EICR for Developers in Dover, Kent

Developer EICR work is more nuanced than landlord or homeowner work because the obvious question — “do I need an EICR on my new build?” — has a precise answer that’s often “no, you need an EIC”. CJA Electrical works with developers across Dover and the wider Dover area on the situations where an EICR is actually the right document: refurbishments of existing installations, change-of-use conversions where the wiring is being adapted rather than replaced, and periodic inspection of completed phases that have entered service.

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 Dover

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.

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 Dover 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 Dover property means we’ve worked with a fair range of project shapes and don’t need everything explained from scratch.

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

No standard rate card for developer work — the variability between projects is too high. We’ll quote on receipt of the scope (number of dwellings, refurb vs new vs mixed, programme dates, access constraints) and the price is fixed at that point.

FAQs

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 Dover 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 Dover 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.