Frequently Asked Questions

Most consumer unit upgrades in Cardiff fall between £400 and £700, depending on the size of the property and the number of circuits. That includes all labour, a new 18th Edition consumer unit with full RCD or RCBO protection, and the NAPIT notification to building control. The exact price depends on what we find when we survey the job. We always do a free survey before quoting so there are no surprises. Find out more about consumer unit upgrades.

A standard three-bedroom house rewire in Cardiff typically takes between three and five days. Larger houses or properties with complications, such as older plaster, stone walls or extensions, can take longer. We'll give you a realistic timescale when we survey the property. We won't rush the job to hit a number. A rewire done properly takes the time it takes, and cutting corners isn't something we're willing to do. Read more about our rewiring service.

For a full rewire, it's usually more practical to move out, at least during the working days. There will be no power to the property during the work and significant dust from chasing into walls. Some customers stay elsewhere overnight and come back in the evenings once power is restored. For a partial rewire, you can usually stay in the property. We'll discuss this with you at the survey and help you plan around it so the disruption is as manageable as possible.

A full rewire replaces all the wiring in a property from the consumer unit outward. All cables, sockets, switches, light fittings and the consumer unit itself are replaced. A partial rewire covers a specific area or circuit, for example a kitchen extension, a new ring circuit, or replacing older wiring in one part of the house. If an EICR test identifies a problem on a specific circuit, a partial rewire may be all that's needed. We'll always recommend the right scope of work for your situation, not the most expensive option.

An EICR, or Electrical Installation Condition Report, is a formal inspection and test of the fixed electrical installation in a property. It checks that the wiring, consumer unit, sockets, switches, earthing and bonding all meet current standards. You may need one if you're a landlord (it's a legal requirement in Wales), if you're buying or selling a property, or if your electrics haven't been checked in the last ten years. We carry out EICRs across Cardiff and issue the report with clear findings. More about our EICR service.

In Wales, the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 and the associated Electrical Safety Standards require landlords to have a valid EICR in place for all rented properties. The electrical installation must be inspected and tested every five years, or at the start of each new occupation if that comes sooner. A copy of the current EICR must be given to the occupier. Failure to comply can result in a rent stopping order. If you're a landlord in Cardiff who needs an EICR, get in touch and we'll sort it out for you.

The codes describe the severity of any observations found during the inspection. C1 (Danger present) means there is a risk of injury and the fault should be addressed immediately. C2 (Potentially dangerous) means there is a potential hazard that needs to be dealt with urgently, even if it's not causing danger right now. C3 (Improvement recommended) means the installation doesn't fully meet current standards but is not considered dangerous. FI (Further investigation required) means there is something that couldn't be assessed fully during the inspection and needs looking into. Any C1 or C2 means the report is unsatisfactory.

An unsatisfactory EICR means there are C1 or C2 observations that need to be put right. The report will list exactly what needs attention. You'll then need a qualified electrician to carry out the remedial work. Once that work is done, the electrician issues a Minor Works Certificate or an Electrical Installation Certificate, depending on the scope. You can then request a re-inspection if needed, or in many cases we can confirm the items are resolved without a full re-test. We carry out remedial work after EICRs regularly. Give us a call and we'll go through the report with you.

Some electrical work is notifiable under Part P of the building regulations, which means it needs to be either submitted to your local authority for approval or carried out by a competent person registered with an approved scheme like NAPIT. Work in kitchens, bathrooms and outdoors, plus any new circuits, consumer unit replacements and certain other jobs, are all notifiable. When we carry out notifiable work, we submit the notification to building control on your behalf through our NAPIT membership. You receive a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate and the work is recorded with the local authority.

Part P of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 2010 applies in England and Wales and covers electrical safety in dwellings. It came into force in 2005. The purpose is to make sure that certain notifiable electrical work is designed and installed to a safe standard. Electricians registered with a competent person scheme, such as NAPIT, can self-certify their own work without needing a separate building control inspection. This is quicker and simpler for homeowners. We are NAPIT-registered, which means every notifiable job we do is properly certified and recorded.

The only reliable way to know is to have an EICR carried out by a qualified electrician. That said, there are warning signs to look out for. Old brown-and-black wiring (pre-1970s), a fuse board with rewirable fuses rather than MCBs, no RCD protection, burn marks or scorch marks on sockets, persistent tripping, and sockets that feel warm to the touch are all worth getting checked. If your electrics haven't been inspected in the last ten years, it's worth booking an EICR just for your own peace of mind.

Some minor work is fine to do yourself. Replacing a like-for-like light fitting, swapping a socket faceplate, or changing a plug are generally acceptable. But notifiable work, such as adding a new circuit, replacing a consumer unit, or carrying out any electrical work in a kitchen, bathroom or outdoors, must be done by a competent person registered with an approved scheme like NAPIT, or submitted to building control for approval before and after the work. Doing notifiable work yourself without following the correct process could make it difficult to sell your property and may invalidate your home insurance. If you're unsure, ask us and we'll tell you straight.