Electrical inspection of your home: when you need it and what it shows

What is an electrical inspection?

An electrical inspection, sometimes called an electrical review or electrical check, is a review of the electrical installation in the home. The electrician checks the consumer unit, RCD protection, sockets and switches, visible cables and how the installation is earthed. With measuring instruments it is also possible to check insulation resistance and that RCDs trip as they should.

The result is normally a record or report listing the shortcomings found, an assessment of how serious they are and suggested remedies.

An electrical inspection is not the same as the check the electrical installation company carries out after work it has done itself. That check is part of the company's self-inspection programme and only covers the work they have done. An inspection instead looks at the installation as a whole, regardless of who built it and when.

When is an electrical inspection worth doing?

For private homes there is no general requirement for recurring electrical inspections. The owner is responsible for ensuring the installation is in a safe condition. There are nevertheless several occasions when an inspection is well worth doing:

• When buying a house, since a standard pre-purchase survey often does not go into the electrics in depth.
• In older houses where the electrics have been added to in stages.
• Before a renovation, so you know what needs to be done at the same time.
• After previous owners have done their own electrical work.
• If you have recurring faults, hot sockets or flickering lights.
• Before letting out the property.

What is checked?

• The condition, labelling and circuit schedule of the consumer unit.
• The presence and function of RCDs.
• Earthing and protective conductors.
• Sockets, switches and boxes, with a focus on damage and heat marks.
• Cables in visible areas, for example the basement and loft.
• Installations in wet rooms and outdoors.
• Signs of amateur or unprofessional work.

An inspection is normally visual, supplemented by measurements. Concealed cables in walls cannot be seen, so the report can only reflect what can be checked.

Who carries out the inspection?

Choose an electrical installation company that is registered with Elsäkerhetsverket and has experience of inspections. Ask what qualifications the person carrying out the inspection has, and what the report looks like. If the inspection is done before buying a house, it can be an advantage if the inspector has no interest of their own in carrying out the remedial work, or at least that you get several quotes for it.

What affects the price?

The price depends on the size of the home, how extensive the check is to be, whether measurements are included and how detailed the report is. Ask for a quote with a clearly defined scope.

A pure inspection or check does not normally qualify for the ROT deduction. The remedies carried out afterwards, such as installing RCDs or replacing the consumer unit, can however qualify for a ROT deduction of 30 % of the labour cost within the ceiling of SEK 75,000 per person per year for ROT and RUT combined, of which no more than SEK 50,000 may be ROT.

What the quote should include

• What is checked and which measurements are included.
• How long the inspection is expected to take.
• What the report looks like and when you will receive it.
• Whether a walkthrough of the results is included.
• Fixed price or hourly rate, and any call-out charge.

After the inspection and common mistakes

Go through the report with the person who carried out the inspection and ask for a prioritisation. Serious shortcomings such as missing RCDs, damaged connections and signs of overheating should be fixed as soon as possible. Minor shortcomings can often be planned in alongside future renovations. Keep the report; it is valuable both for you and for a future buyer.

A common mistake is relying on a standard pre-purchase survey to cover the electrics. Another is getting a report but never fixing the shortcomings, or fixing them yourself even though the work requires a registered electrical installation company.

Getting quotes via Fixtorget

Describe the home, the year it was built and the reason for the inspection when you post the job. The companies that get in touch can explain what their inspection covers, and you can see whether they are Verified by Fixtorget and have reviewed liability insurance.

Frequently asked questions