Does an electrician have to provide a certificate UK
Learning more about the EICR? Read below and get all of your questions answered!
What is an electrical report?
The report is a full and thorough inspection of both the installation and the present condition of the electrical system in your property. It has been created to assess and identify any potential problems, issues, or defaults in the electrical system that could potentially be a hazard.
Is it a legal requirement to have an electrical certificate UK?
This depends on what your intentions are for the property. If you are a private homeowner then you are not legally obliged to have one, although it is recommended for your safety and peace of mind. If your intention is to rent your property privately then, from June 1st, 2020, a valid electrical certificate is a legal requirement. This legislation will extend to all existing tenancies from 1st April 2021.
Why should I get one?
Aside from the potential legal requirement, an electrical report is a vital part of good health and safety practice. Electrical faults are estimated to cause around half of the household fires across the UK, so a safe and compliant electrical system is important for both you and your tenant. A valid electrical certificate UK will also please your insurer. Many insurance companies will try to void claims for electrical related issues if you do not have a valid certificate.
What do they check?
The electrical engineer will typically perform a visual check first of all in order to check for any obvious issues. This is followed by an in-depth inspection of the entire electrical installation.
The key areas of focus will be;
- Suitable earthing/bonding
- Inspection of consumer unit/fuse box
- Inspection of switches/sockets/light fittings
- Inspection of the type/coating/age and condition of the wiring
- Suitability check of RCDs (Residual Current Devices)
- Inspection for any general wear and tear, damage or deterioration
What can perform the report?
In order to obtain a valid electrical certificate UK, the test must be carried out by a fully qualified electrician. Remember to ask for their credentials before you let them start work on your property.
Can I fail the inspection?
Yes. As electrical faults contribute to many fires across the country, the property must meet a high standard of safety. Many older installations will contain elements that do not conform to the current standards. When this is the case, the engineer will note which part of the installation does not meet the standard and why.
These are marked using the following codes;
- C1 danger is present, risk of injury is likely and immediate action is required.
- C2 potentially dangerous and remedial action is needed urgently.
- C3 improvement of your electrical system is recommended. Please note that C3 is the only classification code that can appear on a report and still pass the electrical certificate UK test.
How long does the inspection take?
This will vary depending on the size of the property and the number of circuits in the system. Small flats can take between 1-2 hours and larger homes in the region of 3-4.
How long is the report valid for?
If you are looking to rent your property out privately then the current regulations state that the electrical certificate UK is valid for five years. It is advised that you should also renew the report each time you have a change of tenancy as well. For private homeowners, the recommendation is to have your report renewed every ten years.
How much does an EICR cost?
The cost is mainly dependent on the property size. However, some other factors can influence pricing such as the location of the property, number of consumer units, number of engineers in the area, the urgency of the report, and general supply and demand at the time of booking.
In some cases, for larger properties, the engineer may request further information about the number of circuits in the property. Myconstructor is a comparison site with a nationwide network of fully qualified electricians who are able to provide your electrical certificate UK. Simply enter the postcode, number of bedrooms, and desired date and time in order to find a trusted, local electrical engineer.
