In order for the sale of a property to go through you legally require a Coc certificate for the transfer to go through.
The Coc certificate could cost you from R850.00 -R1500+, this costing will be dependent on the size and type of premises.
This cost will only cover the price of the certificate and any alterations that may need to be made to the electrical components of the premises will need to be paid for over and above this cost. Providing a CoC ensures that:
- Your property has been earthed and bonded professionally by a qualified electrician
- Your property’s electrical work will be in line with the necessary rules
- All electrical circuits are functioning correctly and efficiently.
- Your property is safe against any potential shocks or fires.
An Electrical Compliance Certificate (ECoc) is.
An Electrical Compliance Certificate (ECoC) is a legal document that makes sure that the electrical work on your property adhere to the South African National Standards as stated in the Electrical Installations Occupational Health and Safety Act.
The seller of a property needs to provide a genuine Electrical Compliance Certificate and an electrical fence certificate of compliance, in cases where there are electric fences, before the property may be transferred.
If your house has the following components: DBboard, lights, swimming pools, geysers, wiring and plugs you will need a Coc Certificate.
All qualified electrical contractors are expected to be certified with the Department Of Labour (D.O.L), before issuing a CoC electrical certificate, this can be verified by the E.C.A. (Electrical Contractors Association) or the Department of Labour.
The following is what a Certified Electrician will perform during and Electrical Compliance Certificate (ECoC) inspection
- Make certain there is no damage or deterioration
- Make certain the type of wiring system is safe and in good condition
- Inspect that the premises are earthed and bonded correctly.
- Ensure the electrical main switch is compliant with regulation.
- Ensure that switches, sockets and light fittings are operating properly.
- Make certain that the fuse box is fitted with a trip switch
- Make certain the electrical main switch is compliant with regulation.
For how many years is a COC Certificate valid for?
A CoC certificate does not stay valid forever, as a homeowner of a house you can not supply the home buyer with the genuine CoC certificate, you will need to get a new CoC if yours is older than two years, if your CoC is not older than two years you will need to stipulate that no changes have been made to the electric components of the house in the last three months. This helps to ensure that any changes or additions that have been made to the electrical components of the house are in line with the needed regulations.
Electricians responsibilities
Yearly a licensed electrician needs to register for CoC with the appropriate authorities, irrespective of the electrical work conducted.
If you need to review the status of the electrician completing the electrical work you would need to call the Electrical Contracting Board of South Africa and the Department of Labour, you will then be given the electricians registration card along with his accreditation certificate.
What is the duty of the Home seller?
Ensuring the property has a genuine CoC is the homeowners responsibility, the home seller of the property will need to arrange an electrical inspection before the property can be registered in the buyer’s name. If new electrical work has been completed on the house, the homeowner will be required to get a new ECoC.
Costing of the Certificate of Compliance (CoC)?
The cost of the Electrical Compliance Certificate can range from R850. and this is dependent on the sort of premises whether domestic, commercial, and industrial properties will have various costs.
The quoted fee will only cover the price of the certificate, if there are any changes to be made to the electrical components of the premises this will need to be paid for over and above this price. As soon as all the electrical components of your house are in line with the required regulations can the licensed electrician issues a CoC.
Once new electrical changes have been completed will my Certificate of Compliance (CoC) still be valid?
If there are any additions or modifications made to the electrical components of a property that currently has a CoC, will need an additional CoC certificate for the additions or alteration, both CoC’s must be kept together.
How long does it take a certified electrician to inspect and provide a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) for a property?
The estimation on assessing the property could take between two to three hours, the size of the property will determine this.
