How to check someone is properly qualified to carry out electrical inspections

Landlords must check that someone is properly qualified and competent before asking them to carry out an inspection of electrical installations and getting an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) from them. In Bradford, the Council may also need the landlord to get a checklist and declaration form (PDF, 179 Kb) completed by the person who is going to carry out the inspection and testing work, to say that they are competent.

There are two ways for landlords to check if someone is properly qualified and competent to carry out inspections and testing. The easiest way is for landlords to check if they are a member of a relevant scheme and on a register of people who can carry out electrical inspection and testing. You can check this by going to electricalcompetentperson.co.uk - if the person who is going to carry out inspections and testing is on a register, the Council will not need a checklist and declaration form to be completed.

If the person who is going to carry out the inspection and testing work is not on a register of competent people, the landlord must get them to fill in and sign a checklist and declaration form (PDF, 179 Kb) to say that they are competent. If the checklist is not completed and sent to the Council’s Housing Standards Team, or any of the requirements are not met, Bradford Council will not accept the report to say that the electrical standards are met.

If the Council will not accept an inspection and testing report, the landlord will still need to provide a report from someone who is properly qualified and Bradford Council will not be liable for any additional cost for doing this. The Council may also take enforcement action against a landlord because they have not provided a report to say that the electrical standards are met, from someone who is suitably qualified and competent to do this.

You can find more information about getting electrical installations checked by a properly qualified and competent person on www.gov.uk.

Electrical Installation Certificates

Bradford Council may accept an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) instead of an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), if all these conditions apply

• a full rewire of the property has been completed within the last 5 years
• the ‘EIC’ includes a full schedule of inspection of test results, for all circuits
• the electrician carrying out the rewire is suitably accredited and registered to carry out installation work and can ‘self-certify’ under Part P of the Building Regulations.

The Council will decide whether to accept an EIC instead of an EICR on a case by case basis – please contact us, using the contact details on this page, if you would like to discuss this.