Safety switch and building inspection - Victoria

Discussion in 'The Buying & Selling Process' started by SamDee, 24th Nov, 2020.

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  1. SamDee

    SamDee New Member

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    Hi all,

    I have put an offer on a unit built in 1977 - the building inspection has come back with a red flag that there is no safety switch. Does anyone have any experience in negotiating for this to be repaired by seller or any insight into whether this will impact building insurance for the property? I can see that there is a push from the industry to make the switches mandatory when selling a property.

    Thanks,
    Sam
     
  2. Mark F

    Mark F Well-Known Member

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    I assume you mean a rcd (residual current device) which cuts power if a short is detected. It shouldn't be a big job for a sparky to fit one and really should be mandatory. Just allow for it in the price negotiations.
     
  3. FrivolousPanda

    FrivolousPanda Well-Known Member

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    If you've submitted an offer subject to building and pest then it will come down to the exact clause used in your offer so you should check with your solicitor/conveyancer (if it's the norm to use one in Victoria)
     
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  4. Joynz

    Joynz Well-Known Member

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    Don’t think it makes any difference to insurance. I’m in Melbourne and have never been asked about this when getting insurance.

    It’s only mandatory in new builds and major renos so the vendor is within their rights to refuse. I certainly would!

    It’s not expensive to get one. The sellers may not want to have one installed, so I would get an estimate so you can suggest a decrease in price by the same amount.

    And if the vendors say ‘no’ you know how much it’s going to cost to get one put in...
     
  5. Stoffo

    Stoffo Well-Known Member

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    In addition, from memory, legislation should state that any property (unit/house) sold should have hard wired smoke detectors.....

    Being a unit it should have these by now, but I'd of expected that it would have had safety switches installed by now also !

    It shouldn't cost much to upgrade (unless there's other issue's).

    You could ask if any electrical work has been done in the last 7 years, and if so ask for the electrical safety certificate
     
  6. Joynz

    Joynz Well-Known Member

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    Not in Melbourne.
     
  7. Stoffo

    Stoffo Well-Known Member

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  8. Joynz

    Joynz Well-Known Member

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  9. The Y-man

    The Y-man Moderator Staff Member

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    As per @FrivolousPanda - what was the special conditions you put in the contract?

    It's only a few grand anyway I think to get one installed.

    The Y-man
     
  10. Joynz

    Joynz Well-Known Member

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    A few grand! You might be thinking of a switchboard upgrade.

    A safety switch is much cheaper.
     
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  11. Paul@PAS

    Paul@PAS Tax, Accounting + SMSF + All things Property Tax Business Plus Member

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    It will depend on how the house is wired. Some circuits should avoid a RCD eg fridge power.
    NSW mandates the BUYER must install within X months of purchase OR if letting a property. I think its less onerous in Vic. Take a photo of meter box and discuss with a sparkie eg Hipages even
     
  12. The Y-man

    The Y-man Moderator Staff Member

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    Yeah we’ve always had to do the whole kit and kaboodle on the period homes

    The Y-man
     
  13. lightbulbmoment

    lightbulbmoment Well-Known Member

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    I'd suggest you delete this comment immediately.
    Rcd protection is required on every sub circuit in a domestic installation by law. Makes me furious when people who have no idea throw around false information.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: 27th Nov, 2020
  14. Joynz

    Joynz Well-Known Member

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    Yes - the RCD is important to flag faults in a fridge too.

    I read that RCDs on fridges can ‘mysteriously’ trip at intervals related to the defrost cycle coming on - the RCD detects a fault at that point but it can seem to be random to an observer. The article mentioned old beer fridges being likely suspects...
     

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