Short answer: An emergency call out charge in London depends on the time and day, travel, parking and road charges such as the Congestion Charge, and whether the visit makes the fault safe or fixes it fully. Parts and follow up work are usually extra. Ask what the charge covers before anyone sets off.
Why there is no single price
We do not publish call out prices. Every emergency is different and the honest answer is that the price is confirmed after a look at the job. What we can do is explain what moves the charge, so you can ask good questions of any electrician you call, and compare like with like.
The things that change the charge
| Factor | Why it changes the cost |
|---|---|
| Time and day | Evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays usually cost more than working hours |
| Travel | Crossing London at rush hour takes time, and time is what you are paying for |
| Parking | Many streets are permit only or pay and display. Some firms pass on parking costs |
| Road charges | The Congestion Charge applies in central London. ULEZ covers all of London and affects vans that do not meet its standards. Some firms pass these on |
| Access | Flats with no lift, locked meter cupboards, loft access |
| What the visit does | Making the fault safe is a shorter job than tracing and repairing it fully |
| Parts | Breakers, sockets, cable, a new consumer unit. Usually priced on top |
| Testing and paperwork | A repair should be tested, and some jobs need a certificate |
Make safe or full repair
Most emergency visits end in one of two ways.
Make safe. The electrician finds the faulty circuit, isolates it (switches it off and keeps it off) so the rest of the home works, and leaves it safe. You then book the full repair in normal hours. This is often the cheaper route at 2am, and the right one when the repair needs parts that are not on the van.
Full repair. The fault is found and fixed on the night, tested and switched back on. That suits a simple fault, such as a burnt out socket or a failed breaker, where the parts are to hand.
Ask on the phone which the visit is likely to be. A good electrician will tell you honestly that they cannot be sure until they have tested, but will explain both options.
Parking and road charges in London
These are real costs that do not exist in most other cities, and they are worth asking about.
- Parking. Many inner London streets are in controlled parking zones. Outer boroughs vary more. If you have a driveway or can get a visitor permit, say so.
- Congestion Charge. It covers central London. A van entering the zone during its charging hours pays it. Check Transport for London for the current zone and hours.
- ULEZ. The Ultra Low Emission Zone covers all London boroughs. Newer vans generally meet its standards. Some older diesel vans do not.
Some firms build these into the call out. Some add them as a line on the bill. Neither is wrong, as long as you are told before the visit.
What to ask before anyone sets off
- What does the call out charge include? Is any labour included?
- How is time charged after that?
- Are parts, parking and road charges extra?
- Is the price different if the visit is only to make safe?
- Will I get the repair price before you start the work?
- Are you registered with a competent person scheme? You can check the answer on the scheme’s online register.
Write the answers down. If you get a text or email confirming them, keep it.
Do you need an emergency visit at all?
Some faults need someone tonight. Others can be made safe by you, by leaving one circuit off, and booked for the morning.
Call someone now if:
- there is a burning smell, smoke, heat or sparking
- someone has had a shock (call 999 first if they are hurt; NHS inform says not to touch them until the power is off)
- water is coming into light fittings or the consumer unit
- the whole home is off, it is not a power cut, and someone relies on powered medical equipment or heating
It can usually wait if one circuit trips, everything else works, and there is no smell or heat. Our guide to what counts as an electrical emergency goes through more examples.
Check it is not a power cut first
Before you pay for anyone, check whether the problem is the network. If your neighbours are off too, or the street lights are out, it is probably a power cut. Call 105, which connects you to the right network operator for your postcode. Across most of London that is UK Power Networks. In Ealing and Hounslow it is SSEN, according to the Mayor’s answer to the London Assembly. Power cuts on the network are not your cost.
Local detail matters
A call out in a Croydon semi with a driveway is a different job from one in a top floor Hackney flat with no lift and controlled parking. Tell the electrician your postcode, the type of home and where the consumer unit is. It helps them give you a fair idea before they leave. Our Croydon page and other area pages describe the local housing and typical faults.
Our emergency electrician page explains how a call out runs from first message to finished job.
Quick questions
Why is an emergency call out more than a booked visit?
An electrician who comes out at night or at the weekend has dropped other work or given up time off. Most firms charge more for that, and the price often changes with the hour and the day.
Does the call out charge include the repair?
It varies. Some firms include a set amount of labour, others charge the call out and then the work on top. Ask before the visit, so there are no surprises.
Will I pay for parking?
Some firms pass on parking costs, especially where only pay and display bays are available. In central London the Congestion Charge may apply to a van. Ask how they handle it.
Can I wait until morning to save money?
Often yes, if the fault can be made safe by leaving one circuit off. If there is a burning smell, heat, sparking or no power to medical equipment, do not wait.
Last updated 23 October 2026. Written for homes in London. Rules can change, so check the linked sources for the latest position.