Do You Need an EICR, a New Consumer Unit, or a Rewire?
Most people don't call an electrician because they want to. They call because something's tripping, a letting agent has asked for a certificate, or they've just moved into a house with a fuse box that looks like it belongs in a museum - and they have no idea whether that's a problem or not.
This page is here to give you a straight answer before you pick up the phone.
Answer three quick questions below and we'll tell you what your property most likely needs and how urgent it is. No jargon, no obligation, and no email address required to see your result. If you'd rather read up first, there's plain-English guidance on all three services further down the page.
We're MS Electrical Solutions - NAPIT-accredited electricians working across Horley, Redhill, Reigate, Crawley and the surrounding Surrey and West Sussex area.
Which best describes your situation?
Roughly how old is the current fuse box?
Your Triage Result:
Do I need an EICR? (Electrical Installation Condition Report)
An EICR is a formal inspection of the fixed wiring in a property. Not the appliances: the wiring in the walls, the sockets, the switches, and the board it all runs back to. An electrician tests it, records what they find, and issues a report saying whether the installation is safe to keep using.
Whether you need one depends mostly on who lives there:
If you rent the property out: You need one. Landlords are legally required to have the electrical installation inspected at least every five years, and to give a copy of the report to tenants.
If you own and live in the property: There's no legal requirement, but the general guidance is an inspection every ten years. Most people who book one privately do it because they're moving in somewhere new and want to know what they've inherited.
If it's a commercial premises: You're looking at every five years as a rule of thumb, depending on the building type.
An EICR tells you the condition of what's there. It doesn't automatically mean work is needed. Plenty of reports come back satisfactory.
EICR Common Questions:
Will an EICR tell me if I need a rewire or a new consumer unit? Yes. An EICR is the ultimate diagnostic test. If you aren't sure what your property needs, a full inspection will give you a definitive, documented answer on whether you need a new board, a partial rewire, or just a few minor repairs.
If I'm buying a house, which service do I need? You should always start with an EICR before exchanging contracts. It ensures you don't inherit dangerous wiring and prevents you from being hit with an unexpected rewiring bill the day you move in.
When does a consumer unit actually need replacing?
The consumer unit - the fuse board, or fuse box - is where the electricity coming into your property gets divided up and protected. It's also the single piece of equipment most likely to be quietly out of date in an otherwise fine house.
A consumer unit doesn't have an expiry date. It needs replacing when it stops offering the protection a modern installation is expected to have.
You are usually looking at an upgrade if:
You have an old wooden or bakelite box with rewirable ceramic fuses.
Your board lacks modern RCD (Residual Current Device) protection, which cuts power instantly to prevent electric shocks.
Your existing board is constantly tripping, buzzing, or feels warm to the touch.
Consumer Unit Common Questions:
Should I upgrade my consumer unit before getting an EICR? If your fuse box is visibly ancient (e.g., wooden with rewirable fuses), it will automatically fail an EICR. In these cases, it is often more cost-effective to upgrade the consumer unit first, as the new installation includes comprehensive testing and certification anyway.
Can I just replace the fuse board instead of rewiring the house? Usually, yes. An old board and old wiring often go together, but they are separate jobs. Upgrading the board brings your safety protection up to modern standards without needing to tear up floorboards.
What are the signs a house needs rewiring?
Rewiring is the big one - the job people put off, and understandably so. It's disruptive and it's a major investment.
Age alone doesn't dictate a rewire. A 1960s house that was sensibly rewired in 2005 is in better shape than a 1990s house that's been hacked about by three sets of DIY owners. What matters is the condition of what's actually in the walls.
You are likely looking at a rewire conversation if your property hasn't been updated in 40+ years, if you are experiencing persistent, unexplained faults across multiple rooms, or if you smell burning near sockets and switches (treat this as an emergency).
However, one dead socket or a single tripping circuit does not automatically mean the whole house needs doing.
Rewiring Common Questions:
If my EICR fails, does it mean I need a rewire? Not necessarily. An "Unsatisfactory" EICR simply flags specific items that are unsafe. Often, replacing a broken socket, upgrading the consumer unit, or fixing a poor connection is enough to bring the property back to a safe standard.
Is a partial rewire an option if only part of the house is tripping? Absolutely. If an extension was wired poorly but the original house is sound, we can isolate and rewire just the problem circuits. It’s a lot less disruptive and much more cost-effective.
Still not sure?
That's fine - most people aren't, and guessing from a website is no substitute for someone actually looking at it. If you've read this far and you're still uncertain, the quickest route is a conversation.
We cover Horley, Redhill, Reigate, Crawley, Smallfield, Salfords, Earlswood and the surrounding areas of Surrey and West Sussex, and quotes are free with no obligation.