Replacement Smoke Alarm, Is This An Ok Price ?

[englishdesi]

Hi All,

I had an electrician over today to do a small job and one of the things he noticed was how the mains powered smoke alarm was beeping randomly. He concluded that the battery probably needed replacing, unfortunately the unit was so old and the cover could not be removed, I told him to replace it.

He told me that as I was having a new smoke alarm fitted and because I was renting out the property, I would need an interlinked smoke alarm so he proposed a heat detector for the kitchen and smoking detector in replacement (in the corridor), both having radio links.

He advised the cost of the smoking detector and heat detector would be £80 each plus his labour charge of £85.00, so all in all about £245

Is this a usual price or am I being done over ?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Doc Hudson]

Labour charges will be proportional to the area of the country and the distance traveled to the job. The parts will be dependent upon the actual items he is quoting for but some sample prices can be found here. http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Security_Menu_Index/Fire_and_Smoke/Smoke_Alarms_Radiolink/index.html  The best advice given normally is to get at least three quotes before agreeing to any job where you have no past knowledge of the person doing the work.

Doc H.

 

[Andy™]

done a similar job a few weeks ago. price not much different from yours, but depends how far he has to go for supply etc

 

[kme]

It isn`t a ridiculous price; I`ve done them under similar circumstances, for similar (ish) cost - sometimes more; sometimes less....

I would agree with the proposal with respect top upgrading the system in a rental property - YOU have a duty of care to your tenant. If a tenant removed a battery from a smoke alarm, rendering it inoperative; and there was a fire - the tenant can take action against you for breach of duty of care.

Dependant on the size & type of the property, the system proposed may be on the lower ranges of requirements - it may be best to check with your local council as to their preferences or requirements for a rental accomodation. I prefer, if possible, to have detection in the lounge and bedrooms, too.

The other thing to ensure is that you get the appropriate certification for the works. You should get an electrical certificate ( probably " Minor Works"), and another certificate for the smoke alarms ( domestic fire alarm design, installation & commissioning certificate.)

KME 

 

[Manator]

I can understand you wanting to get value for money. We all want the same. It may also sound like a lot of money, but if you were to count the cost after a fire, it sounds like a very sound investment.

However to sleep sound in the knowledge that you have not been ripped off, you need a certificate as KME stated above. This not only proves that you have done everything possible to comply with regulations, but places the burden of fault on the installer in the event that the system does not work.

Now that has got to be worth £250

 

[Evans Electric]

I see that you are " Darn sarf "  where money grows on trees so no idea of hourly rates for your area .    Radio link alarms not cheap.

Oop here someone wearing clogs and  Kier Hardie' s cloth cap would do it for £5  and a hot drink I'd think.   

 

[Sharpend]

Are you after a day out of town deke?

Itd be worth the OP paying the fiver just to see some one dressed that way :slap

 

[Evans Electric]

I would but I've got woodworm in my clogs 

 

[Richard-the-Ninth]

I hate radio interlinked smoke alarms. If it helps, Average cost is £70 each.

 

[binky]

labour rate OK,  smokes and bases possibly a bit high in my opinion. Radio lInk bases are dear, but have dropped in price so with a smoke detector are now more like £50-60 + VAT. But more than that, you don't particularly need a heat detector in the kitchen - It's a good idea, along with heat detector in the lounge, but not actually required except for local authority rentings, and student housing.