Where to find reviews for UK electrical installation companies and what to look out for

Where to find reviews for electrical installation companies in the UK

You can find reviews for UK electrical installation companies on Google Business Profile, Trustpilot, Checkatrade, TrustMark, Which? Trusted Traders, NICEIC, NAPIT, ECA listings, local council trader schemes, Yell and local Facebook groups. For EV chargers, solar, battery storage or commercial projects, do not rely on reviews alone. Check registration, insurance, relevant experience, certification, quote detail and aftercare before choosing an installer. Reviews are best used as an early filter. They can tell you a lot about communication, punctuality, tidiness and aftercare, but they do not prove electrical competence. A company can have a strong star rating and still be weak on design, documentation, product suitability, testing or the specific requirements of your property. For homeowners, a sensible route is to start with local Google reviews, then verify the company through a relevant registration body such as NICEIC or NAPIT. For small businesses, reviews should be combined with commercial references, risk assessments, method statements, insurance checks and a properly scoped written quotation.

The best review sources to check first

Google Business Profile is often the most useful starting point because it shows local reviews, recent customer comments, photos and how the company responds to complaints. Search for phrases such as electrician reviews near me, EV charger installer reviews, commercial electrician near me, or NICEIC electrician near me, then add your town, city or postcode.

Trustpilot can be helpful for larger regional or national installation companies, especially where the business handles EV chargers, renewables or multi-site work. It may be less useful for small local electricians who rely more on word of mouth, repeat customers and Google reviews.

Checkatrade, Which? Trusted Traders and TrustMark can help you find reviewed or assessed tradespeople, but they should not be treated as a complete competence check. A listing on a review or trader platform does not automatically mean the installer is suitable for every type of electrical work. For electrical competence, use registration and industry bodies as verification sources rather than simple review sites. NICEIC and NAPIT are common places to check registered electricians and competent person scheme membership. ECA membership can be useful for commercial projects. MCS and RECC are relevant where the work involves solar PV, battery storage or other renewable energy systems. Local council approved trader schemes, Trading Standards-backed schemes and word-of-mouth recommendations can also be useful, particularly for smaller domestic jobs. Treat social media recommendations as leads, not proof. Before booking, verify the exact business name, trading address, insurance and registration details.

What to look for in the reviews

The most useful reviews describe the actual job and how the installer handled it. A review saying “great service” is less helpful than one explaining that the company assessed the supply, gave a clear quote, turned up on time, issued certificates and resolved a problem quickly.

For domestic electrical work, look for comments about tidiness, disruption, certification, quote accuracy and whether the installer explained the work clearly. For EV charger installation, useful reviews may mention the charger model, cable route, app setup, load balancing, DNO delays or whether the installer explained how to isolate and use the charger.

For small businesses, pay close attention to reviews that mention working around opening hours, power shutdown planning, RAMS, insurance paperwork, landlord coordination, distribution board labelling and handover documents. A company with excellent domestic reviews may still be the wrong choice for a shop, office, workshop, warehouse or hospitality site. Strong review patterns include:

• Recent feedback from similar jobs.
• Clear comments about certificates being supplied.
• Evidence of good communication before and after installation.
• Consistent praise for punctuality and tidy work.
• Sensible responses to negative reviews.
• Reviews that mention the type of property, equipment or installation.

Weak review patterns include repeated complaints about missed appointments, unclear costs, certificates not being provided, poor aftercare or unsafe-looking work. One bad review is not always decisive, especially for a larger company, but repeated complaints about the same issue should be treated seriously.

How to check an electrical installation company beyond reviews

Once you have a shortlist, move from opinion to evidence. Online reviews should only be the first filter. Electrical installation work in the UK must be designed, installed, inspected and tested correctly. Domestic work in England and Wales may also be notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations, depending on the job. Scotland and Northern Ireland use different building control systems, so the correct route depends on your location and project type.

Before you accept a quote, check whether the installer is registered for the type of work being offered. NICEIC and NAPIT registration are commonly used for domestic electrical work and competent person scheme notification. MCS certification is important for many solar PV and battery projects, particularly where export tariffs, warranties or renewable consumer protections may be relevant.

Ask for evidence rather than relying on website claims. The name on the quote should match the business you checked, not just a similar trading name. Companies House can confirm whether a limited company exists and how long it has traded, although registration there does not prove electrical competence. You should normally ask for: Registration details for the relevant scheme. Public liability insurance evidence. A written quotation with scope and exclusions. Electrical certificates after the work. Product warranty and workmanship warranty terms. DNO application or notification details if needed. For commercial premises, also ask about employers’ liability insurance if the contractor has employees, professional indemnity insurance where design is included, and health and safety accreditations where your site requires them. Accreditations such as CHAS, SafeContractor or Constructionline can support procurement checks, but they do not replace electrical competence. Building control notification details where required. Confirmation of who will carry out the work, not only who sells it.

