EICR in Snodland

CJA Electrical does EICR testing across Snodland and the wider Tonbridge and Malling 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. Snodland sits within the 30-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

An EICR is a formal inspection and test of the fixed wiring in a property — the consumer unit, every circuit running off it, every accessible socket, switch, and light fitting. The output is a written report with observation codes against anything that’s not satisfactory: C1 for immediate danger, C2 for potentially dangerous (also a fail), C3 for improvement recommended, FI for further investigation required. A satisfactory report has no C1 or C2 observations. A property with C3 observations alone still passes. The report is what landlords need for the PRS regulations, what surveyors check on sale, and what insurers reference when validating a claim.

When you need EICR in Snodland

Different reasons for different property types. Rented property in Snodland runs on the 2020 PRS regulations — five years between inspections, plus a fresh report at the start of each new tenancy. The certificate is supplied to tenants and to the local authority on request. Owner-occupied property doesn’t have a statutory cycle. IET guidance is 10 years for domestic, but plenty of homeowners inspect more frequently — usually around major life events like buying, selling, or renovating. Insurance renewals also trigger it, especially on older properties or where there’s been a previous claim.

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 Tonbridge and Malling local authority, every insurer, and every estate agent we’ve worked with.

Fittings and where they go

The visual inspection covers everything accessible without destruction: the consumer unit (cover off, devices and connections inspected), accessories throughout the property (sockets, switches, light fittings, ceiling roses, fan isolators, immersion switches), the meter cupboard, earthing and bonding at the main intake, and any outbuilding distribution boards. Findings are noted with photographs where useful. Common Snodland findings: undersized consumer units missing RCD protection on older lighting circuits; mixed-metallic fittings and chrome sockets that show pitting where there’s been arcing; loose backbox screws on wall sockets; cracked switch plates; unprotected cable runs in loft spaces.

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 Snodland property owners book CJA Electrical

CJA Electrical is based in Rochester and covers EICR work across Tonbridge and Malling from there. Snodland sits within the 30-minute working radius — close enough that scheduling is tight, return visits for remedial work are easy, and you’re dealing with someone who knows the local stock. We do mostly residential EICR plus increasingly commercial fixed-wire work as the client base has grown. Qualifications: City & Guilds 2391 (Inspection & Testing), 2382 (18th Edition Wiring Regulations), and 2365 (Diploma in Electrical Installation). Calibrated test equipment. Certificates supplied as PDF inside 48 hours. Remedial work quoted separately so the price is clear and you can plan the budget.

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 Snodland 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

EICR pricing is mostly driven by the size of the installation — circuit count more than floor area. A small flat with a single consumer unit and 6-8 circuits is at one end; a larger detached property with two consumer units, an outbuilding sub-board, and 20+ circuits is at the other. Most Snodland three-bed homes come in as a fixed price after a brief chat about the property. What’s included: the on-site inspection, the testing, the written report, and certificate delivery as a PDF. Remedial work — if anything is unsatisfactory — is quoted separately so you can shop around if you want and so the inspection price stays clean and predictable.

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 Snodland 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. Tonbridge and Malling Borough 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 Snodland 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.

Can you do remedial work on the same visit?

Sometimes — minor remedials (replacing a damaged socket face, tightening a loose connection, fitting a missing blanking plate) can be done on the inspection visit if time and parts allow. Larger remedial work (consumer unit replacement, recircuiting, additional RCD protection) is quoted separately and scheduled as a follow-up.