EICR in Folkestone

CJA Electrical does EICR testing across Folkestone and the wider Folkestone and Hythe area — landlords ahead of a new tenancy or a 5-yearly recheck, homeowners buying or selling or just due an inspection, and anyone who’s noticed warm sockets, frequent tripping, or a burning smell they can’t explain. Folkestone sits within the 80-minute working radius of our Rochester base, so site visits are tight to the diary and reports come back inside 48 hours.

What EICR actually is

The EICR has two components: a visual inspection of the installation (consumer unit, accessible accessories, cable routing, earthing and bonding) and an electrical test on every circuit (continuity, insulation resistance, polarity, earth fault loop, RCD operation). What ends up on the report is a formal opinion of whether the installation is satisfactory or unsatisfactory against BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 — the current edition of the Wiring Regulations. Each observation is given a code. C1 is immediate danger and means stop using that part of the installation now. C2 is potentially dangerous and remedial work is needed before a satisfactory report can be issued. C3 is improvement recommended but doesn’t fail the report. FI means more investigation is needed before a code can be given.

When you need EICR in Folkestone

The triggers we see most often on Folkestone EICR enquiries: landlord on the 5-yearly cycle (the largest single category); a tenancy changeover where the agent or landlord wants a fresh report; a pre-sale where the vendor wants documentation on the contract pack; a buyer who’s had the surveyor flag the electrics on a Level 2 or Level 3 report; an insurance renewal requiring current documentation; and homeowners who haven’t had the property tested for a decade or more. For older period property in Folkestone and Hythe, sometimes it’s a fault that prompts the booking — a circuit that keeps tripping, a socket that’s stopped working, a burning smell from the consumer unit. We’ll often diagnose the immediate fault on the visit and roll into a full EICR while we’re there.

Standards and what compliance looks like

The technical standard for an EICR is BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 — the 18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations with Amendment 2. Any EICR signed off after January 2023 should reference that version. Older reports against earlier amendments are still valid for the cycle they were issued in but should be re-tested to current standards on the next inspection. The format of the report itself follows BS 7671 Appendix 6 — schedule of inspections, schedule of test results, list of observations with codes. Reports formatted to that standard are accepted by every Folkestone and Hythe local authority, every insurer, and every estate agent we’ve worked with.

Fittings and where they go

Inspection scope is “what’s accessible without destruction” — we don’t lift floorboards or break into walls. The consumer unit comes off, every socket and switch plate is checked visually, every light fitting that’s reachable is inspected, and we go into lofts, cellars, outbuildings, and meter cupboards where they exist. For the hidden parts of the installation — buried cables, junctions inside walls — the live testing catches structural faults via insulation resistance (low values mean cable damage or moisture ingress) and earth fault loop impedance (high values mean a poor earth path). The combination of visual and test results is what builds the picture of installation condition.

Testing schedule and remedials

All testing uses calibrated multifunction test equipment — insulation resistance, earth fault loop impedance, RCD operation, and continuity all measured against the BS 7671 pass criteria for each test. Calibration certificates are available on request; the equipment is calibrated annually to UKAS standards. On site, the work runs circuit by circuit. Each is isolated, dead-tested, restored, and live-tested before moving on. The customer is kept informed of what’s being tested and any brief power-downs are flagged in advance. Our standard practice is to leave the consumer unit and accessories exactly as we found them once testing is complete.

Why Folkestone property owners book CJA Electrical

Most of the EICR work that comes through CJA Electrical in Folkestone is repeat business or referrals — landlords on the 5-yearly cycle, agents who’ve used us across multiple portfolios, homeowners coming back at sale or purchase, and word-of-mouth from other tradespeople in the area. Word-of- mouth in a town this size builds the reputation steadily and the work is done by someone with that reputation to protect. The practical benefits: same-day quotes, certificates inside 48 hours, transparent pricing on remedials, and the person on site is the person signing the report. No subcontracting, no portal handovers, no chasing up.

How the work runs

Booking, inspection, report, remedials. Booking is a five-minute call or message — we need property details (size, type, rough age) and any access constraints (tenant in residence, agent involvement). Quote follows immediately for standard domestic EICR; capped quote after a site visit for larger or unusual installations. Inspection is scheduled for the next available slot (usually inside a week). Half a day on site for most Folkestone domestic property. Reports are drafted on the day, finalised within 48 hours, and supplied as a PDF. Remedials, if needed, are quoted line-by-line against the report observations.

What affects the price

The two factors that move Folkestone EICR pricing are circuit count (more circuits = more testing time) and complexity (multiple consumer units, outbuildings, three-phase supplies on commercial property). For straightforward domestic property, the price band is well-established and quoted up-front. What we don’t do: deposits, hidden fees, or surprise charges on the day. The fixed price is what you pay, invoiced on completion. Remedials are separate so the EICR price is the EICR price.

FAQs

Does an EICR cover gas, water, or appliances?

No. The EICR is a fixed-wiring inspection only — the consumer unit and circuits, plus accessories like sockets and switches. Gas certification is a Gas Safe registered engineer’s job; water leak detection is a plumber’s; appliance testing (PAT testing) is a separate service. We can refer to trusted local trades for any of those.

What if my property has more than one consumer unit?

Common in larger Folkestone properties — main board plus a garage or outbuilding sub-board, occasionally a separate board for a flat conversion or annexe. Each board is inspected separately and gets its own schedule of test results. The price reflects the additional testing time; we’ll confirm a fixed all-in number at quoting stage.

Can the report be supplied to my agent or council directly?

Yes — the PDF can go to you, your letting agent, your council, your insurer, or all of the above. Folkestone and Hythe District Council accepts the standard BS 7671 Appendix 6 format, as do all the major letting agents and managing agents we’ve worked with.

How long does an EICR take?

Half a day for a typical Folkestone three-bed home. Smaller flats can be done in a couple of hours; larger properties with multiple consumer units or extensive outbuildings can take a full day. We give a realistic estimate at quoting stage based on circuit count and access.

Do I need to be present during the inspection?

For owner-occupied property, ideally yes — there’ll be brief power-downs as each circuit is tested, and someone needs to be aware in case sensitive equipment needs warning. For tenanted property, tenant access can be arranged via the letting agent or directly with the tenant; landlord attendance isn’t necessary.

What’s the difference between a Satisfactory and Unsatisfactory report?

A satisfactory report has no C1 (immediate danger) or C2 (potentially dangerous) observations. C3 observations (improvement recommended) on their own don’t fail the report. An unsatisfactory report means C1 or C2 observations are present and the installation needs remedial work to bring it back to compliance.