Electrical repairs after an EICR: what to ask for in a quote
Start with the report, not a request to pass it
An EICR records the condition of an electrical installation at inspection. A repair quote should identify the observations it addresses, the work proposed and how the electrician will confirm the result. Send the complete report, including its schedules, limitations and recommendations. A screenshot of the word “unsatisfactory” does not tell a contractor which circuits or faults need attention.
Ask the inspector what needs immediate action before collecting prices. For England rented homes covered by the electrical safety regulations, C1 means danger present, C2 means potentially dangerous, FI means further investigation required and C3 recommends improvement. Required remedial or investigative work must be completed within 28 days, or sooner where the report specifies. A C1 is not a reason to wait for a quote comparison.
To find a contractor, browse electricians and choose your town or postcode, then confirm that they handle the installation and work in your report. Once the immediate safety arrangements are clear, request a quote for the work in your EICR.
Source: GOV.UK: electrical safety standards in England rented homes
Separate a known repair from further investigation
A description such as “replace damaged socket in kitchen” can support a defined repair scope. An FI observation may need investigation before anyone can identify the repair. Ask the contractor to show these stages separately rather than put an unexplained allowance into one total.
- Observation reference: the report item, location and circuit reference.
- Investigation: what the quoted visit will establish, its charging basis and when findings will be reported.
- Proposed repair: the components or wiring involved, quantity, specification and work included.
- Unknowns: concealed routes, access or further defects needing a separate decision.
The electrical fault finding cost guide explains time-based diagnosis and the questions to ask before agreeing a visit. Agree who can authorise extra time or repair work. Permission to investigate does not approve every repair subsequently recommended. Record a price or agreed limit for the investigation stage and require a separate proposal for work beyond it.
Copy a brief that two contractors can price
Use the same report and brief revision for each quote. Ask questions through the inspector or contractor rather than translating electrical codes into your own repair instructions.
| Field | What to send |
|---|---|
| Property and use | Address, home or business use, occupied areas and relevant site information. |
| Report | Full report, inspection date, observations, test schedules and any stated deadline. |
| Work | Observation references to investigate or repair; improvement items to price separately. |
| Access | Resident or site contact, agreed visit window, parking and areas requiring keys or an escort. |
| Interruption | Equipment that must remain powered and the person who can agree a shutdown. |
| Decisions | Person approving scope and changes, confirmed payer and invoice reference. |
| Handover | Written outcome for each observation and the certificates or test records appropriate to the work. |
Use the EICR tracker spreadsheet to record report dates, remedial actions and confirmation references alongside the original documents. Photograph visible fittings only from a safe position. Do not open a distribution board, remove covers or recreate a fault to get a clearer picture.
Compare the repair scope before comparing the total
Fictional comparison: two contractors receive the same report. Quote A names each observation, includes investigation of an inaccessible circuit, replacement of the identified damaged fitting, testing and the agreed wall repair. Quote B says “EICR remedials” and excludes investigation and making good.
The totals do not yet describe the same job. Ask B to name which observations will be resolved, price the investigation stage and state who repairs the wall. Ask A whether the circuit becomes fully accessible at its proposed visit. Both should state materials, access equipment, number of visits, VAT treatment and excluded work.
Keep optional improvements separate from required work. A new consumer unit should have an explained scope and justification; an unsatisfactory report alone does not tell you that every installation needs one. Use the quote comparison guide for the same-scope checklist.
Agree what proves the observations were dealt with
Before accepting, ask which electrical certificate, test results and written confirmation follow the actual repair. Keep these with the original report and an observation-by-observation work summary. An invoice proves what was billed; it does not replace electrical test evidence.
For an England rented home, GOV.UK guidance requires written confirmation of the required work to be supplied with the report to the tenant and local authority within 28 days of completion. Ask the contractor for the confirmation needed to fulfil that process.
Do not assume a repair visit resets the next inspection date. Read the report's recommendation and ask the competent inspector to confirm the next inspection requirement. The EICR renewal planning calculator helps organise an England rented-home date; the report remains the source for its actual deadline.
Source: GOV.UK: electrical safety standards in England rented homes
For shops, offices and managed premises
Commercial work needs a site brief as well as the report. Name the circuits, operating hours, isolation windows and handback contact. Include servers, refrigeration, alarms or equipment whose interruption requires a specific decision. Clarify the domestic and commercial parts of a mixed-use building.
HSE advises that electrical inspection is carried out by someone competent for the installation; a workplace inspection programme depends on its condition and risks. The England rented-home timetable above is not a universal commercial interval.
Use the commercial EICR cost and inspection scope guide for the inspection stage and the commercial maintenance brief for site arrangements. When the scope is ready, request a quote for the electrical repairs in your report.
Source: HSE: electrical inspection and competence in Great Britain
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Blake Folgado
Blake is a co-founder of Tradehand, a UK trades marketplace More from Blake
