Know before you buy – Flipped Properties and Electrical Requirements
A law designed to protect home buyers from poorly performed and shoddy electrical wiring became effective on July 25, 2021.
From L&I-
Substitute Senate Bill (SSB) 5267 requires those doing electrical work associated with flipping property to be certified electricians working for licensed electrical contractors.
During consideration of this bill, electrical inspectors provided many examples of unsafe electrical wiring performed by property flippers that included stories of new owners having to hire electrical contractors to make repairs, sometimes at significant cost.
Generally, property owners are exempt from electrical licensing and certification laws in accordance with RCW 19.28.261. SSB 5267 modifies that exemption for properties offered for sale within twelve months after obtaining it. This change aligns electrical laws with existing laws that require property flippers to be registered construction contractors or hire one to superintend any construction work.
RCW 19.28.261
Exemptions from RCW 19.28.161 through 19.28.271.
(1) Nothing in RCW 19.28.161 through 19.28.271 shall be construed to require that a person obtain a license or a certified electrician in order to do electrical work at his or her residence or farm or place of business or on other property owned by him or her unless:
(a) The electrical work is on the construction of a new building intended for rent, sale, or lease; or
(b) The electrical work is on property that is offered for sale within 12 months after obtaining the property.
Now there is slight exemption for multifamily build up to 4 units
From 19.28.261
However, if the construction is of a new residential building with up to four units intended for rent, sale, or lease, the owner may receive an exemption from the requirement to obtain a license or use a certified electrician if he or she provides a signed affidavit to the department stating that he or she will be performing the work and will occupy one of the units as his or her principal residence. The owner shall apply to the department for this exemption and may only receive an exemption once every twenty-four months. It is intended that the owner receiving this exemption shall occupy the unit as his or her principal residence for twenty-four months after completion of the units.
Electrical Work on Residential Property –
https://lni.wa.gov/forms-publications/F500-078-000.pdf
Electrical Currents Newsletter-
https://lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/_docs/Elc2107.pdf
“If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur.”
Red Adair
If you find any errors or have additional information that would expand on any code, building standards or manufacturer requirements please let me know.
NCW Home Inspections, LLC is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…
Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Real Estate, Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service
Coordinator & Instructor- Fundamentals of Home Inspection- Bellingham Technical College
Former WA Home Inspector Advisory Licensing Board
www.ncwhomeinspections.com 509-670-9572
You can follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and on my website Blog.
If you find any errors or have additional information that would expand on any code, building standards or manufacturer requirements please let me know.
NCW Home Inspections, LLC is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…
Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Real Estate, Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service
Coordinator & Instructor- Fundamentals of Home Inspection- Bellingham Technical College
Former WA Home Inspector Advisory Licensing Board
www.ncwhomeinspections.com 509-670-9572
You can follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and on my website Blog.
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