We are committed to ensuring all our tenants live in safe, well-maintained homes. As part of this responsibility, we carry out routine electrical safety checks to ensure your property meets current safety standards.
Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
Every five years, we must inspect the fixed electrical wiring in your home. This includes all wiring originally installed by Wigan Council. The inspection is known as an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) and is essential to confirm that your electrical system is safe and working correctly.
Who Carries Out the Inspection
Your electrical safety check will be carried out by one of our approved contractors:
- AB Building and Electrical
- Connolly Ltd
They will contact you directly to arrange your appointment.
What happens if I can’t be home for the appointment
If you are not available for your electrical safety appointment, please contact the contractor as soon as possible to rearrange.
Not allowing access is a breach of your tenancy agreement and could lead to legal action.
Why These Checks Are Important
Electrical inspections help prevent serious hazards such as:
- Electrical fires
- Electric shocks
- Faulty wiring issues
These checks are free of charge and are a vital part of keeping your home safe.
Please note: Allowing access for the inspection is a condition of your tenancy agreement with Wigan Council. Failure to provide access may lead to legal action.
What Happens During the Inspection
During the inspection, the electrician will carry out a range of electrical tests to assess the condition and safety of your electrical installation.
This includes checking the consumer unit, wiring, sockets, switches, lighting circuits, and any fixed electrical equipment.
They will require access to all areas of the property where electrical circuits are present, including the consumer unit, sockets, switches, and light fittings.
There is no need to move large or heavy items, such as wardrobes that may be blocking switches or sockets. However, access to as many outlets and fittings as possible is helpful and will allow the inspection to be completed more efficiently.
The EICR will confirm whether your electrical installation is:
- Safe and fit for continued use, or
- In need of repair or further investigation
Most EICR inspections take between one and two hours, depending on the size and layout of your home.
Will my power need to be turned off
Yes, there may be short periods where the electricity needs to be switched off while tests are carried out. Your contractor will let you know before this happens.
What If Repairs Are Needed
- Minor repairs will usually be completed during the same visit
- If more extensive work is required for example, a new consumer unit or a full rewire, we will discuss this with you and arrange a follow-up appointment.
What if I’ve done my own electrical DIY work
If DIY work is unsafe or not compliant, the electrician will record it on the report and we will discuss what needs to be done to make it safe.
For safety reasons, we strongly advise tenants not to carry out their own electrical alterations.
Condensation, Damp and Mould
We aim to provide every tenant with a warm, healthy home free from damp, mould, and condensation.
We aim to make every visit productive. We use the Every Visit Counts approach to check for signs of damp, mould and condensation at the same time, ensuring issues are identified early.
As part of this commitment, the electrical contractor will carry out a damp and mould visual assessment at the same time as your electrical inspection and report any damp and mould to our repairs and maintenance team.
To find out more, visit our Report mould and damp in your home webpage.