EICR for Landlords in Ditton, Kent

CJA Electrical carries out landlord EICRs across Ditton and the surrounding Maidstone area, working from our base in Rochester. The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require every privately rented home in England to hold a satisfactory EICR — five-yearly cycle, copy to tenants within 28 days, and Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council able to enforce penalties up to £30,000 per breach. This page covers what a landlord EICR actually involves in Ditton and what booking the work with us looks like in practice.

What an EICR involves for Landlord

Technically a landlord EICR is identical to any domestic EICR — what differs is what the audit trail has to support. The inspection and testing follows BS 7671:2018+A2:2022, with a thorough visual check of the consumer unit, accessible accessories, and visible wiring, followed by dead and live testing of every circuit. The deliverable is the EICR form, a schedule of inspection (what was checked, what couldn’t be), and a schedule of test results (numbers per circuit). All three are needed for the certificate to satisfy Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council or a tenant request.

When you need this in Ditton

Beyond the five-yearly cycle, Ditton landlords typically book in for one of these: A property has just changed hands and the EICR audit trail isn’t clean. A managing agent has flagged a property as compliance-overdue. Tenants are moving out and you want the EICR done during the void week before relisting. The property is going from rolling AST to a fresh fixed-term and you want the paperwork tidy. Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council has written asking for a copy. Or — most boring but most common — the previous certificate is just running out and the diary slot is convenient.

What the report contains

The certificate that satisfies Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council is a three-part document: the EICR form with the observation codes and overall outcome; the schedule of inspection documenting what was looked at; and the schedule of test results with per-circuit numbers. Reports issued without all three parts often get pushback at the council compliance end. If the report is unsatisfactory, the regulations require remedial works to be completed within 28 days of the inspection. Once they’re done, the re-test confirms the fix and a fresh satisfactory report is issued.

Why book CJA Electrical for your Ditton EICR

The pitch is straightforward: ten years on Maidstone domestic property, City & Guilds 2391 qualified inspector for the testing, and a written report in the standard EICR format. Same-week appointments are typical for Ditton, the PDF comes back within 48 hours of the visit, and remedial work is quoted separately so you can decide whether to instruct. Fully insured (£1m public and product liability), and the report is one Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council won’t push back on.

How the inspection runs

Booking flow: Phone call or WhatsApp triage — what kind of property, how many circuits, who has the keys. Quote out the same day. Confirmed appointment with the tenant or agent. Visit on the day. Report in the inbox within 48 hours. Remedials, if any are needed, quoted clearly with the option to decline. From first call to certificate in your inbox is typically four working days. Tighter is possible when the void week or the council deadline demands it.

What affects the price

Landlord EICR pricing is per property and depends on a handful of variables: the size of the property, the number of circuits, the type and age of the consumer unit, accessibility of the consumer unit and meter cupboard, and the age of the installation overall. Ditton’s older stock — particularly properties with original wiring from the 1960s or earlier — takes longer to test thoroughly. No deposit on standard work, no charge for the quote. Get in touch with the address for a same-day fixed price.

FAQs

Can Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council fine me for not having an EICR?

Yes. Under the 2020 regulations, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council can issue civil penalties of up to £30,000 per breach for non-compliance, and serve a remedial notice forcing you to bring the installation up to standard within a defined period. The council can also request a copy of the certificate and must receive it within seven days of the request.

What does a C2 code mean and do I have to fix it?

C2 means potentially dangerous. The defect isn’t an immediate threat but it’s unsafe over the medium term — for example, a loose connection that could overheat, or earthing that doesn’t meet current standards. A C2 makes the report unsatisfactory, and the regulations require remedial work within 28 days of the inspection. Once it’s done, a re-test confirms the fix.

Do I need a new EICR between tenancies if the last one is in date?

You need to provide the new tenant with a copy of the current satisfactory report before they move in. You don’t need a fresh inspection if the existing certificate is still in its five-year window and the property hasn’t been altered since. If there’s been remedial work, a new circuit added, or a consumer unit swap, a fresh report is the safer answer.

How quickly do my Ditton tenants need a copy of the report?

Existing tenants receive a copy within 28 days of the inspection. New tenants receive the report before they take occupation of the property. We can email the PDF direct to your tenant or to your letting agent for onward distribution.

Will the EICR cause much disruption for my tenant?

Less than people often expect. Most three-bed homes are tested in a morning or an afternoon. Power is off only briefly on each circuit in turn rather than for the whole visit, so a tenant working from home can usually carry on with most of their day. We confirm a slot in advance and give the tenant a clear picture of what to expect.

What happens if my Ditton rental fails the EICR?

A failed EICR isn’t a disaster — it just means there’s at least one C1, C2, or FI observation. The report lists each item with its code. CJA Electrical can quote separately for the remedial work, and once it’s done a re-test confirms the installation is satisfactory and a fresh report is issued. The regulations require this within 28 days of the inspection.

Do I have to use the same electrician for the EICR and any remedial work?

No. The 2020 regulations require the remedial work to be done by a qualified and competent person and confirmed in writing — but they don’t require the same electrician. Most landlords have the original inspector do the remedials for the simpler audit trail and faster re-test, but you’re free to instruct anyone qualified.