Electrical checks before you buy a property
What a survey won't tell you about the wiring, which warning signs matter, and why an EICR before exchange is usually money well spent.
A homebuyer's survey looks at the electrics from across the room. It will note the board's age and recommend further investigation, which is exactly the point at which most buyers have to decide whether to spend more money before exchange.
An EICR at that stage is cheap relative to the cost of discovering the answer afterwards, and it gives you something concrete to negotiate with.
- Board type and age visible at a viewing
- Rewireable fuses, no RCD, or a wooden backboard are red flags
- Ask the seller for certificates for any recent work
- An EICR gives you a costed position before exchange
What you can see at a viewing
Open the meter cupboard. A board with rewireable fuse carriers, a wooden back, or no test button anywhere suggests an installation that predates current protection standards. Round-pin sockets, brown bakelite accessories and cloth-covered flex at ceiling roses point the same way.
What only testing will tell you
Cable condition behind the plaster, earthing at lighting points, and insulation resistance. These decide whether you are looking at a board upgrade or a rewire, and the difference between those two figures is significant enough to matter in a negotiation.
Using the report
A report with coded findings and a price to clear them is a specific, evidenced number. That is far more useful in a negotiation than a survey line saying further investigation is advised.
Common questions
Can I get an EICR before I own the property?
Yes, with the seller's permission — most agree, as the report also benefits them.
Will an old board fail a mortgage?
Lenders sometimes retain funds pending an electrical report. A completed EICR resolves it faster.
How quickly can you attend?
We can usually inspect within the week and email the report the same evening.
Get a fixed price
Under offer? Book an EICR before exchange — you'll know exactly what the wiring costs before the price is fixed.