Pre-Purchase Electrical Survey
Electrical survey before buying a property. Full inspection of wiring, consumer unit, and safety systems. Qualified and insured.
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Pre-Purchase Electrical Survey
Qualified electrician
Same-day service
Most jobs matched within hours.
Upfront pricing
Clear quotes before work starts.
Qualified pros
NICEIC & NAPIT registered.
Pay when done
Funds held until you're happy.
How it works
Arranging access
You or your solicitor arrange access with the vendor or estate agent. The electrician needs access to the consumer unit (often in a cupboard under the stairs), loft space, all rooms, and any outbuildings or garages with electrical supplies. Ideally, the property should be empty or have minimal furniture for a thorough inspection.
Visual inspection of the installation
The electrician visually inspects the consumer unit, meter arrangement, wiring at all accessible points, sockets, switches, light fittings, and any visible cable runs. They are looking for the age and type of wiring, signs of amateur work, overloaded circuits, and compliance with the regulations in force when the installation was originally done.
Electrical testing
The same testing regime as a full EICR is carried out: insulation resistance, earth continuity, earth fault loop impedance, RCD trip times, and prospective fault current. This reveals hidden problems such as deteriorated cable insulation, broken earth conductors, or circuits that would not disconnect safely in a fault.
Assessment and costing
The electrician reviews the findings and provides an overall assessment of the installation's condition. Unlike a standard EICR, a pre-purchase survey typically includes estimated costs for any remedial work or upgrades identified — giving you figures you can use in purchase negotiations.
Report and advice
You receive a full EICR-format report with classification codes, plus a written summary in plain language covering what is safe, what needs attention now, what will need attention in the coming years, and the estimated costs. The electrician discusses the findings with you and answers questions about the implications for your purchase decision.
What's included
What's involved
A pre-purchase electrical survey is a thorough inspection of a property's electrical installation carried out before you complete a purchase. It goes beyond a standard homebuyer's survey (which only notes visible electrical defects) to test the actual condition of the wiring, consumer unit, earthing, and protective devices. The electrician will tell you what state the electrics are in, what needs immediate attention, what will need upgrading in the near future, and an approximate cost to bring everything up to standard. This information gives you negotiating power on the purchase price and prevents costly surprises after you move in.
A standard homebuyer's survey does not include electrical testing — surveyors note visible issues but cannot open consumer units or test circuits. Rewiring a house costs £3,000-8,000 or more. A consumer unit replacement costs £350-800. If the property has old wiring (rubber or cloth insulation, a rewirable fuse box, or no RCD protection), you could be facing thousands of pounds of essential work that was not flagged by the general surveyor. A pre-purchase electrical survey costs £200-400 and can save you from buying a problem — or give you hard evidence to negotiate the price down.
Get a personalised quote
Typical cost: £200–£400per survey
Every job is different — pricing depends on your property, location, and specific requirements. Describe what you need and a qualified electrician will quote you directly.
How long does it take?
3-5 hours for a standard 3-bedroom house. 2-3 hours for a flat. Larger or older properties may take a full day, especially if there are outbuildings, garages with separate supplies, or extensive loft wiring to inspect.
Regulations & safety
Safety notice
A pre-purchase electrical survey involves testing live circuits and removing consumer unit covers. Only a qualified electrician with inspection and testing qualifications (City & Guilds 2391 or equivalent) should carry out this work.
If the electrician finds a C1 code (danger present), they will advise the vendor and inform you immediately. In rare cases, they may need to isolate a circuit for safety. This is important information for your purchase decision.
Do not rely on a standard homebuyer's survey for electrical safety. Surveyors are not qualified to open consumer units, test circuits, or assess wiring condition. They can only report on what is visible.
BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 (IET Wiring Regulations, 18th Edition)
The inspection and testing is carried out in accordance with BS 7671. The installation is assessed against the standard applicable when it was originally installed, but the report notes where it falls short of current 18th Edition requirements.
Part P of the Building Regulations (Approved Document P)
Any remedial or upgrade work identified by the survey that constitutes notifiable work (consumer unit replacement, new circuits, work in bathrooms or kitchens) must be carried out by a Part P registered electrician or notified to Building Control.
NICEIC and NAPIT Guidance on Pre-Purchase Inspections
Industry bodies recommend a full EICR-standard inspection before purchasing a property, particularly for properties over 25 years old or where there is no record of previous electrical inspections.
What to expect
Having issues with your existing installation?
Already have a pre-purchase electrical survey and having issues? Check our troubleshooting guides.
Frequently asked questions
Is a pre-purchase electrical survey the same as an EICR?
Should I get an electrical survey even if the property has a valid EICR?
Can I use the findings to negotiate the price?
When should I book the electrical survey?
What are the most common problems found in pre-purchase surveys?
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