Landlord EICR in Larkfield

CJA Electrical carries out landlord EICRs across Larkfield 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 Larkfield 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 Larkfield

There’s no point waiting for Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council to ask before booking — the paperwork is much easier when the certificate is sitting on file before anyone requests it. Common reasons Larkfield landlords get in touch: A new tenancy is starting. The existing certificate is approaching expiry. A tenant has flagged something electrical (repeated trips, an unusual smell at a socket, lights that flicker). The property’s just been bought at auction or via probate and the paperwork is incomplete. The letting agent has changed and is auditing what’s missing across the portfolio.

What the report contains

A complete landlord EICR has more than one page. The full deliverable is the EICR form itself with the inspection date, the inspector’s qualifications, the property address, observation codes against any findings, and the overall pass-or-fail outcome. Alongside that sits the schedule of inspection (what was checked, what could not be) and the schedule of test results (per-circuit numbers for continuity, insulation resistance, polarity, earth fault loop impedance, and RCD operating times). Where the report comes back unsatisfactory, the 2020 regulations require the remedial work to be completed within 28 days — sooner if the inspector specifies. Once it’s done, a re-test confirms the affected circuits are satisfactory and a fresh report is issued.

Why book CJA Electrical for your Larkfield EICR

What landlords look for in an EICR partner is predictable: someone who’ll show up when they say, who knows the regulations, and who’ll write a report that Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council accepts without fuss. CJA Electrical does all three. City & Guilds 2391 qualified inspector, ten years on Maidstone property, same-week appointments, and reports in the format every council, agent, and PRS Database expects. For agents managing portfolios in Larkfield, we batch bookings on the same day or week to keep travel costs down — useful when several properties are coming due at once.

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. Larkfield’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

How often do I need an EICR on my rental in Larkfield?

Every five years, and at the start of any new tenancy — whichever comes first. The clock runs from the date of the most recent satisfactory report. If you’ve bought a Larkfield rental in the last few years and the previous owner’s report is still in date, that report transfers with the property and you don’t need a new one until expiry.

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 Larkfield 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.