Terms & Conditions of Service

1. Definitions & Scope of Agreement

In these Terms and Conditions:

• “The Contractor” / “We” / “Us”: Saim Electrical Engineering Ltd (trading styles include Saim Volt, Saim Compliance, and Saim Certified), registered in England & Wales, NAPIT Registration #64289, registered office at 12 Wray Gardens, Manchester, M19 3HA.
• “The Client” / “You”: The individual, landlord, property agent, commercial entity, or property owner contracting services from Saim Electrical Engineering Ltd.
• “The Works”: The electrotechnical installation, statutory inspection (EICR), fault finding, consumer unit upgrade, rewire, EV charger installation, or remedial repairs specified in the written quotation or work order.
• “Statutory Standards”: Current British Standard BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations 18th Edition including all current amendments), Part P of the Building Regulations, and the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.

2. Quotations, Estimates & Variations

2.1. Validity: Written formal quotations are valid for thirty (30) calendar days from the date of issuance, after which they may be subject to revision based on raw material costs (e.g., copper cable, RCBO switchgear).

2.2. Supply Assumptions: Quotations assume normal supply conditions, including an intact incoming DNO cut-out fuse (60A to 100A), adequate earthing arrangements (PME/TN-C-S, TN-S, or functional TT earth electrode), adequate main protective bonding to incoming gas and water services within 600mm of meter positions, and unobstructed access to work areas.

2.3. Latent Defects & Unforeseen Variations: Where concealed, inaccessible, or non-compliant pre-existing wiring faults are identified (such as degraded VIR wiring, borrowed neutrals, shared neutrals in domestic consumer units, or missing main equipotential bonding), we will immediately notify the Client. Any additional labor or materials required to ensure safety under BS 7671 will be agreed in writing via a variation order before proceeding.

3. Property Access, Safety & Power Isolation

3.1. Access: The Client must provide clear, safe, and unobstructed access to the work area, including electrical consumer units, meter boxes, loft spaces, cable containment routes, and isolation switches during agreed working hours (typically 08:00 to 18:00 or emergency dispatch slots).

3.2. Planned Power Interruptions: The Client acknowledges that during testing, consumer unit replacements, and circuit alterations, electricity supply will be safely isolated for testing sequences (including 500V DC Insulation Resistance tests and RCD trip testing). The Client is responsible for safeguarding sensitive IT/computing equipment, alarms, and refrigeration prior to scheduled works.

3.3. Hazardous Materials: If asbestos or other hazardous materials are discovered during cable drilling or containment routes, work will pause immediately in the affected area until certified removal or abatement is completed by a licensed specialist at the property owner's cost.

4. BS 7671 Standards & Statutory Certification

4.1. Accreditation: All installations and testing are performed by JIB Gold Card certified, 18th Edition qualified electrical engineers in full compliance with BS 7671.

4.2. Certificate Issuance: We issue Electrical Installation Certificates (EIC), Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificates (MEIWC), or Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICR) digitally within 24 to 72 hours of work completion and full invoice settlement.

4.3. Part P Building Regulations Notification: For notifiable works in domestic dwellings (e.g. full consumer unit replacements, new circuits, full rewires), we lodge statutory compliance notifications through our NAPIT Competent Person Scheme (#64289), resulting in a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate issued directly to the homeowner.

5. Smart EV Charger Terms & DNO Notification

5.1. Grid Notification (DNO): In compliance with UK Distribution Code requirements (ENA EREC G98 / G99), Saim Electrical submits Connect & Notify or Prior Permission applications to the regional Distribution Network Operator (Electricity North West / National Grid).

5.2. Looped Supplies: If Electricity North West identifies that the property has a shared or "looped" incoming electrical service supply, charger installation must comply with DNO load restrictions. If un-looping is required, un-looping works are scheduled and executed directly by the DNO; Saim Electrical is not liable for DNO network scheduling delays.

