Spring has arrived in Wigan. The days are getting longer, the weather is finally turning, and most people are in full-on “sort the house out” mode. New garden furniture, a fresh coat of paint, maybe a long-overdue declutter of the loft.
But one spring task that you can do as a homeowner or landlord consistently gets overlooked, even though it is one of the most important.
Booking your Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR).
At PW Electrical, April and May are some of our busiest months for EICR bookings and for good reason. Here is why spring is genuinely the best time to get yours done.
The property market wakes up in spring
If you are planning to sell your home in Wigan this year, you are probably already thinking about kerb appeal and getting the kitchen looking its best. But one thing that catches sellers off guard is the electrical inspection.
More and more buyers and their solicitors are requesting an up-to-date EICR before the exchange of contracts. If yours is out of date, or if the report comes back with a C2 (potentially dangerous) or C1 (immediate danger) observation, it can hold up the sale or cost you money in emergency remedial work.
Getting your EICR done in spring, before you list the property, gives you time to calmly address any issues on your own terms, not under pressure from a buyer threatening to pull out.
Landlords: your annual checklist starts now
For landlords in Wigan and the surrounding areas, the law requires a valid EICR every five years for all privately rented properties. Fines for non-compliance can reach £30,000.
Spring is a natural reset point. If you have a tenancy renewal coming up or a void period between tenants, now is the perfect time to arrange the inspection. You can hand new tenants their copy of the report from day one, keeping you fully compliant and building trust from the outset.
We work with landlords across Wigan, Standish, Hindley, and Leigh, and we know that fitting an electrical inspection around tenants’ schedules takes a bit of planning. Book early and we can work around you.
Access is easier in spring
This one is practical, but it matters. During the winter months, people often pack lofts, understairs cupboards, and garages with Christmas storage, seasonal clothing, and general clutter. Our electricians need clear access to your consumer unit and, in some cases, other parts of the property.
In spring, people have generally started their clear-outs. Access is quicker, the inspection runs more smoothly, and we are in and out with minimal disruption to your day.
You will beat the summer rush
Every summer, we see a spike in EICR requests driven by people starting home extensions, installing garden offices, or adding EV chargers. By the time July arrives, waiting times for any electrical work across Wigan can stretch significantly.
Book your EICR in April or May and you can choose from the available appointment slots. If the report flags any remedial work, you have the whole summer to sort it out instead of joining the back of the queue.
What does an EICR actually involve?
If you have never had one done before, here is what to expect when our team arrives.
We carry out a thorough inspection and test of your property’s fixed electrical installation: the wiring, sockets, switches, consumer unit, and all associated equipment. We test against current BS 7671 (18th Edition) regulations and record any observations under the following categories:
- C1 – Danger present. Immediate remedial action required.
- C2 – Potentially dangerous. Urgent remedial action required.
- C3 – Improvement recommended (does not prevent the report from being passed as satisfactory).
- FI – Further investigation required.
At the end, we issue you a formal report that you can provide to solicitors, letting agents, mortgage lenders, or insurers.
For a typical three-bedroom semi in Wigan, the inspection usually takes two to four hours. We always talk you through the findings in plain English before we leave – no jargon, no surprises.
How often do you need one?
As a homeowner, there is no legal requirement for how frequently you test, but the recommendation is every ten years or whenever you move into a new property. For rental properties, it is every five years by law.
If your property is older, especially if built before the 1990s, we recommend not leaving it to the maximum interval. Older wiring deteriorates, and properties in areas like Ince, Ashton-in-Makerfield, and parts of Wigan town centre often have electrical installations that are well overdue for a proper look. In some cases, that can mean a full house rewire, which is always better to plan for than to be surprised by.
Ready to book?
If you are a homeowner, landlord, or business owner in Wigan and are unsure when your last EICR was carried out, spring is the time to find out.
Call PW Electrical on 01257 402 004 or get in touch online to book your inspection. We will give you a clear, honest report and a straightforward quote for any work that needs doing.
We serve Wigan, Standish, Hindley, Leigh, Chorley, and the surrounding areas.
