12 Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Electrician
Electrical work is safety-critical. Bad wiring causes fires and electrocution. Unlike plumbing where a leak is obvious, faulty electrical work can be invisible until it is too late. These questions help you find a genuinely qualified electrician — not someone who just owns a multimeter.
Our in-house team of qualified, insured electricians covers all of NW London.
Get a Quote1.Are you registered with NICEIC, NAPIT, or an equivalent Part P scheme?
Part P of the Building Regulations requires certain electrical work to be done by a registered competent person — or inspected and signed off by Building Control. Registered electricians can self-certify their work, saving you time and money.
Yes — I am NICEIC registered. Here is my registration number.
Not registered with any competent persons scheme, or claiming it is unnecessary.
2.Will I receive an electrical certificate on completion?
For notifiable work (new circuits, consumer unit changes, bathroom/kitchen circuits), you MUST receive a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate. Without certificates, the work is technically non-compliant.
Yes — I will issue the appropriate certificate: Minor Works, Electrical Installation Certificate, or EICR depending on the work.
Not mentioning certificates, or offering to skip them to save cost.
3.Do you carry public liability and professional indemnity insurance?
Electrical work can cause fires and damage. Insurance protects you if something goes wrong.
Yes — I carry £2 million public liability and professional indemnity insurance.
No insurance or unable to provide evidence.
4.Is this work notifiable under Building Regulations?
Not all electrical work needs notification — replacing sockets like-for-like does not. But new circuits, consumer unit changes, and work in bathrooms/kitchens does. You need to know what you are paying for.
Yes/no — here is why, and here is what certification you will receive.
Dismissing the question or not knowing which work is notifiable.
5.Can you provide a fixed written quote?
A fixed quote protects you from unexpected bills. An electrician who refuses to quote fixed price for defined work is a risk.
Yes — I will survey the work and provide a fixed written quote including all materials.
Day rates for defined work, or vague estimates.
6.What brands and quality of materials do you use?
Cheap electrical components fail faster and can be dangerous. Quality consumer units (Hager, Schneider) and wiring accessories make a real difference to safety and longevity.
I use [specific quality brands]. I am happy to discuss alternatives if you have a preference.
Unable to name brands, or defaulting to the cheapest components available.
7.How will you minimise disruption to my home?
Electrical work often involves chasing walls, lifting floorboards, and working in multiple rooms. A good electrician plans the route to minimise damage.
I will plan cable routes to minimise chasing. I will use dust sheets and clean up daily. Making good of chases is included.
No mention of protecting your home, or expecting you to arrange plastering afterwards.
8.Have you worked on properties like mine before?
Period properties in NW London have specific challenges — old wiring, lath and plaster walls, listed building constraints. Experience with your property type matters.
Yes — I regularly work on Victorian/Edwardian properties in this area. Here are examples.
No experience with older properties, or dismissing the challenges.
9.Will the power be off during the work?
You need to know so you can plan your day — working from home, keeping food cold, caring for children or elderly relatives.
Power will be off for X hours during Y phase. I will let you know in advance and minimise downtime.
Not considering this, or leaving you without power unexpectedly.
10.Do you test everything on completion?
All electrical work should be tested and verified with calibrated instruments. This is not optional — it is a regulatory requirement for notifiable work.
Yes — I test every circuit with calibrated instruments and provide test results with the certificate.
Skipping testing, or not having proper test equipment.
11.What guarantee do you offer?
NICEIC and NAPIT registered electricians provide a 6-year guarantee on notifiable work through their registration scheme. This is in addition to the electrician's own workmanship guarantee.
My workmanship is guaranteed for 12 months. NICEIC provides a further 6-year warranty on notifiable work.
No guarantee, or unaware of the registration body warranty.
12.Can I see a recent EICR you have completed?
An EICR is the most complex routine electrical task. If they can produce a well-completed one, they know their trade.
Here is an example (with client details redacted). Happy to explain the observations and recommendations.
Never completed an EICR, or unable to explain what one involves.
Skip the research — our team is ready
Every electrician at Hampstead On Demand is qualified, insured, and experienced with NW London properties. We do the due diligence so you do not have to.
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