Choosing help when a previous job was done badly
When electrical work has failed before, choose a certified electrician who inspects thoroughly, diagnoses properly, and takes responsibility for the final COC.
When previous electrical work has been done poorly, you're not shopping for someone to start fresh—you're looking for someone who can diagnose what went wrong, fix it properly, and restore compliance. That's a narrower brief than a straightforward installation, and it changes what you should prioritize. The tension here is real: the cheapest option might patch the problem, but you need someone who will stand by what they've found and fixed, especially if you're heading toward a property sale or just want to sleep safely.
Reading the work that came before
Before you get quotes, understand what you're dealing with. Electrical problems are rarely simple—poor work might mean loose connections, incorrect wire sizing, inadequate earthing, circuits that aren't properly segregated, or materials that aren't rated for their use. A cowboy job from years ago might still be feeding power into your house without anyone knowing it's dangerous.
Ask the previous electrician for documentation: their name, contact details, any paperwork or drawings they left. If they're unreachable or the work was done informally ("a mate helped"), be honest about that with candidates. Then get three people to look at what exists. Don't just describe the problem—let them see it. A reputable electrician will spend time on a site inspection because they need to understand the full picture before they quote. They're not guessing; they're building a mental map of what's been done, what's unsafe, and what has to be redone versus what can be salvaged.
This is where you separate someone who wants the job from someone who can actually solve it. Ask each candidate what they'd need to check, and listen to whether they ask intelligent questions back. Do they want to know what the previous electrician was trying to achieve? Are they looking for evidence of the work—photos, old receipts, notes on the board? Do they mention testing the circuits or checking for proper earthing? Someone who walks around with a checklist in their head is more trustworthy than someone who glances and quotes.
Accountability and the certificate
The sticking point with bad previous work is that you need the fixed work certified. A compliance certificate (COC) is not just paperwork for selling—it's your proof that someone has checked the installation, found it safe, and is willing to vouch for it. If the fix fails or causes a problem later, that certificate ties the electrician to their workmanship.
Before you commit, clarify exactly what they will certify. Will they only certify the new work they do, or will they sign off on the entire installation once it's corrected? Some electricians will only certify what they personally install; others will inspect the whole lot, remediate the problems, and issue a COC for the circuit or the whole house. For a bad previous job, you want the second kind—someone willing to take responsibility for the final state of the electrical system, not just the patch they added.
Verify they can actually issue a COC. Not every electrician is registered to do so; ask for their registration number with the relevant body and confirm it. A COC from an unregistered person is worthless if you're selling or if an insurer ever investigates a claim.
Get the quote in writing and make sure it specifies:
- What they will inspect
- What they expect to find and fix
- Whether the COC covers the whole installation or just their work
- What happens if they uncover more damage than expected
The last point matters. Sometimes stripping out old work reveals worse problems underneath. You want clarity on whether they'll contact you before escalating costs or just proceed.
On Strove, you can find electricians with verified qualifications and read reviews from people who've had them fix problems rather than start from scratch. Look for someone who's been rated on their ability to diagnose and explain what they found—that's the skill you need right now.
Common questions
- Should I go back to whoever did the original faulty work?
- Only if you can reach them, they acknowledge the problem, and they're willing to inspect and issue a new COC. In most cases with genuinely poor work, the original tradesperson may be unreachable, uninsured, or unwilling to take liability. A fresh set of eyes from a registered electrician is usually safer and gives you a clear new certificate.
- What if the new electrician says they can only certify their own work, not the whole installation?
- That's common, but it leaves you partly uncertified. If you're selling, you may need a COC for the entire electrical installation. Ask upfront whether they'll do a full inspection and remediation, or whether they can recommend someone who will certify the completed job once their work is done.
- How much should I budget for fixing bad electrical work?
- That depends entirely on what's wrong. Get three written quotes that spell out what they'll inspect and what they expect to remediate. The quotes may differ if they've identified different problems, so compare what each one includes, not just the price. Don't go with the lowest quote if it skips a thorough inspection.
- What questions should I ask about their inspection process?
- Ask how long the inspection will take, what tools they'll use (multimeter, circuit tester, etc.), whether they'll check earthing and bonding, and how they'll report their findings. A solid electrician will walk you through what they've found and explain what must be fixed versus what's optional.
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