FOR HOW LONG IS A CERTIFICATE OF ELECTRICAL COMPLIANCE VALID?

In terms of the Health and Safety Act, an owner of a property must be in possession of a valid Certificate of Electrical compliance in respect of the wiring of the property.

• An issued certificate is valid for as long as no changes has been made to the wiring, connections or plugs. 
• However, when a purchaser registers a bond with the transfer of the property, the bank will require a Certificate not older than 6 months.
• It is the Sellers obligation to deliver such certificate, which means that the seller will bear the costs for all repair works to be done in order for the certificate to be issued.
• There are certain transactions where the Seller shall be exempted to deliver such a certificate for example if the property was purchased on a sheriff’s auction or from the curator of an insolvent estate. These Sellers will contractually not deliver a C.O.C. 
• Another transaction where the Seller could be exempted is when a purchaser purchases a dilapidated or vandalized property and it is contractually agreed that the purchaser waives this condition.