We carry out EICRs in Bedford, Kempston and the surrounding villages for owners, landlords, agents and businesses. Bedford's mix of Edwardian streets, post-war estates and brand-new communities means no two inspections are quite the same, but the aim is: test it properly, code it honestly, and tell you clearly what's needed.
Bedford's older streets
Around Castle Road, De Parys, Queens Park and Black Tom, many houses date from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Their installations have usually been altered by several owners, and typical EICR findings include:
- mixed generations of cable, sometimes with older rubber-insulated cable still in use;
- RCD protection missing from some or all circuits;
- bathrooms upgraded without supplementary or main bonding being checked;
- outbuildings and garden supplies run in unsuitable cable.
Bedford landlords and the borough-wide licensing scheme
Bedford Borough Council's additional HMO licensing scheme covers the whole borough until May 2028, so most shared houses with three or more people from two or more households need a licence, not just the large ones. Licensing inspections look at electrical safety in detail. A current satisfactory EICR, PAT records for supplied appliances and evidence that any repairs were done on time will make the process straightforward.
Every private tenancy, HMO or not, needs a satisfactory EICR at least every five years under the 2020 regulations. See landlord certificates.
New builds at Wixams, Biddenham and Great Denham
Newer homes come with an Electrical Installation Certificate. If you're letting a new-build, you can rely on that certificate until five years after its date, then you'll need an EICR. Buy-to-let owners in Bedford's newer developments often book their first EICR just before that date comes round.
Commercial premises
For Bedford town-centre shops, restaurants, takeaways and salons, we test before opening or on quieter days and keep critical circuits like refrigeration live. Read more about our commercial EICR service.
