All electrical installations deteriorate with age and use and should be regularly inspected and tested to check whether they are in a satisfactory condition.

A periodic inspection will:

  • Reveal if any of your electrical circuits or equipment are overloaded;
  • Identify potential electric shock risks and fire hazards;
  • Identify defective electrical work;
  • Highlight any lack of sufficient earthing or bonding.

Tests are also carried out on wiring and fixed electrical equipment to check that they are safe. A schedule of circuits is also provided, which is invaluable for a property and for any other trades people operating at a location, be it residential or commercial.

At a minimum, electrics should be inspected and tested every:

  • 10 years for an owner-occupied home;
  • 5 years for a rented home;
  • Annually for wet areas such as bathrooms, swimming pools, saunas, etc.

Other times when a periodic inspection should be carried out are:

  • When you are preparing a property for rental or in between tenants;
  • Before selling or buying a property.

Inspections must be carried out by a qualified individual. We will thoroughly check the condition of the installation against the British Standard for the safety of electrical installations: BS 7671 – Requirements for Electrical Installations (IET Wiring Regulations).

The inspection takes into account all the relevant circumstances and checks on:

  • Adequacy of the earthing and bonding of the electrical supply;
  • Suitability and condition of the control gear such as fuse boards;
  • Serviceability of switches, sockets and lighting fittings;
  • The type of wiring and its condition;
  • Exterior sockets, lighting and ancillaries;
  • The presence of adequate identification and notices;
  • The extent of any wear and tear, damage or other deterioration;
  • Any changes in the use of the premises that have led to, or may lead to, unsafe conditions.

Once complete, we will then issue an Electrical Installation Condition Report detailing any observed damage, deterioration, defects, dangerous conditions and any non-compliances with present-day safety standards that might give rise to risk or danger.

If anything dangerous or potentially dangerous is found, the overall condition of the electrical installation will be declared to be ‘unsatisfactory’, meaning that remedial action is required without delay to remove the risks to those within the premises.