MCW Required; Builder reluctant to issue

[flowjoh]

I'm just about to have my renovations completed by my builder and he's getting very vague about issuing the multiple Minor Works Certificates that my Property Management Company has told me I need to submit to them.

We spoke about him certifying the work at the start and it all sounded fine. Now he's telling me that he won't be certifying the electrical work and I should just get and EICR instead once the work is all done (and suggesting I shouldn't mention that I changed any of the electrics when I go for the EICR) and he's shying away from doing the MWC, saying he's not registered with the right body or something like that.

It's all starting to feel a bit dodgy to be honest, so it'd be good if people on here could clarify a few things for me:

It seems like 'any competent person' can fill in an MWC, so my builder / electrician should be able do so right?

If he doesn't, is it easy to get another electrician to do the MWC checks? I seem to be seeing contradictory information on this online.

Is an EICR accepted usually instead of an MWC? Is it a cheaper route to take? Is it more preferable or less preferable in any way to the MWC?

Many thanks in advance 🙏

I assume your contract requires that he issues the appropriate certificates?

Refuse to pay until they are issued...but it sounds like he can't as if for example he is not qualified to do the electrical work, then he has to get someone else to certify it which is problematic as electricians that can self certify are notoriously reluctant to certify work they haven't seen during the install.

Yes it is dodgy but don't pay until he sorts it out. If he can't, then for the electrics you might have to pay and have done again

"Competent Person" does not mean, as you might think, a person who knows how to do the job. It means that they are a member of a Competent Person scheme, and have passed periodic exams, have the right equipment, and pay a membership fee. Occasionally their work might be inspected.

From what you say, your builder is not a member of any such scheme. "Minor Works" is a term used in the electrical trade. I don't know if it is used elsewhere. It is not a good sign that he wants you to conceal that electrical work has been done.

When work is done by a scheme member, they are authorised to issue their own certificate. If you have to pay someone else, they cannot issue an installation certificate (because they would have to sign that they designed, installed and tested it) but can inspect and test, and issue a condition report. This is almost invariably more expensive than having the work done by a qualified person in the first place.

Find out what documentation your housing association will accept.

I just had a look at a sample form and its notes, and it refers to a "skilled person" which is not the same as a Competent Person. So it could be filled in by e.g. an Industrial Electrician who does not normally do domestic work and does not need to be a Scheme member.

However I doubt that a non-electrician would normally have the knowledge, equipment and experience enabling them to (truthfully) complete it.

Thanks for the info above. I got the condition report in the end, cost another chunk of money but at least it's done now. Lesson learned about what to insist on up front for the next time 😑

Thanks for the update