Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) in St Davids

The legal position is clear for rented homes in England. Since 1 April 2021, private landlords must hold a valid EICR and renew it at least every 5 years, or sooner if our report recommends a shorter interval. The inspection must be carried out by a qualified person registered with a competent person scheme, and landlords must give tenants a copy within 28 days. If the installation is unsafe, local authority enforcement can follow, and penalties can reach £30,000 per breach.

St Davids has a housing stock that makes those duties more demanding than they might look on paper. The town includes late 18th and early 19th-century townhouses, twentieth-century infill and twenty-first-century homes on the southern and eastern fringes of the historic core, plus new schemes such as Maes Y Felin, where Phase Two adds 11 two-bedroom bungalows and the wider scheme totals 18 homes with EPC A ratings and solar panels. Older properties often keep older consumer units, limited RCD coverage or wiring altered during past refurbishments, and that can leave the installation out of step with current standards. We see the same pattern in homes that have been updated room by room over several decades.

The conservation setting matters as well. St Davids sits inside a large Conservation Area, and Article 4(2) Directions mean some external changes need extra care, which can affect how remedial works are planned and how access is arranged. That does not alter the electrical regulations, but it does change the practical side of repairs, especially where a landlord wants a neat finish in a listed or historic property. A clear EICR helps separate cosmetic concerns from electrical faults, so the next decision is based on evidence rather than guesswork.

An unsatisfactory result means at least one C1, C2 or unresolved FI has been found. We explain which circuit is affected, why it is unsafe and whether the issue is localised or part of a wider pattern across the installation. Landlords must begin remedial action within 28 days and complete C1 and C2 repairs within 28 days, unless the report sets a shorter timescale. The tenant should receive the report, and the local authority can ask for proof that the defects have been addressed.

In many St Davids properties, the next step is targeted repair rather than a full rewire. A failed socket, a damaged accessory or an outdated consumer unit can often be dealt with quickly, followed by a re-inspection so the record shows the installation as compliant. Older homes near the cathedral area, the modernist Round House on Quickwell Hill and newer properties on the fringes do not share the same electrical history, so the remedial plan must fit the building. We keep the report factual and specific, because a precise note saves time later.

Ignoring an unsatisfactory EICR is costly. Local authority enforcement can lead to a fine of up to £30,000 per breach, and a landlord who leaves a known defect unresolved may face problems with insurance or with future tenancy checks. The sensible route is to fix the issue, document the repair and keep the paper trail clean. That is especially helpful in a town where listed buildings, conservation controls and older wiring can already make maintenance more involved than it first appears.

Our EICRs start from £120, and the final fee depends on the size of the property, the number of circuits and the age of the installation. A small modern flat is quicker to test than a larger townhouse with several additions, and listed buildings can take longer where access is limited or wiring routes have been altered over time. We price the inspection as a safety report, not as a guess, so the work on the day matches the scope agreed before we arrive. If the installation is straightforward, the visit is usually quicker and the cost stays near the base price.

Property type matters too. A detached home averaging £413,056 in St Davids is often larger and more complex than a terraced property averaging £282,500, which means more circuits, more accessories and more time on the job. That does not change the standard we test against, but it does affect the labour involved and the likelihood of finding older parts that need a closer look. Where a report finds remedial issues, we quote those works separately so landlords and homeowners can decide how to move forward. The inspection report itself is issued after the testing is complete, with the observations set out in plain English.