Survey finding
Electrical issues flagged in your survey
Surveyors often recommend an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) when anything about the wiring looks dated. This page explains what's typically behind that recommendation and how to follow up sensibly.
Last updated: 6 May 2026. Editorially reviewed: 20 May 2026.
Finding
Electrical issues
What this usually means
Surveyors flag electrical issues for a range of reasons: an old consumer unit (fuse box), missing or partial RCD protection, the absence of a recent EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report), or visible signs of older wiring. Surveyors are not usually qualified to test the installation, they recommend an EICR if anything looks dated.
Why it matters
An out-of-date or unsafe installation is a safety concern, and some insurers will ask about EICRs. Rewires and consumer-unit replacements are common works on older homes, but the scope can vary significantly with the property.
Ask your surveyor
- Check:Did you see anything specific that concerned you (consumer unit, sockets, visible wiring), or are you recommending an EICR as a precaution?
- Check:Is there visible evidence of partial rewires or mixed-age installations?
Ask the seller
- Check:When was the property last fully or partially rewired, and do you have invoices or certificates?
- Check:Do you have a recent EICR, and is it still within its validity period?
Next steps
- •Commission an EICR from an NICEIC or NAPIT registered electrician, the report identifies issues and gives a clear classification (C1/C2/C3/FI) for each.
- •If a rewire or consumer unit upgrade is recommended, get more than one written quote before factoring it into your offer thinking.
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Full electrical rewire needed , often sits near electrical issues on a survey and is the next thing to check.
How MyPropertyScan produces this guide, and what it is not
Published by MyPropertyScan and written by Ziad Nasr, who is accountable for its accuracy. No page here is written or reviewed by a chartered surveyor, conveyancer or regulated adviser, and we do not claim otherwise.
This page is not:
- Chartered surveying — we do not inspect properties or produce RICS Home Survey reports
- Legal advice — we do not act as conveyancers or advise on title, tenure or contracts
- Mortgage or insurance advice — we are not regulated by the FCA and give no recommendations
Figures and process steps come from the published UK datasets and standards listed on this page, not from professional practice. Pages are updated when source coverage, survey cost assumptions, or lender and legal requirements materially change. Dataset limitations are set out on the methodology page.
Spotted something out of date or wrong? Email hello@mypropertyscan.com and we will correct it and change the update date.
Sources used
We use UK public and specialist sources where they are available. Public datasets can be incomplete, delayed, or missing for some addresses. Treat them as a starting point, not as a replacement for professional advice.
Source standard: preference goes to official government datasets, statutory bodies, professional standards, and primary dataset publishers. We cite the source family on the page and explain coverage limits rather than filling gaps with unsupported estimates.
- Professional standard: RICS Home Survey StandardRICS standard for condition-based residential surveys in the UK.
- Learn more from: RICS consumer guide to surveysConsumer-facing guide to survey types and when each level is appropriate.
- Official guidance: GOV.UK buying or selling your homeGovernment overview of the home buying and selling process.