Tracking down the best tradesperson for the job

Are you looking for an electrician to rewire your house? Install a new security system? Or get an electrical safety report? How do you find a competent local electrician with the right skills and experience?

Electrical work is among the most dangerous of the building trades and should only even be tackled by a registered and fully qualified electrician. The consequences of faulty and inadequate electrical installations and wiring can be potentially fatal house fires and electric shocks.

That’s why it’s so important to have some guidelines when choosing an electrician. Thanks to Paul Macklin, founder of Electricians on Call, for his expert tips.

Where to look?

This bit is easy. Just search on our website Local Electricians Direct. It allows you to track down electricians in your local area and compare quotes. Before you hire anyone, investigate a bit further. “Unfortunately, anyone can call themselves an electrician, it’s not a legally protected term,” said Mr Macklin.

Choose a registered electrician

As a starting point, check the electrician is a registered member of an industry trade organisation.  There are several: NICEIC (National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting), ELECSA, ECA (Electrical Contractors’ Association), NAPIT (National Association Professional Inspectors and Testers) STROMA and SELECT (Scotland).

NICEIC, for example, regularly re-assesses its qualified electricians to ensure they are competent and capable of meeting national safety standards BS 7671 Wiring Regulations (18th Edition), codes of practice and rules of the scheme.

Plus, they are insured, so if anything goes wrong you are protected.

Ask for the electrician’s registration number and write it down. Contact the scheme directly if you want to check the individual’s registration or check the scheme’s website.

Check their qualifications

Check the electrical contractor is qualified too. This can most simply be done by hiring an “approved electrician” as they will have had their qualifications verified by the relevant trade organisation. This level of membership shows the individual or company can carry out all electrical installation, inspection and testing work.

When you hire a builder for a project, they often bring in an electrical contractor. So how do you know if the individual is right for the job? It’s best not to just assume the building contractor will have checked qualifications and registration status. Ask to see proof and, if in doubt, check online with the scheme they are registered with.

Be aware it is the homeowner or landlord’s responsibility to ensure that all electrical installation work in their home meets Part P of the Building Regulations. This includes hiring an electrician who is competent.

What is Part P?

In 2005, the Government added Part P to the Building Regulations to beef up electrical safety. It means anyone carrying out certain electrical installation work in a home, garden or outbuilding must ensure that the work is designed and installed to protect people from fire and electric shocks.  A Part P compliance certificate should be issued at the end of the job to prove this.

Most fixed electrical installation work in a home must, by law, meet Part P. For example, house rewires, consumer unit changes, new circuits and work in a special location, such as a bathroom.

Part P qualified

Apart from some minor works, you must either notify your local authority building control department about the electrical work before it starts or hire an electrician who is registered with one of the Government-approved provider schemes, such as NICEIC.

Advantages of using a Part P registered and qualified electrical contractor is they will have been independently assessed to make sure they are suitably trained and competent to self-certify the work as compliant.

Electricians carrying out work in England and Wales have to comply with Part P of the Building Regulations whereas in Scotland there is a Building Standards system. “Part P was supposed to prevent rogue traders and unqualified guys from doing unsafe electrical work but unfortunately there isn’t one central ID card, like the Gas Safe ID card, so it’s still a bit of a Wild West,” said Mr Macklin.

Certification of work

Ask your electrician if they can certify their own work meets Part P of the Building Regulations and issue a certificate of compliance on completion of the job. “Don’t just take their word for it. All registered schemes in the UK and Scotland have websites where you can check membership level and suitability for a specific type of job,” said Mr Macklin.

Remember electrical work is concealed behind panels, bricks and plaster. Legally, the only person who can sign the certificate is the person who did the job in the first place. It is illegal to sign off another person’s work

Mr Macklin said: “No electrician is allowed to certify someone else’s work. A Part P compliance certificate needs to be provided within 28 days of completion of the work not only to the client but also to the local authority where it is kept on file for that property. When it comes to selling the property, the contents of the file will be requested by the buyer’s solicitor carrying out a local search.  If there is a new bathroom including electrical work but no Part P certificate, for example, it can cause problems with the property sale,” said Mr Macklin.

If the self-certification route is not used, you will have to get your local council or private approved inspector to check the work, which means extra expense. The inspector visits before work starts, checks the materials and ask for a method statement (how the work will be done). When the work is finished, the inspector revisits, tests and certifies it. If anything doesn’t comply with Part P of the Building Regulations, you will be asked to redo the work.

Experience

It’s important that electrical installation work is carried out by people with the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to avoid any danger to themselves or others. A simple conversation will shed light on their experience and suitability for the job. Here are some terms you may come across.

Domestic installer - individuals trained to carry out basic domestic electrical work, such as the installation and replacement of electrical components, putting in and/or rerouting cables, lighting and similar types of installation. These individuals will be able to issue a Part P compliance certificates to your local authority but, under the terms of this type of membership, are not assessed as competent to carry out electrical inspection work in properties.

Competent Person Scheme - A domestic installer must be registered with a Government-approved competent person scheme to legally carry out electrical work and self-certify it complies with Part P of the Building Regulations.  Their work will be assessed to check they meet the level of competence required before they are approved. There are also ongoing inspections to make sure they continue to meet British Standards BS 7671 Wiring Regulation (18th Edition).

Fully qualified electrician – will usually have completed a three to four-year apprenticeship and holds technical and vocational qualifications. They can install wiring, lighting and appliances throughout the home as well as replace or repair fuse boxes and add in switches, sockets and charging points. Domestic electricians can also work for landlords.

Approved electrician is the term given to individuals who in addition to completing their apprenticeships and being fully qualified have had at least two years of experience. They may have taken additional qualifications in testing and inspection of electrical installations.

Guarantees and warranties

Always ask for a guarantee on electrical work. It gives peace of mind in case something goes wrong. NICEIC insurance backed warranty for its Part P Domestic Installer Scheme is valid for six years from the date of the completion of the original work, for example.

Price comparison

It’s a good idea to give the electrician a written summary of the work required so you can easily compare quotes. Electricians quote on a supply and install basis, so the price should include labour and parts, according to your specification.  Get quotes from several contractors so you can compare prices. The cheapest quote may not be the best option. It’s essential to check they are registered, fully qualified and insured to carry out the work.

“If you want a properly carried out job, with all the guarantees and insurance that goes with it, then it will cost more. It won’t be the cheapest rate. You get what you pay for in this trade. Unfortunately, most clients don’t do due diligence, they go for the cheapest or second cheapest quote. In some cases, this can lead to poor installation which will have to be redone and paid for again,” said Mr Macklin.

Finding a good local electrician can be a bit of a minefield. It can be tempting to go for the first available contractor you find, especially in an emergency, but it’s vital to make sure they’re qualified for the type of work they are going to be doing, so they can deliver on quality and, of course, safety. Following our guide should help you track down the best electrician for the job.

If you are looking for help with any electrical issues, you may find some of these services useful: