I got a quote to move the consumer unit and I believe it's crazy high. What would be a fair quote?

adelast · Post by **adelast** » Sat Dec 03, 2022 3:02 pm

Hi everyone,

I got a quote from an electrician to move my consumer unit, but I was in shock once they told me that it would cost over £1000!
Under the staircase there's some dead space to which you can access by opening two small doors. Currently the consumer unit is located in the middle of this dead space, leaving basically a lot of empty space behind it and making impossible to reach it. What I asked this electrician to do is simply to move it from the middle of this space just to the side wall inside the same space underneath the stairs. Isn't over £1000 a crazy price for this? We are talking about 50 or 60cm max I don't think it requires a huge rewiring. What are your thoughts?

aeromech3 · Post by **aeromech3** » Sat Dec 03, 2022 3:15 pm

Not about to advise but is the in coming on the wall you want it moved to?

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Sat Dec 03, 2022 3:20 pm

adelast wrote: ↑Sat Dec 03, 2022 3:02 pmI got a quote from an electrician to move my consumer unit

Get another quote.
Also make sure they are like for like. I suspect the quote is also to change the consumers unit.

adelast · Post by **adelast** » Sat Dec 03, 2022 3:32 pm

aeromech3 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 03, 2022 3:15 pm Not about to advise but is the in coming on the wall you want it moved to?

As that one is low and right in the corner I can live heaving that there, but I'd like to have all the rest moved to the side so that I can use the space. I can't explain myself why someone would put it this way without thinking of leaving access to the other side

adelast · Post by **adelast** » Sat Dec 03, 2022 3:32 pm

Someone-Else wrote: ↑Sat Dec 03, 2022 3:20 pm
adelast wrote: ↑Sat Dec 03, 2022 3:02 pmI got a quote from an electrician to move my consumer unit
Get another quote.
Also make sure they are like for like. I suspect the quote is also to change the consumers unit.

I think I will get another quote, the consumer unit seems in good state and it hasn't given any issues in 2 years since bought the property

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Sat Dec 03, 2022 4:03 pm

adelast wrote: ↑Sat Dec 03, 2022 3:32 pmthe consumer unit seems in good state and it hasn't given any issues in 2 years since bought the property

But does the quote include a new consumers unit? (I did ask)

Oh, also you have 2 henly blocks (Big junction boxes) one cable feeds the consumers unit, what does the other one supply? and is this in the quote?

Also, just saying the electrician can not move the meter or the main fuse. That is down to the DNO (Loads of money)

adelast · Post by **adelast** » Sat Dec 03, 2022 4:12 pm

Someone-Else wrote: ↑Sat Dec 03, 2022 4:03 pm
adelast wrote: ↑Sat Dec 03, 2022 3:32 pmthe consumer unit seems in good state and it hasn't given any issues in 2 years since bought the property
But does the quote include a new consumers unit?

Oh, also you have 2 henly blocks (Big junction boxes) one cable feeds the consumers unit, what does the other one supply? and is this in the quote?

Also, just saying the electrician can not move the meter or the main fuse. That is down to the DNO (Loads of money)

The quote wasn't a detailed one as they came for a different job (connecting a new electric hob/oven and charged me £96 for putting only a cable), but they didn't speak about putting a new consumer unit, I don't really see the need for one. I'll get another quote from someone else

and ask for a detailed one...

Thank you all for your input, at least now I know that they wouldn't be able to move everything but I would need to ask to the DNO too

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Sat Dec 03, 2022 4:39 pm

adelast wrote: ↑Sat Dec 03, 2022 4:12 pmI'll get another quote from someone else

Sorry, I don't do internet quotes

adelast · Post by **adelast** » Sat Dec 03, 2022 5:20 pm

Someone-Else wrote: ↑Sat Dec 03, 2022 4:39 pm
adelast wrote: ↑Sat Dec 03, 2022 4:12 pmI'll get another quote from someone else
Sorry, I don't do internet quotes

Ahahah I served you that so easily

Neelix · Post by **Neelix** » Sat Dec 03, 2022 6:25 pm

So the big questions are:

1. is relocating the consumer unit necessary?

2. Where are you in the UK?

3. What spec have you been given for the new consumer unit? Dual RCD? RCBO board?

4. Has the quote confirmed that the installer will provide an Electrical Installation Certificate and Part P compliance?

5. Does the price quoted include or exclude VAT

BTW I'm a spark

ericmark · Post by **ericmark** » Sat Dec 03, 2022 9:34 pm

My consumer unit had type AC RCBO's and a SPD, but now need to be type A so will cost more, and it cost me in 2019 about £350, it took my son all day to fit it for me, in fact longer as I had to complete the job, and we took a chance and only tested once completed, should have done a full EICR before starting.

So £1000 could be a fair price, where the problem arises is when some one runs off when it goes wrong, had it with parents house, it took more time and money to correct than if I had done job from start.

So norm is three quotes, if one is way cheaper or dearer to others as why, it may be one is using expensive manufacturer, had I used Wylex instead of fusebox the price could have doubled. Using RCBO with spark detectors even higher.