When do I need an electrical diagnostic rather than an EICR?

An EICR is a scheduled periodic inspection of the whole installation. An electrical diagnostic is what you need when a specific fault develops between inspections — a circuit breaker that keeps tripping, an RCD that won't reset, lights that flicker or go dead, a socket that has stopped working, or any unusual electrical behaviour. A diagnostic traces the exact cause so you know what needs to be repaired.

What faults can an electrical diagnostic identify?

Our electricians can trace: MCB or RCD tripping without apparent cause, intermittent power loss to circuits or sockets, flickering or dim lights, dead sockets or lighting circuits, earth faults, insulation breakdown, overloaded circuits, loose connections at junction boxes or accessories, and faults in the consumer unit itself.

How is the service charged?

The diagnostic service is charged at £99.99 per hour with no call-out fee. Most diagnostic visits take 1–2 hours. When you describe the issue at booking, we'll estimate the likely duration. Any remedial work identified beyond minor repairs is quoted separately before any work is carried out.

Can you carry out repairs during the diagnostic visit?

Yes. Minor repairs — such as replacing a faulty socket, tightening connections, replacing a failed MCB, or resetting and testing an RCD — can often be completed during the same visit at no additional charge beyond the hourly rate. For larger work (rewiring a circuit, replacing a consumer unit, resolving widespread insulation failure), we will provide a separate fixed quote.

Will I need an EICR after the diagnostic?

Not necessarily. If the fault is isolated and the wider installation is satisfactory, a diagnostic and repair is sufficient. However, if the fault indicates wider problems with the installation — such as deteriorating wiring or lack of RCD protection — we may recommend a full EICR. We'll advise you honestly after the visit.

What if the fault can't be found during the visit?

Intermittent faults can sometimes be difficult to replicate during a visit. If this happens, we'll document what we tested and ruled out, and discuss next steps — which may include leaving test equipment in place, returning at a different time of day, or investigating further with an EICR.

Is electrical fault finding covered by landlord insurance?

Some landlord building insurance policies cover emergency electrical call-outs. Check your policy before booking — if you have cover, your insurer may require you to use their approved contractor. However, if the fault is causing a safety risk to your tenants (a tripping RCD, a spark from a socket), you have a duty to act promptly regardless of insurance.

Which areas of London do you cover?

We cover all 33 London boroughs for electrical diagnostic work. Same-week appointments available across Greater London. Book online.

Electrical Diagnostic — £99.99/hr, No Call-Out Fee

£99.99

NICEIC & NAPIT approved · No call-out fee · Fault traced same visit · Minor repairs included

Book Now — £99.99/hr Email us

Hourly rate

£99.99/hr

Call-out fee

None

Report

Same visit

Accreditation

NICEIC & NAPIT

Electrical fault finding for landlords — what it covers

An EICR tells you the condition of your electrical installation at a point in time — but electrical faults can develop at any point between inspections. A circuit breaker that keeps tripping, an RCD that trips and won't reset, lights that flicker or go dead, or a socket that sparks — these need immediate investigation, not a full 5-year inspection.

Our NICEIC approved electricians use specialist test equipment — insulation resistance testers, loop impedance meters, and RCD testers — to systematically isolate the fault without guesswork. We explain the cause in plain English and complete any minor repairs during the same visit. If larger remedial work is needed, we quote before starting.

As a landlord, you have a duty under the Housing Act 2004 and the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 to keep electrical installations in safe working order. Acting quickly on tenant reports of electrical faults protects both your tenants and your legal position.

Common faults we trace and fix

✓MCB (circuit breaker) tripping repeatedly
✓RCD failing to reset or nuisance tripping
✓Dead sockets or socket circuits
✓Flickering or intermittently dead lights
✓Burning smell from sockets or consumer unit
✓Partial power loss after a fault or surge
✓Earth fault on a specific circuit
✓Overloaded circuits causing nuisance trips

Pricing

£99.99per hour (no call-out fee)

· Most visits 1–2 hours
· Minor repairs included in hourly rate
· Larger remedial work quoted separately before starting
· Written fault report included
· Congestion Zone +£20 · Parking +£10

How it works

Describe the fault — book online or call

Tell us what's happening: which circuit, how often it trips, any smells or visible damage. We'll estimate the likely duration and book the nearest available slot.

