How important is NICEIC membership?

[toodarnhilly]

We're about to do a rewire on house we've just bought.

Had four quotes and the one I like best (and with recommendations from local people) doesn't have NICEIC or elects membership.

The chap I like was really helpful with advice on placing sockets and extra considerations which reassures me as I'm nervous doing such a big job without living there first (wiring is unsafe, so don't want to risk moving in).

So my question: would you consider a qualified and recommended but not certified electrician?

[Anastasie]

No. Sorry - I mean you can, by all means - but why isn't he certified?

That's what you have to be asking yourself (and him)

We had one who was 'in the process' of certification (as a competent person). Turns out he wasn't there yet - so he was unable to sign off his own work, cue us having to pay the council to send a chap out and test it all over again which took a whole day.

Ours was also very sweet but he was flaky as anything, and loads of stuff was wrong, forgotten to finish, the sockets he had marked places for were nowhere near the marks, at times - and the MESS he left with th lath and plaster was horrifying.

He even used plastic boxes in crumbling plaster walls, which came out when you pulled a plug out.

Horrific.

I had to redo all the socket back boxes, myself, all the plastering over channel/conduit, we're still finding errors now.

My advice is to get the oldest, most experienced, most qualified person you can possibly afford.

Simply put if he isn't certified as competent there is a reason for that, and you don't know what it is - but whatever it is you will still need to get a third party in to certify his work, and they'll have to be informed in advance, and it's a really blimming hassle.

[AnonymousBird]

No.

[Anastasie]

Have you spoken to building control? If not then I'd suggest you do so now - ask them the procedure.

Anyone who is competent (certified as such) under niceic or elecsa or napitt/whatever they are called) can sign off their own work. Anyone who isn't will need to go through hoops, or rather you will, to get it signed off by B.C. it's complicated.

If you get a competent person, they can self certify avoiding a lot of the paperwork.

A full rewire is always notifiable AFAIK.

[WhatKatyDidnt]

I would definitely find a certified electrician. This is one of those once-in-50-years jobs and it's crucial that it's right.

Also - if those local recommendations are online and/or for very minor jobs then take them with a massive pinch of salt.

[toodarnhilly]

Yes I low you're all righost, the bc issue is very off putting for me as can see it being hassle. Was just hoping against my gut that someone might have a reason it would be ok as I did feel this guy was helpful whereas he other chap I like next best was much more just following my prompts rather than giving advice.

Ah well. The certified chap is cheaper, too, so it's a no brainer I suppose

[Anastasie]

Get another quote? How do their experience levels compare? That's my #1 criterion tbh.

A 25yo with a few houses under his belt and grand ideas that wn't work in a 100yo property vs an old codger who used to work with the stuff he will surely find under your floorboards back in the 60s...I'd take the latter

[Anastasie]

But he would have to be NIC anyway. You need that combo.

[PigletJohn]

there are various Competent Person schemes, it need not be NICIEC.

However...

Would you fly in a plane where the captain didn't have a pilot's licence? Ride in a minicab where the driver hadn't passed his test?

[Anastasie]

sorry yes nic/elecsa/napitt are all equally valid.

[MrsFlorrick]

Op. If he isn't under a competent installer scheme (NAPIT etc) then he won't have valid public liability and if your house later had an electrical fire, you won't have comeback.

And more to the point, if he isn't actually qualified, he may not be competent and an electrical fire could cost you your life.

Don't risk it!! The importance here is the same as a Gas Safe engineer. You wouldn't let an unqualified unregistered person tinker with your boiler, would you.

And the qualified registered electrician is cheaper?!

The reason the unqualified unregistered bloke walked around "giving advice" was to talk you into giving him the job. A job he isn't qualified to do.....