Frequently Asked Questions

EICR cost depends on the size of the property and the number of circuits. Most three-bedroom homes are quoted as a fixed price after a quick conversation about the property. Get in touch with the address and basic details and you'll get a same-day quote.

It depends on the property — circuit count, the age of the installation, and how accessible everything is all affect how long testing takes. Some EICRs are over in a single morning, others span a full day. Get in touch with the basic property details and you'll get a realistic estimate before booking. The written report follows within 48 hours of testing.

An EICR is both a visual inspection and an electrical test. The consumer unit is opened up and inspected, every accessible accessory (sockets, switches, light fittings) is checked, and every circuit gets dead and live testing — continuity, insulation resistance, polarity, earth fault loop, and RCD operation. The output is a written report with observation codes against anything that's not satisfactory.

They're observation codes against anything found during the inspection. C1 means immediate danger — needs sorting now. C2 means potentially dangerous — also a fail, needs remedial work. C3 is improvement recommended but not a fail. FI means further investigation required. C1 and C2 mean the report is unsatisfactory. C3 alone is still a satisfactory report.

A failed EICR isn't a disaster — it just means there's something on the installation that needs putting right. The report will list each item with its observation 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.

Yes. Since June 2020, every privately rented home in England must have a satisfactory EICR at least every five years and at the start of any new tenancy. The certificate must be supplied to tenants and to the local authority on request.

Local authorities can issue civil penalties of up to £30,000 for non-compliance with the 2020 regulations. They can also serve a remedial notice requiring the landlord to make the installation safe within a fixed timescale.

Either through your letting agent or directly with the tenant — whichever is easier. We'll work around their schedule and confirm the appointment a day or two before. Most testing visits take a single morning or afternoon.

Yes. The standard EICR format is recognised across the industry. Reports are supplied as a PDF and can be sent direct to your agent, your council, or to you to forward on.

Same-day where the diary allows. Call or WhatsApp with what's happening and we'll triage on the phone — sometimes the fix is something the householder can do safely without a callout, and that's worth knowing before you spend on a visit.

All emergency work is quoted up front. We'll confirm the callout charge and any minimum labour before the visit so there are no surprises on the invoice.

Working hours are Monday to Saturday — within those, we aim for same-day where possible. Outside hours, it's best-effort: call or WhatsApp and we'll let you know honestly whether we can get there and how soon. We won't promise something we can't deliver.

BS 5839-6 is the standard for domestic smoke and heat alarms. For most homes, Grade D mains-wired alarms with sealed battery backup are appropriate. HMOs and larger properties may need a higher grade — happy to advise on what your specific property needs.

For new installations, yes — interlinked alarms (where one going off triggers all of them) are the current standard. Interlinking can be done by hard wire or by radio frequency, depending on what's easier in the property.

HMOs have stricter requirements than ordinary rented homes — typically a higher grade of system with heat detection in kitchens and panel-based alerting. Specific requirements depend on the HMO size and the local council. We can specify and install to whatever the council requires.

Medway, Maidstone, Gravesham, Swale, Canterbury and the surrounding villages. Rochester is the base, so the closer you are to Medway the faster the response. We're happy to quote for jobs anywhere in north Kent — get in touch if you're not sure.

Card, bank transfer, or cash on completion of the work. EICRs and quoted jobs are invoiced on completion. We don't ask for deposits on standard domestic work.

Yes — City & Guilds 2391 (Inspection & Testing), 2382 (18th Edition Wiring Regulations), and 2365 (Diploma in Electrical Installation). Fully insured.