Whitstable Developer EICR

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 Whitstable 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

Developer EICR scope is most often one of three things. Refurbishment of an existing installation: where the existing wiring is being kept and adapted rather than ripped out, an EICR confirms its current condition before the refurb goes live. Change-of-use conversion: a building being converted from commercial or single-dwelling to multiple dwellings, with the existing wiring carried forward in part. Phased completion handover: a development delivered in stages, where earlier phases have entered service and need periodic inspection. All three follow BS 7671:2018+A2:2022. C1, C2, C3, FI codes apply per the standard. New circuits added as part of the works get an EIC separately at the point they’re commissioned.

When you need this in Whitstable

The triggers for a developer EICR aren’t the same as for a landlord EICR. Most often: an acquisition where the existing electrics need due-diligence inspection before completion; a refurbishment where the existing wiring is being kept in part and the developer needs evidence of its condition; or a phased development where some plots are already lived in and periodic inspection is due on the older phases. None of these scenarios fit the standard “rented property, every five years” template — they’re project-specific.

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 Whitstable 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 Canterbury domestic projects, comfortable working alongside other trades on a live site. Same-week turnaround typical for Whitstable projects.

How the inspection runs

1. Project scope conversation — what’s being inspected, where it sits in the project programme, what other trades are on site 2. Quote with appointment options that fit the project programme 3. On-site inspection — coordinated with the site manager or principal contractor as needed 4. Written report (PDF) supplied within 48 hours 5. Where new circuits are involved, EIC issued separately at commissioning 6. Remedial work quoted alongside any unsatisfactory findings; re-test on completion

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 new builds in Whitstable 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 Whitstable?

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. Whitstable sites are reached from our Rochester base in around 45 minutes.