With many of the house fires in the UK being caused by faulty wiring, the impact of not having regular safety checks done can be perilous. An electrical safety check can avoid fires like these, but most people are not even aware that they should be having them completed. Something so simple can save so many lives. And the cost involved compared to the impact a fire can have, is miniscule. In fact, the cost is probably a lot lower than you think. So, how much does an electrical safety check cost?
If you’re thinking of trying to get one of the “Handymen” known to you to carry out the check, think again. Even the most gifted hand person, unless certified as an electrician, can’t complete the check and issue you with the certificate showing the check has been completed. There are certain electrical checks you can complete on your own. However, a Safety Check and Certificate is only to be completed by an Electrician.
Be on the lookout for “cowboys” claiming to be electricians. These cowboys more often than not will underquote you. And then they will take the money but carry out the work illegally and you won’t be issued with a certificate. You can search for a reputable tradesperson online. Check the reviews out before you commit to the engineer you choose, and make sure all certifications are up to date.
It’s recommended to have an electrical safety check carried out every 5-10 years. This is depending on whether you have any cause for concern, you may want to bring this date forward. If you’ve recently purchased a home, it’s wise to have a safety check done as soon as you move in, to make sure there are no issues. If however you are a landlord, it is a legal requirement for you to have an up to date Electrical Installation Condition Report, or EICR as it’s known. It is vital that these are kept up to date to keep your tenants safe, but also to avoid legal fines of up to £30,000.
Probably a lot less than you’re expecting. The cost will vary depending on several factors such as:
The best thing to do when you’re looking to have this safety check done, is to obtain quotes from more than one engineer. Look into the engineer and/or company and see what accreditations they have.
Do they come recommended? Are there reviews you can check? Do they have the correct accreditations? Recommended tradespeople are helpful, but it’s also wise to do your own investigating before you decide.
An engineer will visit you in your home and carry out the safety check. It should take 2-4 hours depending on the size of your home and other factors. It can increase to a whole day. However, your engineer should visit you at home to quote you to get an idea of timings and what will be involved on the day they carry out the safety check.
They’ll discuss with you things like any past issues you know of and the age of your home at the time they come to do the quotation. Feel free to ask any and all questions, so you are well informed about what is going to take place.
When the Safety Check is actually carried out, the engineer will test all of the required appliances. This includes your lighting fixtures, your power sockets and any other fixings. This is to make sure they work to a satisfactory safe standard for use.
The engineer will test your fuse board. And if they’re thorough they’ll also check your fire alarms to make sure they’re in working order and are safe. The engineer will find any circuit hazards or faulty electrical connections. And appliances that are not working properly, or outlets that are overloaded.
At the end of the Safety Check, a written summary will be submitted to the relevant body. If there are any repairs that are needed or recommended, these will be discussed with you at the end. No repairs should be carried out proper to discussion. It’s important to note that the price of the safety check does not include the costs for any repairs or replacements that are needed.
So whether you’re looking to have an Electrical Safety Check carried out, you’d like some more information, or you’d like to book a quote. Feel free to contact us.
Our team experienced engineers are on hand to give expert advice, and we operate a transparent fixed pricing model. So when we work with our customers, we present all costs prior to any work commencing at your home.