Electrical Testing & Inspection

For rental properties in East Devon, an EICR is required every 5 years or at the start of a new tenancy — this is a legal requirement. For owner-occupied homes, every 10 years is generally recommended, or when you buy a property. Commercial premises vary depending on the nature of the business — typically every 3 to 5 years.

Yes. Since 2020, landlords in England are legally required to have a valid EICR carried out every 5 years, and to provide a copy to tenants and the local authority on request. This applies to all rental properties across East Devon — including Honiton, Sidmouth, Seaton and Axminster. Failure to comply can result in significant fines.

You must provide a copy of the EICR to your existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection, and to any new tenants before they move in. If the local authority requests a copy you must supply it within 7 days. Any C1 or C2 observations must be remedied within 28 days and evidence of completion provided to tenants. We issue certificates accepted by all major letting agents and local authorities across Devon.

Yes — and this is something we have a great deal of experience with. East Devon has a large stock of pre-1970s cottages, farmhouses and period properties, many with wiring that predates modern safety standards. We're used to working carefully in older buildings across the Honiton area and wider East Devon, and we'll always give you an honest assessment of what we find.

Yes — access to all areas of the property is needed, including any outbuildings, garages or loft spaces with electrical installations. The power will need to be switched off during parts of the inspection. We'll discuss what's involved when you book so you can plan accordingly.

Yes, for parts of it. We need to isolate circuits to carry out the testing safely. For most domestic properties this means short periods without power to specific circuits rather than the whole property going off at once. For landlords with tenants in situ, we'll plan the inspection to minimise disruption as much as possible.

Yes — and this is one of the main advantages of using MP Electrical. You don't need to find a second electrician to carry out the remedial work. We'll explain clearly what the observations mean, provide a fixed price for any work required, and re-test where needed. Everything under one roof, no subcontractors.

Most standard domestic EICRs can be completed within a day. Rural Devon properties with outbuildings, additional circuits or older wiring may take longer — we'll give you a realistic time estimate when you book. Commercial inspections vary depending on the size and nature of the installation.

Yes — we issue the full EICR report on completion of the inspection. This is an official document you can provide to tenants, insurers, solicitors or the local authority as required.