Multi-occupancy meter cupboard with separate consumer units and smart meters

For developers active in Bearsted, the distinction between an EIC and an EICR matters. New circuits — whether on a greenfield site or in a refurbishment — get an Electrical Installation Certificate at the point they’re commissioned. An EICR comes in later, on existing installations, as periodic inspection evidence. Knowing which document applies at which stage of a development is half the compliance work; CJA Electrical handles both sides.

What an EICR involves for Developer

A developer EICR follows the same regulatory standard as any domestic EICR (BS 7671:2018+A2:2022) but is most often commissioned in one of three contexts: ahead of a refurbishment to document the starting condition; after refurbishment of a pre-existing installation, where the existing wiring has been adapted but not replaced; or as periodic inspection on a phased development whose earlier phases are already occupied. New circuits don’t get an EICR — they get an EIC at commissioning. We do both, with the right document for the right job.

When you need this in Bearsted

Developers come to us for EICR work in a handful of recurring patterns: pre-purchase due diligence on properties being acquired for refurb; snagging-stage inspection where an existing installation has been kept and needs final sign-off; periodic inspection on the early phases of a multi-phase development that have entered service; and change-of-use work where an existing installation needs assessment before being adapted to new use. The trigger varies; the inspection itself is consistent.

Domestic consumer unit with CJA Electrical inspection sticker on completion
Domestic consumer unit with CJA Electrical inspection sticker on completion

What the report contains

Reports come back as the standard EICR PDF — form, schedule of inspection, schedule of test results, all in one document. For developer projects we can supply alongside a covering memo summarising the inspection scope, what was in EICR scope vs EIC scope, and any limitations encountered. Failed findings come with remedial quotes for the developer to incorporate into the project cost. Re-test on completion to issue a clean certificate.

Why book CJA Electrical for your Bearsted EICR

The fit for developer work is around three things: getting the document type right (EIC vs EICR), turning the inspection round inside a project programme, and supplying paperwork that holds up at building control sign-off and at the eventual buyer’s conveyancing stage. Ten years on Maidstone property means we’ve worked with a fair range of project shapes and don’t need everything explained from scratch.

Main service fuse, cutout and smart meter on the incoming supply
Main service fuse, cutout and smart meter on the incoming supply

How the inspection runs

The developer flow: Initial conversation about the project — what’s existing, what’s new, where on the programme the inspection sits. Quote and appointment options out the same day. Inspection coordinated with the site lead. Report PDF inside 48 hours. EIC for new circuits issued separately as work is commissioned. Remedial work, if needed, scoped and quoted to fit the wider build cost.

What affects the price

Developer EICR work is priced per inspection scope. Refurbishment baseline EICR on a single dwelling is priced like a domestic EICR. Phased-development work is priced per plot or per block depending on what’s being inspected. EIC work for new circuits is priced separately by circuit count. Get in touch with the project scope and we’ll come back with a fixed quote.

FAQs

Do new builds in Bearsted need an EICR or an EIC?

New builds need an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC), not an EICR. The EIC is issued by the installing electrician at the point the new installation is commissioned and forms part of the Building Control sign-off documentation. An EICR is a periodic inspection document that applies to existing installations after they’ve entered service — typically five years or more after the EIC was issued.

When during a refurb do I need an EICR vs an EIC?

Existing wiring being kept and adapted as part of a refurbishment is the EICR domain — the report documents the condition of what’s being retained. New circuits added during the refurbishment get their own EIC at the point they’re commissioned. A typical refurb often produces both documents — EICR for the retained installation, EIC for the new circuits.

What’s the difference between a Minor Works Certificate and an EICR?

A Minor Works Certificate (MWC) is issued for small additions to an existing installation that don’t constitute a new circuit — for example, adding an extra socket on an existing ring main. The MWC documents the modification and confirms it doesn’t compromise the installation’s safety. An EICR is a full periodic inspection of every accessible part of the installation; the two cover very different scopes.

Do you handle EIC issuance alongside EICR work on a project?

Yes. Most developer projects mix retained and new installation work. We’ll issue the EICR for the retained sections and EICs for the new circuits, with both documents formatted for Building Control sign-off and for the eventual buyer’s conveyancing. Single point of contact for both, single project invoice.

Can you work alongside other trades on a live site in Bearsted?

Yes. Most of our developer work happens on live sites with other trades present. We coordinate with the site manager or principal contractor to fit the inspection slot into the wider programme, and we work to the site’s H&S and access protocols. Bearsted sites are reached from our Rochester base in around 32 minutes.

Do you supply documentation in a format Building Control accepts?

Yes. EICs and EICRs follow the standard BS 7671 formats that Building Control bodies accept across England. Standard three-part EICR PDF — form, schedule of inspection, schedule of test results — and standard EIC for new circuits with the matching schedule of test results.

How quickly can you turn EICR work round on a developer project?

Same-week appointments are typical for Bearsted projects, with the report PDF in the project inbox within 48 hours of the visit. For phased developments where multiple plots need inspecting, we batch the visits to keep the cost down and the turnaround tight. Tighter timelines are possible where the project programme demands it.

Developer EICR in nearby towns

EICR for other audiences in Bearsted

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EICR detail (helps with the quote)

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