EICR for Developers in Chatham, Kent

Developer compliance for electrical work splits into two streams. New installations — circuits added during build, refurb, or conversion — produce an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) at commissioning. Existing installations being inspected periodically produce an EICR. We work with Chatham developers on both: EIC for new work signed off as it goes in, EICR on existing installations inherited through purchase or returned to service after refurb.

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 Chatham

Common developer scenarios for an EICR in Chatham: - Acquisition due diligence on a property being purchased for refurbishment - Pre-refurb baseline EICR documenting the existing installation’s condition - Post-refurb EICR confirming the kept-and-adapted wiring is still satisfactory - Change-of-use conversion EICR — house to flats, commercial to residential, etc. - Periodic inspection on completed phases of a development already in service - EICR alongside an EIC on a project mixing new circuits and retained existing wiring

What the report contains

The deliverable is a standard three-part EICR PDF — form, schedule of inspection, schedule of test results — plus, where relevant, a project cover note explaining how the EICR relates to the wider build documentation. On a refurbishment with both retained and new wiring, the EICR covers the retained sections and an EIC (or set of EICs) covers the new circuits. Findings are coded C1/C2/C3/FI. Unsatisfactory results need remedying within 28 days under BS 7671 best practice; on developer work we typically coordinate the remedials with the wider project programme.

Why book CJA Electrical for your Chatham EICR

What developers usually want from an EICR partner is precision and timing. Precision because the EIC vs EICR distinction matters and gets it wrong on BC sign-off. Timing because the inspection slot has to fit a wider project programme, often with multiple trades on site. City & Guilds 2391 qualified for the inspection and testing, ten years on Medway domestic projects, comfortable working alongside other trades on a live site. Same-week turnaround typical for Chatham projects.

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

Pricing depends on the project shape. A single-dwelling refurb EICR is priced like any domestic EICR. Multi-plot phased developments are priced per plot, with bulk rates available across plots inspected on the same visit. EIC for new circuits is a separate line, priced by circuit count. Quote responses are usually same-day on receipt of the project scope.

FAQs

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

Same-week appointments are typical for Chatham 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.

Do I need an EICR on a property I’ve just bought to refurbish?

Not strictly required by law, but it’s standard due diligence. A pre-refurb EICR documents the condition of the existing installation before any work starts, which protects you if findings emerge later. Where the refurb plan involves keeping significant parts of the existing wiring, the EICR is also useful evidence that what’s being retained is still satisfactory.

What about Building Regulations notification on new circuits?

New circuits in dwellings are notifiable work under Building Regulations in England. We issue the appropriate Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) at commissioning and the developer’s Building Control body takes the notification through standard channels. We don’t act as a self-certification scheme but the EIC documentation is what the BC body needs to sign off the work.

Can you inspect occupied phases of a phased development?

Yes. Where earlier phases have entered service and tenants or buyers are in residence, we coordinate access through the site management team or directly with residents. The inspection itself is the standard EICR — same scope, same format. Periodic inspection on occupied phases is the most common scenario.

Do new builds in Chatham 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.