"Ed Sirett" wrote in message
...
Andy Hall wrote:

On Thu, 24 Jul 2003 00:21:07 +0000, parish parish_AT_ntlworld.com
wrote:

Andrew McKay wrote:

I don't somehow see Joe Public taking the slightest bit of notice.


If I understand the proposals correctly the problem for DIYers is that
it means you will have to produce a certificate or something (like the
FENSA cert. for replacement windows) when you sell your house and, if
you don't, lay yourself open to compensation claims after the event.

So all that would happen with this additional piece of pointless
regulation is that people who want to wire themselves will continue to
do so, and then one of two things will happen when it comes to sale
time.

a) seller will get an electrical inspection done and be able to
produce certificate at his cost whereas now the buyer pays.

b) people will apply for regularisation at the local authority. This
costs typically 20% more than if a Building Notice had been requested
in the first place. However, since there is no VAT on the
regularisation fee, the difference in cost is minimal.

Both of these will be technically breaking the law, but my estimation
is that it will be as widespread as speeding.

With any luck, the government will continue digging in the hole in
which it finds itself and this won't make the statute books due to
lack of priority.


All this sounds bad but in practice won't alter anything.

The crunch for me would come if small works certificates for domestic
stuff are needed and/or professional work could only be done by
registered people. In which case I'll be a couple of grand down (test
equipment, exams , subscriptions) untilI've recouped the cost on the
bills wry smile.



Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at www.diyfaq.org.uk
Gas fitting FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html


And that's about it - the cost of (legal) electrical work will surely go up
as a result of a restricted supply (as if it's easy to get decent sparks at
the moment!) due to barriers to entry and higher operating costs.

This will make it less likely that electrical maintenance work will actually
be done, and that DIY work that is allowed will probably stray into the
bounds of less safe practise as a result of the regulations (e.g. simply
extending a ring from an old fused CU rather than a nice new ring on a new
split CU). I suspect that the situation will actually worsen as a result of
this.

Of course, if you're sat in your Islington house, a government residence, or
a rented London flat whilst you're creating these rules and regs, none of
this cost stuff has any relevance to you at all, and you'd never dream of
lifting a screwdriver and doing it yourself. Talk about detatched from
reality - this lot make the Tories seem down to earth...

As for the poster that suspected that 90% of the accidents that did happen
were due to DIY work on FIXED electrical installations - I'd defy you to
produce any evidence to back that up. Even the cost/benefit in the proposal
was very vague in this area - neatly ignoring that glaring question
completely. Ban non-licensed use of ladders - that'll save some lives.

Time for more action methinks. Emailing MP and opposition members
today......


cheers
Richard

--
Richard Sampson

email me at
richard at olifant d-ot co do-t uk