ELECTRICAL CHECK
GAS/OIL & HEATING CHECK
TIME ON SITE
BOOKING
What the Electrical Check Includes (EICR)
The electrical check is a full Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) — the same product landlords are legally required to provide for rental properties — applied to your pre-purchase decision. A standard RICS survey only visually inspects these systems; this check actually tests them.
Visual inspection
- Consumer unit (fuse board) condition, age and protection
- Visible wiring, including ageing or non-compliant cable types
- Sockets, switches and light fittings
- Earthing and bonding arrangements
- Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm presence
Electrical testing
- Insulation resistance testing on accessible circuits
- Earth continuity and polarity checks
- Residual Current Device (RCD) testing
- Earth fault loop impedance testing
- Circuit assessment to BS 7671 (18th Edition Wiring Regulations)
What the Gas, Oil & Heating Check Includes
A safety inspection of every gas appliance in the property, carried out by vetted Gas Safe registered engineers we work with — you receive a Gas Safety Certificate. For oil-fired homes, the equivalent Oil Installation Check covers the boiler, tank and supply.
Visual and physical inspection
- Boiler external condition and installation
- Gas appliances — hob, oven, gas fire, range and similar
- Gas pipework, including the meter and regulator
- Flue and ventilation arrangements
- Carbon monoxide alarm presence and function
Safety testing
- Tightness test of the gas installation
- Flue gas analysis (where applicable to the appliance)
- Combustion performance check
- Operational checks of safety devices
Understanding the EICR Codes
A report with C1 or C2 codes is classed as unsatisfactory — the installation requires remediation. A report with only C3 codes is satisfactory but may include recommended improvements you can plan for.
| Code | Meaning | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
|
C1 |
Danger present |
Immediate action required. The installation is unsafe.
|
|
C2 |
Potentially dangerous |
Urgent remedial action required. The installation could become unsafe. |
|
C3 |
Improvement recommended |
Not immediately unsafe but below current standards. |
|
F1 |
Further investigation required |
The inspection couldn’t fully assess this element. |
Understanding Gas Safety Classifications
Findings classified as ID or AR require remediation before the appliance is safe to use. NCS findings indicate the installation is operating safely but was installed to standards that have since been updated.
| Code | Meaning | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
|
ID |
Immediately Dangerous |
The appliance or installation should not be used. |
|
AR |
At Risk |
Defects must be addressed before continued use. |
|
NCS |
Not to Current Standards |
Compliant when installed, but not to today’s standard. |
THE COST OF NOT KNOWING
£3,000–£8,000+
Typical cost of a full rewire on a three-bed property. An Electrical Check costs £300 — and its findings routinely pay for themselves at renegotiation.
When You Need These Checks
- Older properties — pre-1980s installations often no longer meet current standards, and DIY alterations are common.
- Visibly outdated services — rewireable fuses, aged boilers, no RCD protection.
- Your RICS survey flagged concerns — same team, same buying timeline, no new firm to brief.
- Buy-to-let purchases — EICRs are legally required for rentals; know the compliance position before you commit.
- High-value purchases — the check is small relative to the property value and the cost of missed remediation.
- Extensions or alterations — electrical work may not have been certified or signed off correctly.
- No recent gas safety record — if the seller can't provide one from the last 12 months, get the appliances checked.
Costs
Electrical Check (EICR)
£300
By qualified electricians we work with. Bookable with your survey or on its own.
Gas/Oil & Heating Check
£250
By qualified electricians we work with. Bookable with your survey or on its own.
Both are add-ons in the instant quote engine — the price you see is the price you pay.
How Your Survey Works
Get a quote
Online or by phone. We confirm scope and timing.
Book
Standalone, or combined with a Level 2 or Level 3 survey from us.
Access
We arrange access with the seller or agent, aligning both checks to a single visit where possible.
Inspection
The engineers carry out the EICR and gas safety inspection, typically 1–2 hours on site.
Reporting
Both reports delivered promptly, with photographic evidence and remedial quotations where required.
FAQs
What's the difference between these checks and a Level 2 home survey?
A RICS Level 2 home survey is a visual inspection of the whole property’s condition, including electrics and gas, but it does not test these systems. These checks actually test the electrical installation (EICR) and the gas appliances (Gas Safe inspection). Both have their place: the RICS survey covers structure, damp, drainage and the building as a whole; these checks cover the specialist testing the RICS survey explicitly excludes.
Who carries out the checks?
Vetted Gas Safe registered engineers and qualified electricians we work with. Their findings and certificates are included in your report stack, and testing is carried out to BS 7671 and Gas Safe Register requirements.
How long do the checks take?
Typically 1 to 2 hours on site, depending on the size of the property and the number of gas appliances. The written reports follow shortly after, with the exact turnaround confirmed when you book.
Do I need an EICR before buying a house?
Not legally, unless you’re buying to let — an EICR is required before tenants move in. For an owner-occupier purchase, it’s strongly recommended for older properties, visibly outdated electrics, and any property where the structural survey has flagged concerns. The £300 cost is small relative to typical rewire costs of £3,000–£8,000+ on a three-bed home.
Is a gas safety check legally required when buying a home?
Not when buying for owner-occupation. It is legally required for landlords before tenants occupy the property, with annual renewals thereafter. For owner-occupiers, a pre-purchase gas safety check is voluntary but strongly recommended where the property has gas appliances and no recent Gas Safety Record is available.
Can findings be used to negotiate the asking price?
Yes, and routinely. EICR and gas safety findings carry significant weight at renegotiation because they’re produced by qualified, regulated engineers and include cost estimates for remedial works. Buyers regularly recover the cost of the inspection many times over.
Will the inspection damage anything in the property?
No. The electrical testing is non-invasive — no walls opened, no floorboards lifted — and conducted to BS 7671 standards. The gas inspection is similarly non-invasive. The engineer needs access to the consumer unit, boiler, appliances and pipework, but won’t remove fittings or alter the installation.
How quickly can the inspection be carried out?
Standard availability is within 1 to 2 weeks of booking. Faster turnaround can sometimes be arranged where conveyancing timelines are tight — mention any deadlines when you enquire.