• What are Home Buyers Surveys and why do I need one?

A home buyers survey can save a lot of money and hassle when buying a new property. Most surveyors reports simply state that "electrics could do with looking at" and when you move in to your new home that could mean a bill in the thousands of pounds to put any actual problems right.

• Does my property need an electrical test ?

As set out in the regulations domestic properties should be checked every ten years or on change of occupancy, whichever comes soonest.
By law landlords must have a property inspected every time there is a new tenant.
Shops and industrial premises must be tested between every three to five years dependant on usage.

• How do I know how often my property must be tested ?

The table below shows the frequency of testing required by law.

Type of installation	Routine Check*	Maximum period between inspections and testing as necessary
General installations
Domestic		Change of occupancy/10 years
Commercial	1 year	Change of occupancy/5 years
Education establishments	4 months	5 years
Hospitals	1 year	5 years
Industrial	1 year	3 years
Residential accomodation	at change of occupancy/1 year	5 years
Offices	1 year	5 years
Shops	1 year	5 years
Laboratories	1 year	5 years
Buildings open to the public
Cinemas	1 year	3 years
Church installations	1 year	5 years
Leisure complexes excluding swimming pools	1 year	3 years
Places of public entertainment	1 year	3 years
Restaurants and hotels	1 year	5 years
Theatres	1 year	3 years
Public houses	1 year	5 years
Village halls/Community centres	1 year	5 years
Special installations
Agricultural & horticultural	1 year	3 years
Caravans	1 year	3 years
Caravan parks	6 months	1 year
Highway power supplies	as convenient	6 years
Marinas	4 months	1 year
Fish farms	4 months	1 year
Swimming pools	4 months	1 year
Emergency lighting	Daily/monthly	3 years
Fire alarms	Daily/weekly/monthly	1 year
Launderettes	1 year	1 year
Petrol filling stations	1 year	1 year
Construction site installations	3 months	3 months