In order for the sale of a property to go through you officially require a Coc certificate for the transfer to go through.
The Coc certificate costing all relies on the type as well as the size of the premises this may be anywhere from R850.00 – R1500+.
The Coc certificate costing will only cover the Coc certificate, and if there are any changes to be made to the electrical components of the premises this will have to be paid over and above the cost. A Coc certificate guarantees that:
- Your property has been earthed and bonded professionally by a certified 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.
See below what an Electrical Compliance Certificate is (ECoC).
An Electrical Compliance Certificate (ECoC) is a legal document that ensures the electrical work on your property complies with the South African National Standards as stipulated in the Electrical Installations Occupational Health and Safety Act.
The seller of a property needs to supply an authentic Electrical Compliance Certificate and an electrical fence certificate of compliance, in cases where there are electric fences, before the property may be transferred.
A CoC certificate is needed for any home that has the following electrical items: DBboard, lights, swimming pools, geysers, wiring and plugs.
All certified electrical contractors are expected to be certified with the Department Of Labour (D.O.L), before issuing a CoC electrical certificate, this may be validated by the E.C.A. (Electrical Contractors Association) or the Department of Labour.
A Qualified Electrician will carry out the following during an Electrical Compliance Certificate (ECoC) inspection
- Make certain that the fuse box is fitted with a trip switch
- Make sure that switches, sockets and light fittings are operating properly.
- Check that the premises are earthed and bonded properly.
- Make certain that the switch box is labelled correctly and includes the appropriate warnings.
- Ensure there is no damage or deterioration
- Make sure the kind of wiring system is safe and in good condition.
- Make certain the electrical main switch is compliant with regulation.
For for how long is a COC Certificate valid for?
A Coc certificate is not valid forever, a buyer can not give the buyer the initial CoC certificate, if it is more than two years old, and then if it is not older that two years you need to specify that no changes have been made to the electrical components of the ht house in the last three months. The reason for this is to ensure that any modifications or additions that have been made to the electrical components of the house are still according to the required regulations.
What the Electrician is responsible for
Irrespective of the electrical work carried out, as a certified electrician you will need to register with the relevant authority and for Coc.
If an individual wants to review the integrity of the electrician carrying out the electrical work they will need to get in touch with the Electrical Contracting Board of South Africa and the Department of Labour, they will then get the electricians registration card as well as their accreditation certificate.
Duty of The Home seller
It is the responsibility of the home seller to ensure the property has a genuine CoC, prior to the property can be registered in the buyer’s name they will need to arrange an electrical inspection. If any new electrical work has been done on the house the homeowner must get a new ECoc.
Costing of the Certificate of Compliance (CoC)?
The starting price for an Electrical Compliance Certificate can range from R850, this cost will depend on the kind of premises as domestic, commercial and industrial properties will have various costs.
The price of the certificate is only covered by the fee stated, if there are any adjustments to be made to the electrical components of the premises this will need to be paid over and above this cost. As soon as all the electrical components of the house remain in line with the necessary regulations, then only will the certificate be given to the house owner by the certified electrician.
Will my Certificate of Compliance (CoC) still stand once new electrical modifications have been concluded?
If the electrical components of the property have been modified you will need an additional CoC certificate this in turn needs to be kept with the first CoC.
How many hours will it take for a licensed electrician to evaluate and provide a Certificate of Compliance (CoC for the property?What is the approximated time for a licensed electrician to evaluate and provide a Certificate of Compliance (CoC for a property?
Depending upon the size of the property this could take anywhere in between two to three hours.
