A Big Shift in How Electricians Prove Their Competence
The Electrotechnical Assessment Specification (EAS) is changing how electrical competence works in the UK — and the deadline is 1 October 2026. Previously, competence could sit at the company level. Under the updated rules, every individual electrician carrying out specific high-risk or low-carbon work must hold their own relevant Level 3 qualification.
This applies to PAYE staff, CIS subcontractors, agency workers, and self-employed sole traders working under a company’s certification body registration.
Why Does This Matter to You?
When you hire an electrician for work in your London home or business, you want to know the person actually doing the work is qualified — not just the company they work for. The EAS changes ensure exactly that.
Previously, it was possible for a registered company to send someone to your property who relied on the company’s overall certification rather than their own individual qualifications. The new rules close that gap.
What Counts as High-Risk or Low-Carbon Work?
The individual competence requirement applies to work such as consumer unit replacements and full rewires, electrical installation condition reports (EICRs), solar panel (PV) electrical connections, battery storage system installations, EV charger installations, and any work that’s notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations.
Essentially, if it involves creating or modifying circuits, or signing off electrical certificates, the person doing it needs to hold the right individual qualifications from October 2026.
What the 1 October 2026 Deadline Means for Landlords
If you let property in London, the EAS changes land on top of an already demanding compliance calendar. Every rented property in England needs a valid EICR renewed at least every five years, and from 1 October 2026 the person carrying out that inspection must hold their own Level 3 inspection and testing qualification — company-level registration will no longer be enough.
That matters for two reasons. First, an EICR carried out by someone who isn’t individually competent risks being challenged by your local council, and with penalties for electrical safety breaches now reaching £40,000 under the Renters’ Rights Act, an invalid report is an expensive shortcut — see our guide to EICR fines for London landlords for how enforcement works. Second, the 2020–21 rush of first-generation landlord EICRs is expiring right now, so many landlords will be booking renewals in exactly the window when the new competence rules bite. Our EICR renewal guide for 2026 explains the renewal timeline in detail.
The practical advice is simple: when you book your renewal, ask whether the individual inspector — not just the firm — holds a Level 3 qualification in periodic inspection and testing (typically the C&G 2391 or equivalent). From October 2026, that is the question councils and insurers will be asking too.
Will My Existing EICR Still Be Valid After October 2026?
Yes. The competence rules are not retrospective. An EICR issued before 1 October 2026 by an electrician working legitimately under the rules in force at the time remains valid until its stated expiry date — normally five years from issue, or sooner if the report specifies an earlier re-test. You do not need to commission a fresh report just because the EAS rules have changed.
What changes is the next inspection. Any EICR carried out on or after 1 October 2026 must be completed by an individually qualified inspector for the certificate to stand up. If your current report expires in late 2026 or 2027, it is worth confirming your contractor’s individual qualifications when you book — switching contractors after a failed council challenge is far more disruptive than asking one question up front.
There is one caveat: if your existing report was produced by someone who was never competent to issue it (a problem councils already look for in HMO licensing checks), it was arguably never valid — the new rules simply make that easier to prove. If in doubt, a fresh inspection from £140 (labour-only) settles the question.
What Happens to Firms That Don’t Comply?
Certification bodies like NICEIC and NAPIT will audit member firms against the updated EAS from October 2026. Firms whose electricians lack individual qualifications face suspension from their scheme — which means they can no longer self-certify notifiable work under Part P or issue compliant certificates. Expect a squeeze: some firms will leave the market, and demand for individually qualified inspectors will rise, particularly for landlord EICR work. Booking ahead of renewal deadlines rather than at the last minute is the sensible hedge.
How F & A Electrical Stays Ahead
At F & A Electrical, individual competence has always been our standard — not something we’re scrambling to meet. Our electricians are individually NICEIC accredited, hold current BS 7671 qualifications (updated to Amendment 4), and complete ongoing CPD through events like NICEIC TechLive.
When we come to your property, you can be confident the person doing the work has the qualifications to back it up.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Electrician
With the EAS changes approaching, here are questions worth asking any electrician you’re considering hiring. Are your individual electricians Level 3 qualified? Is the person who’ll be doing the work personally registered with a competent persons scheme? Can you provide individual qualification details, not just a company registration number?
A reputable electrician will be happy to answer these questions. If they can’t, that’s a red flag.
Book a Qualified London Electrician
Call F & A Electrical on 07407 627 542 or request a free quote. We cover all London boroughs for domestic and commercial electrical work — always carried out by individually qualified, NICEIC-accredited electricians.
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Need help with your electrical project? Contact F & A Electrical for a free quote, or call us on 07407 627 542.