5.3. OZEV Grant Terms: Where the Client applies for the £350/£500 OZEV EV Chargepoint Grant, the Client warrants that all provided eligibility information (tenancy status, dedicated off-street parking, eligible EV ownership/lease) is true and accurate. If OZEV subsequently rejects a claim due to customer misrepresentation or ineligible documentation, the Client remains fully liable for the grant balance.

6. Landlord EICR Inspections & Hazard Codes

6.1. Objective Assessment: An EICR is an objective, non-destructive safety assessment of the fixed electrical installation based on BS 7671 sampling guidelines.

6.2. Unsatisfactory Reports: If observations classified as C1 (Danger Present - Risk of Injury), C2 (Potentially Dangerous), or FI (Further Investigation Required) are detected, the overall assessment outcome is legally classified as “UNSATISFACTORY”. Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, landlords must have remedial repairs executed within 28 days.

6.3. Remedial Quotations: EICR assessment fees cover the inspection, testing, and report generation only. Remedial repairs required to achieve a “Satisfactory” outcome will be quoted separately.

7. Pricing, Payment Terms & Late Interest

7.1. Payment Timelines: For domestic customers, payment in full is due immediately upon completion of the works and demonstration of functionality, prior to final certificate release. For approved commercial and letting agency accounts, payment terms are strictly 14 days from invoice date.

7.2. Deposits: A deposit (typically 20% to 50%) may be required prior to commencement for high-value hardware orders (e.g. bespoke Andersen EV chargers, commercial distribution boards, complete house rewires).

7.3. Late Payment Interest: In the event of late payment, interest will accrue on overdue amounts at the rate of 8% per annum above the Bank of England base rate under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, along with statutory debt recovery compensation.

8. 3-Year Workmanship Guarantee & Warranties

8.1. 3-Year Guarantee: We provide a comprehensive 3-Year Workmanship Guarantee on all new consumer unit upgrades, full house rewires, and major domestic installations executed by our certified engineers.

8.2. 1-Year EV Workmanship Warranty: EV charger cabling, surge protection devices, and external switchgear are guaranteed against installation defect for 12 months. Charger hardware units carry the manufacturer's warranty (ranging from 3 to 7 years depending on brand).

8.3. Guarantee Exclusions: Our guarantee does not cover defects arising from:

• Modifications, additions, or repairs carried out by unauthorized third parties or non-certified personnel;
• Accidental physical impact, moisture ingress from roof/plumbing leaks, or rodent damage;
• External grid power surges exceeding SPD rated withstand voltages;
• Normal wear and tear of consumable components (such as lamps or extractor fan bearings).

9. Statutory 14-Day Cancellation & Urgent Works

9.1. Cooling-Off Period: Under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, domestic clients contracting remotely (online, phone, or off-premises) have a statutory right to cancel within fourteen (14) calendar days without penalty.

9.2. Express Request for Urgent Commencement: If the Client requests works to start before the 14-day cancellation window expires (e.g. emergency fault finding, urgent power restoration, or tenant check-in EICR certificates), the Client acknowledges that once the work is fully executed, the right to cancel is extinguished. If cancelled mid-progress, the Client must pay for labor and materials supplied up to the cancellation notice.

9.3. Site Cancellation Fee: If a scheduled site attendance is cancelled with less than 24 hours notice or if our engineers are denied property access upon arrival, an engineer abortive visit fee of £65 may be charged.

10. Limitation of Liability & English Law

10.1. Insurance Coverage: Saim Electrical Engineering Ltd maintains comprehensive £5,000,000 Public Liability Insurance and £250,000 Professional Indemnity Insurance tailored for electrotechnical contracting.

10.2. Pre-Existing Circuit Failures: We are not liable for incidental damage to fragile, severely aged, or defective pre-existing electrical equipment caused during mandatory standard dead-testing procedures (such as standard 500V DC insulation resistance voltage tests conducted under BS 7671 requirements).

10.3. Governing Law: These terms and conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales, and both parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.