Emergency electrician in Croydon

Victorian and Edwardian terraces in CR0 and CR7 have almost always been rewired, but often in stages. A kitchen extension wired in the 1990s, a loft conversion in the 2000s and original 1970s circuits can all feed from one consumer unit. Faults tend to appear where these meet. When a new consumer unit with full RCD protection goes into one of these houses, old leaks to earth that the fuse box never noticed can start tripping it. That is a reason to test before the board is changed, not a sign the new board is faulty. Many of these terraces are also split into flats, with meters in the hall and a landlord supply for the communal light.

Central Croydon has many blocks where the building owner, a managing agent and individual flat owners each look after different parts of the electrics. If your flat is off but the corridor lights are on, the problem is usually inside your flat or at your meter. If the corridor and lift are off as well, contact the managing agent and check the UK Power Networks power cut map. Meter cupboards in these blocks are often locked, so it helps to know who holds the key before you need it.

In some of these blocks the consumer unit inside each flat was fitted when the building was converted, and the meters sit in a cupboard on each floor or in a ground floor room.

With a large rental market, Croydon landlords need an EICR at least every 5 years under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. Tenants must get a copy within 28 days of the inspection, and urgent repairs must be done within 28 days. Councils can fine up to £40,000, according to the government guidance. See our EICR page for what the codes mean.

For a power cut affecting the street, call 105 or check the UK Power Networks map. For a fault in your home, an electrician. For communal lights or a lift in a block, the managing agent. Building control for notifiable work, such as a new consumer unit, is run by the London Borough of Croydon, though most registered electricians self certify through their competent person scheme. Typical problems in the borough include tripping in old terraces, no power in flats where the meter cupboard is locked, and burning smells from overloaded sockets in winter.