I may be wrong but as far as I'm aware, an owner can change the element themselves if they wish. I recommend they call an electrician to do so when I receive inquiries about this, purely because of the risk that someone will do it wrong and electrocute themselves or short something out. 

Quite right. Under ECP 51 the owner/occupier is allowed to do this. See also following from Electrical Safety Regulations 2010:

64 Exemption for domestic electrical wiring work
(1) A person who carries out prescribed electrical work in reliance on the exemption in section 79 of the Act (exemption for domestic electrical wiring) must carry it out, and test the work, in accordance with ECP 51.

(2) For the purposes of section 79(1)(a) of the Act, the domestic electrical wiring work that an owner of premises may do is as follows:

(a) work on a domestic installation that has a maximum demand at or below 80 amperes single phase, or 50 amperes per phase in multi-phase, and is within the work described in any of paragraphs (b) to (f):

(b) installing, extending, and altering subcircuits (including submains), but only if—

(i) the person does not enter (whether directly, or by holding any material or equipment, or otherwise) any enclosure where live conductors are likely to be present; and

(ii) the work is tested and certified in accordance with Part 2 of AS/NZS 3000, before being connected to a power supply, by a person authorised to inspect mains work:

(c) removing and replacing any of the following kinds of fittings, but only if the work does not involve work on any switchboard:

(i) switches, socket-outlets, and light fittings:

(ii) permanent connection units, ceiling roses, cord-grip lampholders, and flexible cords connected to any of them:

(iii) batten holders:

(iv) water heater switches:

(v) thermostats:

(vi) elements:

(d) removing and replacing fuse links:

(e) connecting and disconnecting fixed-wired appliances:

(f) relocating existing switches, socket-outlets, and lighting outlets that are supplied with electricity by tough plastic-sheathed cables

So am i to understand that the owner can do this(change a water storage element) but we cant unless we hold a limited electrical license?

Absolutely right. The homeowner/occupier may carry out the work listed provided the work has nothing to do with wiring in a switchboard. So in effect they have to a certain extent a bit more freedom than if you were doing the replacement. You are doing it for reward/payment therefore you are required to hold the appropriate licence.

Thanks very much Bubblez for clearing up that issue i understand very clearly where the boundry is for me now...cheers

hi guys
in the uk we did a essential electrics  course which allowed us to replace  elements and service boilers (remove and test circuit boards and test for faults) and install all heating controls
because we new what we were looking at, if we felt the wiring was of poor condition or we tested it and found it to be possibly unsafe we just called in a tradesman to repair or replace so we could finish our repair jd

 

When the certification scheme goes though - how will anyone know if the work was done or not done by a tradesman?

Hi Robbo/Guys

The only time the homeowner/consumer will call anybody a cowboy is when something goes wrong otherwise they think they just got a bargin.

Even when they get a cheep price most of them think they have been overcharged.
The world would be perfect if there were no customers and we just got paid

hi guys
as a gas engineer and htg engineer i have to test circuit boards and wiring inside boiler cases it would be a waste of time asking a electrian to repair a boiler as they are to technical in time we will all be doing essential electrics as i done in the uk and abroad
jd