Faults and urgent repairs
Power cuts to part of the house, a trip switch that keeps going off, sockets or switches that spark or feel warm, and fault finding.
Electricians in Reading
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Rewiring and fuse box upgrades
Full and partial rewires, consumer unit replacements with modern RCD protection, extra sockets, new lighting circuits and EV chargers.
Safety checks and certificates
Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs) for homeowners, buyers and landlords, and certificates for new work.
Electrical work is not something to DIY. Use a registered electrician who can test the work and give you a certificate. Most new circuits, consumer unit replacements and work in bathrooms are notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations. An electrician registered with a competent person scheme can sign the work off for you, and you can check their registration on the Electrical Competent Person register before they start.
Reading’s housing is older than average: about a quarter of homes in the borough were built before 1919. Many were rewired decades ago, and some haven’t been fully updated since. Signs that your wiring needs checking include an old fuse box with rewirable fuses, and sockets or light switches with black or brown bakelite fronts. Other warning signs are round-pin sockets, scorch marks, a burning smell, or a trip switch that keeps going off. An Electrical Installation Condition Report, or EICR, is the best starting point. The electrician tests each circuit and tells you what, if anything, needs doing, graded by urgency.
Renting shapes a lot of electrical work in Reading. Around a third of households here rent privately, and landlords in England must have the electrics in rented homes inspected at least every five years and give tenants a copy of the report. Reading Borough Council has also run borough-wide additional HMO licensing since March 2026, so many shared-house landlords need their electrical paperwork in order. If you’re buying one of Reading’s Victorian terraces or 1930s semis, an EICR before you move in helps you budget for any rewiring while the house is empty.
Other common jobs include:
- Consumer unit upgrades to modern boards with RCD protection.
- Extra sockets for home working.
- Outdoor lighting.
- EV chargers. Many of Reading’s terraced streets have no driveways, so check you have off-street parking before paying for a survey.
When you compare quotes, check whether testing and certification are included, and how any extra faults found during the job will be priced. For a rewire, ask who will do the plastering and making good afterwards. Reviews on Trade Pilot come from real, invoiced jobs, so you can see the work an electrician has actually completed.
Typical prices
| Job | Typical UK range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| EICR, 2–3 bed house | £150–£300 | Any repairs found are quoted separately |
| Consumer unit replacement | £450–£850 | More for boards with RCBOs or if faults are found |
| Add a double socket | £80–£180 | More for long cable runs or chasing into plaster |
| Full rewire, 3-bed house | £4,500–£9,000 | Plastering and redecorating are usually extra |
| EV charger, installed | £800–£1,300 | Depends on the cable run and whether the consumer unit needs upgrading |
| Replace a light fitting | £60–£140 | The fitting itself is extra if you don’t supply it |
Typical UK ranges; your quotes depend on the job and access.
How it works
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Tell us about the job
Check your Reading postcode and describe what you need. Photos help.
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Up to 3 vetted local trades who cover your part of Reading can quote.
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How Trade Pilot helps you hire in Reading
Vetted local trades
We check every electrician before they can quote. Always ask to see their registration before work starts.
Reviews from real jobs
Reviews on Trade Pilot are tied to invoiced jobs, so you’re reading about work that was actually done and paid for.
Free, with no obligation
Posting a job and getting up to 3 quotes is free for homeowners. You choose who to invite round, or no one at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Post your job on Trade Pilot with your postcode, and up to 3 vetted electricians covering Reading can quote. Check their registration on the Electrical Competent Person register, and ask for a certificate when the work is done.
Hourly rates are typically £45 to £70, and day rates £300 to £480. Most small jobs are priced as a fixed amount. Berkshire prices usually sit in the upper half of UK ranges.
At least every five years, or sooner if the report says so, with a copy given to tenants. HMO landlords licensed by Reading Borough Council may also need to provide it.
If you still have rewirable fuses, or a board without RCD protection, an upgrade is usually recommended. An EICR will tell you whether it’s needed.
Warning signs include rubber or fabric-covered cable, round-pin sockets, frequent tripping, scorch marks or a burning smell. An EICR will confirm the condition of your wiring.
Don’t DIY. Use a registered electrician. Most new circuits and bathroom work must be notified under Building Regulations, and a registered electrician can do this for you.
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