Electrical Health Checks

A consumer unit installed on premises

How we perform Electrical Health Checks

We are licensed electricians in Upminster who perform thorough inspections, safety checks, and compliance testing for homes and businesses in Essex, Kent, Hertfordshire, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.

In short, an electrical health check gives you peace of mind that your property is safe, compliant, and not hiding costly problems.

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Here’s why you’d have one:

Faulty wiring, overloaded circuits, and loose connections are common causes of electrical fires. An inspection identifies risks before they become dangerous.

Damaged wiring or poor earthing can cause electric shocks. A health check ensures your system is safe to use every day.

If you’re purchasing a home or commercial building, an electrical inspection can reveal hidden issues that could cost thousands later.

New additions may overload older wiring systems. A health check confirms your system can handle the extra demand.

Outdated or inefficient systems can waste electricity. Identifying faults or old components can improve efficiency.

Some insurers and landlords require electrical safety checks to maintain coverage and meet legal standards.

Electrical systems degrade over time. Even if everything “seems fine,” hidden wear can pose risks.

An old unsafe fuse box

Signs You Should Book One ASAP:

  • Flickering lights
  • Frequent circuit breaker trips
  • Burning smells near sockets
  • Warm switches or outlets
  • Buzzing sounds from panels

Don’t risk electrical hazards. 

Get a comprehensive electrical health check by a certified electrician

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Frequently Asked Questions

Your questions answered here.

💷 Typical cost (2026)

  • £100 – £250 for most homes
  • £120 – £350 depending on size and location


🏠 Rough guide by property size

  • 1-bed flat: £100 – £180
  • 2–3 bed house: £150 – £250
  • 4+ bed house: £200 – £350+


📍 London pricing 

  • Usually ~20–60% higher than UK average
  • Expect roughly:
    • Flat: £150 – £280
    • House: £200 – £350+

🏠 Homeowners (owner-occupied)

  • Every 10 years is the standard recommendation
  • Or when you move house (buying/selling)


🏢 Rental properties (landlords)

  • Every 5 years (legal requirement)
  • Or at the start of a new tenancy
 

This is enforced under UK regulations—landlords must provide tenants with a valid EICR.

🏢 Commercial properties

  • Typically every 5 years, but:
    • Offices: ~5 years
    • Shops/restaurants: every 3–5 years
    • Industrial sites: every 3 years

🔍 1. Visual inspection

The electrician starts by looking for obvious issues:

  • Damaged sockets, switches, or light fittings
  • Signs of overheating (burn marks, melted plastic)
  • Old or unsafe wiring
  • Condition of the fuse box (consumer unit)


🧪 2. Dead testing (power off)

They switch off the electricity and test the internal wiring:

  • Check wiring integrity and connections
  • Ensure proper earthing and bonding (important for safety)
  • Test insulation resistance (to detect hidden faults)


⚡ 3. Live testing (power on)

With power restored, they check how the system performs:

  • Verify correct voltage levels
  • Test circuit breakers and RCDs (safety trip devices)
  • Ensure circuits disconnect quickly in a fault


📊 4. Identify issues & safety ratings

Any problems are coded:

  • C1 (Dangerous) – immediate risk, needs urgent fix
  • C2 (Potentially dangerous) – fix ASAP
  • C3 (Improvement recommended) – not urgent
  • FI (Further investigation) – something needs checking further


📄 5. Report issued

You’ll get a formal report stating:

  • “Satisfactory” (passes) or “Unsatisfactory” (fails)
  • A list of any issues found
  • Recommendations or required repairs


⏱️ How long it takes

  • Small flat: ~1–2 hours
  • House: ~2–4 hours


👍 What it doesn’t include

  • It doesn’t fix problems on the spot (repairs are quoted separately)
  • It’s not just a quick glance—proper testing is involved


💡 Quick tip

If an inspection is done very quickly (like 20–30 minutes), it’s likely not thorough—proper EICRs take time.

⚖️ Is an Electrical Health Check (EICR) a Legal Requirement?

It depends on your situation:

🏢 Landlords (England – including London)

👉 Yes — it’s a legal requirement

Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020:

  • You must have a valid EICR every 5 years
  • You must give a copy to:
    • Tenants (within 28 days)
    • Local authority (if requested)
  • Any C1 or C2 issues must be fixed within 28 days (or sooner)

Failing to comply can lead to fines of up to £30,000


🏠 Homeowners (owner-occupied)

👉 No — not a legal requirement

But it is:

  • Strongly recommended every 10 years
  • Often required when selling a property
  • Sometimes requested by insurers


🏢 Businesses & commercial properties

👉 Yes — under general safety law

Employers must comply with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989:

  • Electrical systems must be maintained safely
  • Regular inspections (like EICR) are the standard way to prove compliance


👍 Simple breakdown

  • Landlords → Mandatory (every 5 years)
  • Homeowners → Not required, but recommended
  • Businesses → Required for safety compliance