Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Onyx Electrical Solutions is NICEIC approved, which means our work is independently assessed and we are authorised to self-certify notifiable electrical work in England and Wales. You can verify our registration at niceic.com.

Our electricians are City & Guilds qualified in domestic electrical installation and hold current 18th Edition (BS 7671:2018+A2:2022) certification — the latest IET Wiring Regulations. We also hold inspection and testing qualifications for EICR work.

Yes, we hold full public liability insurance for all work we carry out. Details are available on request.

We are based in Stockport and cover the whole of Greater Manchester, including Manchester, Cheadle, Bramhall, Altrincham, Sale, Didsbury, Salford, Stretford, Urmston, Hyde, Denton, Oldham, Rochdale, Bury, Bolton, Wigan, Leigh and all surrounding areas. We will also consider North West projects depending on the scope of work.

Yes. We provide free, no-obligation written quotes for all work. For straightforward jobs we can often quote over the phone or via photos. For larger projects such as rewires, we will visit your property to assess the scope of work before quoting.

An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a formal assessment of the safety and condition of your property's electrical installation. It is carried out by a qualified electrician and documents the condition of all wiring, circuits, consumer unit and accessories, using observation codes (C1, C2, C3, FI) to classify any defects.

For owner-occupied homes, the IET recommends every 10 years or at change of occupancy. For rental properties, an EICR is legally required every 5 years under The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020.

For a standard 3-bedroom semi-detached house, an EICR typically takes 3–4 hours. Larger properties or those with complex installations will take longer.

An unsatisfactory EICR means one or more C1 (danger present) or C2 (potentially dangerous) observations have been found. You must have remedial work carried out and a new report issued. We can carry out any remedial works and re-test your installation.

There is no legal requirement, but it is strongly recommended. An EICR before exchange gives you independent assurance about the electrical condition of the property and may reveal issues that affect your negotiation.

Key signs include: rewirable fuses rather than MCBs, no RCD protection, a plastic (rather than metal) casing, frequent tripping, scorch marks, or the board being more than 25 years old. If in doubt, we can assess your board and advise.

Most consumer unit upgrades are completed in a single day. We test all existing circuits as part of the upgrade and provide full certification on completion.

Yes. The mains supply to your property will need to be off for the majority of the day. We try to restore power by early afternoon where possible and will agree timings with you in advance.

Signs include rubber or fabric-insulated cable (pre-1960s), round pin sockets, single-socket outlets only, frequent tripping, flickering lights, a failed EICR with C1 observations, or the property hasn't been rewired in 30+ years. An EICR will confirm whether a rewire is needed.

A rewire always causes some decoration damage — cables must be chased into walls and boards lifted. We work room by room and patch plaster as we go. Full redecoration after the rewire is typically the homeowner's responsibility. We aim to make the process as tidy as possible.

A typical 3-bedroom semi-detached takes 5–7 working days. A larger property may take up to 2 weeks. We can often keep parts of the house live while we work on other areas.

A 7kW single-phase charger is suitable for most domestic properties and will charge most EVs overnight. For maximum flexibility, we recommend a smart charger with scheduling capability so you can charge on off-peak tariffs.

The Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant (EVCG) provides 75% towards the cost of a home charge point, up to £350. You must own or lease an eligible EV. We are OZEV-registered and handle the grant application on your behalf.

Yes. EV chargers can be installed on external walls, freestanding posts or carport columns. The cable run from your consumer unit will need to be weatherproofed and the charger itself must be IP65 rated for external installation.

Part P is the section of the Building Regulations covering electrical safety in domestic properties in England. Certain electrical work — such as installing new circuits, replacing a consumer unit or working in kitchens and bathrooms — must be either self-certified by a registered electrician or notified to Building Control.

Depending on the work: an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) for new circuits, a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate (MEIWC) for additions to existing circuits, or an EICR for inspections. All certificates are provided digitally on completion.

It is advisable to notify your home insurer when significant electrical work is carried out, particularly a full rewire or consumer unit upgrade. Having proper certification demonstrates the work was done correctly by a registered electrician.