[langara]

When we bought our first house 12yrs ago after living in married quarters for 30 + years we were quite naïve. We had a new kitchen fitted by large local company, hand made units etc, when the fitter came to install integrated fridge e said we needed some electrical work doing, and that he could recommend someone, who duly came and over 4 days did quite a lot of work updating all fittings, so far so good. Last week we bought a new cooker and after paying £70 to install it he said he wasn't qualified to install it as the wiring wasn't earthed, we found a qualified electrician who said Oh dear Oh dear, did you have a cowboy to do previous work, having paid £600 we hoped he knew what he was doing, once again being naïve we never asked for certificate. The new electrician has said it will now cost£800 to put everything right. Question is can we complain to Kitchen company or is it far to late.

[factor-fiction]

Maybe the rules have changed since the last kitchen was put in. I know we had an issue when our kitchen was replaced- there were new rules about power to cookers apparently and we were given a part P certificate which are now required

[Dizmo]

I doubt the kitchen company will do anything. Was the recommendation made by the kitchen company or by the fitter. If the fitter has made the recommendation then there isn't a great deal you can do.

I'd like to say I'm shocked that even a cowboy sparky could miss something so vital and obvious but after seeing the work done on my house by a cowboy builder (previous to us owning the property) nothing surprises me anymore.

[Old_Geezer]

Is the suggestion that the cable used has no earth, which is difficult to believe; or that it'd cost £800 to connect the earth that is already there ?

I think you may be wise to get a few quotes.

[BRIGHT SPARK]

Some part P rules are to be relaxed shortly..so the cowboys will carry on unhindered for the next few years...until another MP's daughter gets killed after a dodgy builder wires the kitchen without an earth.

[Old_Geezer]

Never agreed with Part P. Telling us what work we can do and not do in our own house. Claiming that one can still do it, knowing the cost of getting someone to check means it is no longer a sensible option. "Cowboys" will always be "cowboys" anyway, in all trades. The bad guys don't tend to care, especially if it is 'cash in hand' and thus untraceable.

[BRIGHT SPARK]

og........do you agree with Gas Safe?

[buildersmate]

The original Part P came into force on 1st January 2005, so it sounds like your wiring was modified when any old cowboy was allowed to do electrical work.

In any event, going back 12 years later isn't really going to work.

BS - I doubt there are many people who know the origins of the Private Members Bill initiated by said MP, that led to Part P becoming law.

[BRIGHT SPARK]

bm....The intention now is to introduce 3rd party certification...allowing contractors who attended a 5 week course to become a domestic installer (after being a shelf stacker in Lidl) to certify work carried out by builders ...who may work in Aldi. Homeowners beware!!

[Old_Geezer]

Electricity doesn't leak out like gas does. Not really comparable. Which is why we didn't have Part P until recently when the Nanny State decided we needed more cotton wool.

[BRIGHT SPARK]

"electricity doesn't leak like gas".....it does if you touch it!