NICEIC electrician traces the fault

Using specialist test equipment, our electrician systematically isolates the fault. Minor repairs are completed on the spot. Larger work is quoted before anything is touched.

Written fault report same visit

You receive a written summary of the fault found, the cause, the action taken, and any recommended follow-up. Useful for your records and insurance.

Related services

The diagnostic may reveal a need for these.

Domestic EICR

Full 5-yearly inspection of the entire installation. From £67.99.

Fuse Box Installation

Replace an old consumer unit with modern RCD protection. From £649.99.

Commercial EICR

For offices, HMOs, and multi-unit premises. From £149.99.

What does an electrical diagnostic involve?

An electrical diagnostic is a targeted, test-driven process of identifying the specific cause of an active fault in a rental property. Unlike a periodic EICR — which assesses the condition of the whole installation — a diagnostic focuses on a known problem that has developed between inspections.

Common reasons landlords call for a diagnostic

✓RCD has tripped and won't reset
✓Circuit breaker keeps tripping with no apparent cause
✓Sockets on a ring main have gone dead after a surge
✓Lights flicker intermittently or fail entirely
✓Burning or melting smell from consumer unit or accessories
✓Power loss following damp ingress or a water leak near fittings

Diagnostic tools and methods

Our electricians use professional-grade test instruments to trace faults systematically — insulation resistance testers to identify degraded cable insulation, earth loop impedance meters to check the fault path back to supply, RCD trip-time testers to identify delayed or failed residual current devices, and clamp meters to measure live current across circuits. Where useful, thermal imaging can detect hot spots in accessories or inside the consumer unit.

Electrical diagnostic vs EICR — which do you need?

An EICR is the right choice when you are approaching the 5-year periodic inspection cycle, starting a new tenancy without a recent EICR, or complying with the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020.

An electrical diagnostic is the right choice when a specific fault has developed between inspections. A full EICR records the condition of the whole installation but will not pinpoint an active intermittent fault — a targeted diagnostic does that faster and at lower cost. In some cases the diagnostic reveals that the underlying cause is widespread deterioration, in which case the engineer will advise on a full EICR and remediation options.

Electrical Diagnostic in every London borough

Fixed-price electrical diagnostic, available across all 33 London boroughs. Select your borough for local pricing and availability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Book an electrical diagnostic

£99.99/hr, no call-out fee. NICEIC approved electricians. Fault traced and minor repairs completed same visit.

Book Online Call 020 3996 1070

What London landlords say

“Excellent and reliable service. The team genuinely went above and beyond to resolve the electrical issues as quickly as possible. They communicated clearly, arranged urgent remedial work at very short notice, and made every effort to help me meet my responsibilities as a landlord. Professional, responsive and extremely supportive throughout. I would highly recommend them.”

“I’ve now used this company four times and can honestly say they’ve been brilliant from start to finish. I originally found them after being let down repeatedly by another company (to the point where I’m now having to take legal action), so I was understandably very nervous about using someone new. I’m so glad I chose them. They’ve carried out EICRs, Fire Risk Assessments, a substantial package of follow-on fire safety works, and I’ve now booked them again for another Fire Risk Assessment, EICR and an Asbestos Management Survey. Every member of the team has been incredibly responsive, professional and helpful. They’re always happy to answer questions, no matter how many you have, and they never make you feel like you’re a burden. Communication has been excellent throughout, which is something I really value. On the larger follow-on works, they initially quoted two days to complete the job but actually finished it in just over one day, which was a fantastic surprise. Although I wasn’t present during the Fire Risk Assessment at one of the blocks, one of the directors there commented on how friendly and helpful their surveyor was. One of my own team members, who met him on site, said exactly the same. Overall, I’m genuinely impressed with the quality of their work, their professionalism and how easy they are to deal with. They’ve gone above and beyond on every project we’ve given them, and they’ll continue to be my first choice for compliance work. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.”

“Spot on service from John from start to finish. Booked an EICR online and the engineer turned up right on time. Certificate sent over the next morning.”