Electrician's guilty plea over report signing off unsatisfactory electrics

A Pembrokeshire electrician has pleaded guilty to supplying a report claiming
the electrics in a household property were satisfactory when they were not.

The case was brought by Pembrokeshire County Council Trading Standards and
heard by Judge Huw Rees at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Monday
20 September 2021.

Mark Cummins trading as M C Electrics from Haverfordwest was commissioned
by the vendor of a Milford Haven property in November 2018 to inspect and issue
a condition report of the electrics in the property.

The Court heard that Mr Cummins took less than an hour to do the inspection and
issued an Electrical Installation Condition Report to the vendor the same day,
containing the written statement describing the electrics in the property as
“satisfactory”.

He told the vendor a light fitting in the downstairs utility and shower room needed
to be replaced but his report did not list any concerns despite estimating the
electrics to be 40 years old. He charged the vendor for the report.

In January 2019 the property was sold to the current owner Nia Evans.

Ms Evans later contracted local electrician John Morley to install additional wall
sockets prior to moving in.

After a visual inspection and conducting some tests, Mr Morley concluded that the
electrics were unsatisfactory, advising of a complete re-wire and to report the
matter to STROMA, the certification body of which Mr Cummins was a member at
the time.

Pembrokeshire Trading Standards arranged for Matthew Williams, a Council
electrician, to carry out an inspection of the electrics at the property in July 2019.

His detailed report also concluded that the installation was unsatisfactory. Ms
Evans has consequently still not moved in to the property.

Mr Cummins pleaded guilty to an offence under the Consumer Protection from
Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 of engaging in a commercial practice which was
misleading action, by describing the general condition of the electrical installation
of a property as satisfactory which was untruthful.

He was fined £1,500 and ordered to pay £1000 contribution towards costs and
£100 statutory surcharge payment.

“When members of the public request the input of professionals they deserve to beable to rely on the information received."

The Judge also commended the local authority for the way it approached the case.

Sandra McSparron, Pembrokeshire County Council Lead Trading Standards
Officer, said: “Homeowners and buyers put their faith in the services of
electricians and other professionals to deliver accurate and truthful reports, in order to make important and informed decisions. Mr Cummins report was a key
factor in the decision to purchase in this case.

“I am concerned that subsequent reports identified potentially serious non
compliances in the property."

“I hope this prosecution sends a message out to all traders in these fields. I would
like to express gratitude to all the witnesses for their assistance.”

Cllr Cris Tomos, the Council Cabinet Member for Public Protection commended
everyone involved for bringing the case to court.

“When members of the public request the input of professionals they deserve to be
able to rely on the information received."

“This is even more important particularly when dealing with potentially hazardous
situations such as unsatisfactory electrics."

“I am pleased that the Authority was able to see this case through to a successful
prosecution and would like to underline our gratitude to the witnesses.”

_{Source: https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/newsroom/electricians-guilty-plea-over-report-signing-off-unsatisfactory-electrics}