Electrical Inspections Christchurch

An electrical inspection tells you whether a home's wiring, switchboard and protection are safe, what is old, and what will probably need money spent on it. It is most useful before you buy, when you inherit an older house, before you let a property, and when something feels wrong but nothing has failed yet.

In Christchurch there is one more reason. Many homes have been repaired or partly rebuilt since the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes, and the wiring history of a repaired house is often hard to read from the outside. This page explains what we check, what goes in the report, and how certificates fit in. If you already have a fault, such as an RCD that keeps tripping, our electrical repairs page is the better place to start.

Pricing: a free quote and a fixed price agreed before we start. You get a written, itemised quote, and small jobs can be quoted from photos.

Only need smoke alarms checked or installed for a rental or a sale? See smoke alarm installation.

Checking portable appliances and leads at a workplace rather than the fixed wiring? See test and tag.

Electrical Inspections by Cheeky's Electrical in Christchurch

Pre-purchase electrical inspections

A general building inspection usually notes obvious electrical issues, but it does not test the installation. WorkSafe advises getting a licensed electrician or inspector to check that all installations, outbuildings and electrical equipment are electrically safe before you buy, and to ask the vendor about past electrical work and sight all Certificates of Compliance.

We work to your settlement timeline. The report tells you what is safe, what is old but serviceable, and what needs attention, with rough priorities so you can factor the cost into your offer or ask the vendor to fix it before settlement.

Buying a quake-repaired home

About 67,000 homes went through the Canterbury Home Repair Programme, and many more were repaired through private insurers or rebuilt on land classed as TC2 or TC3 with enhanced or engineered foundations. Where floors were relevelled, walls relined or chimneys removed, cables and fittings nearby may have been disturbed, extended or reconnected.

That does not mean a repaired house has an electrical fault, and most will not. It does mean the paperwork matters. Ask the vendor for Certificates of Compliance for any electrical work done during repairs, and let us test what is there. We pay particular attention to circuits that run through repaired areas and to any wiring around the old chimney position. In suburbs with a lot of earthquake repair history, such as Burwood, New Brighton, Sumner, Cashmere and Kaiapoi, it is especially worth doing.

How It Works

Book and tell us the purpose: purchase, rental, renovation or peace of mind

Inspection and testing on site, with access to ceiling and subfloor where possible

Written report with photos and priorities

Optional fixed prices for any recommended work

What we check

We open and inspect the switchboard, test RCD trip times, check the main earth and bonding, sample insulation resistance on circuits, and look at cable types in the ceiling space and under the floor where access allows. We check sockets, switches and fittings for heat damage, and look at outbuildings, outdoor outlets, the hot water cylinder connection, and any heat pump or EV charger circuits.

We also look at how the house is heated. Under Environment Canterbury's Clean Air rules, low-emission burners in the Christchurch Clean Air Zone become non-compliant 20 years after installation, and ECan's Solid Fuel Burner Database shows a burner's replacement date. If the burner is near the end of its life, the report notes whether the switchboard has room for the electric heating likely to replace it.

Switchboard condition, fuses or breakers, labelling
RCD presence and trip testing
Main earth and bonding
Cable type and insulation condition
Sockets, switches and fittings for heat or damage
Smoke alarms, outbuildings and outdoor circuits

Certificates explained

A Certificate of Compliance (CoC) is what an electrician issues for fixed wiring work, including new power points. WorkSafe says it shows the work was done by a licensed electrician, meets the safety standards set by law, and has been tested. It is not issued for maintenance, such as swapping a socket or light fitting.

An Electrical Safety Certificate is different. Under the Electricity (Safety) Regulations, the person who did the work issues it once the installation is connected and they are satisfied it is safe to use. Work on the main switchboard, main cable and main earth must also be inspected by a licensed electrical inspector, and WorkSafe advises keeping that record with your other certificates. Do not confuse any of these with a building Code Compliance Certificate, which comes from the council.

Old wiring and missing RCDs

In older bungalows and pre-1970s brick homes, the main concern is rubber insulated cable that has gone brittle and can expose live conductors. We check reachable cable runs and test insulation to show whether it is breaking down. If it is, the report says so plainly and explains the rewiring options.

Many older homes have RCDs on power circuits only, or none at all. No rule forces a safe existing installation to add them, but RCDs cut the supply when current leaks to earth and are one of the most effective safety upgrades you can make. We note where they are missing.

Your report, and checks between inspections

You receive a written report with photos, sorted into three groups: unsafe and needing attention now, worth planning for, and fine as it is. Each item has a short plain English explanation and, if you want it, a fixed price to fix it, with no obligation to use us. Landlords can have us check smoke alarm positions and types on the same visit.

Between inspections, watch for WorkSafe's warning signs: hot or scorched plugs and sockets, fuses that blow or breakers that trip for no reason, and flickering lights. Press the test button on your RCDs now and then; the protected circuits should switch off. Before hiring any electrician or inspector, you can check their licence on the Electrical Workers Registration Board's public register.

Why Choose Cheeky's Electrical for Electrical Inspections

Tested, not just looked at

Insulation, RCD and earth tests, not a torch and a guess.

Plain English report

Photos and three clear priority groups, so you know what matters and what can wait.

Settlement timelines

We book around your due diligence dates and send the report promptly.

No pressure to fix

Prices are there if you want them. You are free to use any licensed electrician.

Electrical Inspections FAQs

Does a building inspection cover the electrics?

Usually only visually. A building inspector does not test the installation. An electrical inspection tests the switchboard, RCDs, earthing and wiring.

Should I get an electrical inspection on a quake-repaired house?

It is worth it, especially if the repairs involved floors, walls, ceilings or a chimney. Ask the vendor for any Certificates of Compliance from the repair work, and we test what is there.

Should I ask the vendor for CoCs?

Yes. WorkSafe advises asking the vendor about past electrical work and sighting all Certificates of Compliance before you buy.

Do older homes have to meet current standards?

No. Existing installations can continue and be repaired as long as they are not unsafe. Only new or altered work must meet the current standard.

How long does an inspection take?

It depends on the size and age of the house and access to the ceiling space and subfloor. We confirm the expected time when you book.

How do I check an electrician is licensed?

Ask to see their practising licence and check the expiry date, or search the Electrical Workers Registration Board's public register.

Electrical Inspections Across Christchurch

We cover every region: Central Christchurch, North Christchurch, East and Coastal Christchurch, South Christchurch and Port Hills, West Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri.

Related Electrical Services

Electrical Inspections Guides

See the electrician prices guide or every service we offer.

Sources and further reading