How small businesses should compare electrical installation providers

Small businesses should compare electrical installation providers by scope, not just headline price. A cheaper quote may exclude testing, certification, out-of-hours work, making good, DNO liaison, containment, fire stopping or commissioning records. A more expensive quote may include better project management, clearer aftercare, stronger equipment support or less disruption to trading.

Commercial electrical work can involve three-phase supplies, distribution boards, containment, emergency lighting interfaces, landlord approvals, fire compartment penetrations and work around trading hours. An installer who mainly does domestic socket changes may not be the right fit for a workplace EV charger installation or office electrical upgrade.

When comparing providers, give each company the same information. Send photos of the distribution board, meter area, proposed cable routes, parking area, access restrictions and any known issues. For higher-value work, a site survey is usually better than relying only on photos. A practical comparison should include:

• Scope

  Check whether each quote includes the same labour, equipment, testing, certification and making good.

• Aftercare

  Clarify call-out charges, warranty handling, maintenance options and response times.

• Paperwork

  Request RAMS, insurance, certificates, commissioning records and as-fitted information where relevant.

• Competence

  Confirm the installer has experience with your type of site and electrical system.

• Disruption

  Ask how shutdowns, access, alarms, tills, servers, refrigeration or machinery will be managed.

• Accountability

  Check who is responsible for design, installation, commissioning and warranty support.

If your business is planning EV chargers, ask whether the installer will assess maximum demand, check the earthing arrangement, consider load management and contact the Distribution Network Operator where required. The DNO manages the local electricity network and is not the same as your energy supplier.

Extra checks for EV charger installers

EV charger installation is not just a matter of fitting a box to a wall. The installer should assess the electrical supply, consumer unit or distribution board, earthing arrangement, available capacity, cable route, protective devices and whether DNO notification or approval is needed.

A typical UK home EV charger is often installed on a single-phase supply, while many commercial premises have three-phase supplies that can support higher-capacity AC charging. However, a higher-rated charger is not automatically better. Many vehicles cannot use 22 kW AC charging at full speed, and the site supply may limit what can be installed safely.

Reviews for EV charger companies are most useful when they mention practical details such as load balancing, app setup, Wi-Fi reliability, charger handover, DNO delays and how the installer dealt with unexpected issues. Poor Wi-Fi, weak mobile signal or incompatible smart settings can cause problems even when the electrical installation itself is sound. For workplace chargers, check whether the installer understands parking layout, cable protection, trip hazards, bay marking, signage and whether the chargers will be private, staff-only, visitor-facing or public. Public chargepoints can involve additional requirements, so the intended use matters. Ask an EV charger installer: Whether they have installed the same charger model before. Whether the charger is suitable for UK smart charging requirements. Whether open PEN fault protection or another suitable protective arrangement is needed. Whether dynamic load balancing is recommended. Whether they will test the charger before leaving. Whether they will explain isolation, app setup and basic fault steps. If the property has a limited main fuse, old consumer unit, long cable route, flat entrance, leasehold parking space or listed building constraints, the installation may need more design work and permissions than a standard quote assumes. Whether they will handle DNO notification or approval where required. Whether the quote includes any remedial electrical work needed before installation.

Warning signs when reading reviews and quotes

Reviews can be fake, incomplete or misleading. Warning signs include many reviews posted on the same day, repeated wording, reviewers with no other history, only vague five-star comments, or no mention of the actual work completed. Photos can help show neatness, but neat cable routing does not prove electrical safety.

The company’s response to negative reviews can be informative. A clear response explaining what happened and how the issue was resolved is usually more reassuring than a defensive or vague reply. For larger companies, a few negative reviews are normal; the pattern matters more than a single rating.

Treat these as warning signs:

• Refusing to provide evidence of insurance.
• Refusing to provide electrical certification.
• Asking for full payment upfront without a clear reason.
• Giving only a vague verbal estimate.
• Avoiding questions about registration or scheme membership.
• Excluding testing or certification from the quote.

Deposits can be normal where equipment must be ordered, but large upfront payments should be approached carefully. A written quote is safer than a verbal estimate because it should define the scope, equipment, VAT position, payment stages, warranty terms and exclusions. Using cash-only payment pressure. Being unclear about who handles warranty claims. Pressuring you to decide immediately before you can check details. Claiming registration or certification but not providing verifiable details.

What paperwork should you receive after the work

After electrical installation work, the contractor should provide the appropriate electrical certificate for the work completed. This may be an Electrical Installation Certificate or a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate, depending on the job. An EICR is different; it is a condition report on an existing installation, not a certificate for newly installed work.

For notifiable domestic work in England and Wales, building control notification may also be required. Competent person scheme registration can allow some installers to self-certify certain types of work, but you should still check that the notification is completed where needed.

For businesses, paperwork may be needed for insurance, landlord files, health and safety records and future maintenance. Commercial projects may also require commissioning records, updated distribution board schedules, as-fitted drawings, RAMS and equipment manuals. Keep copies of: The accepted quotation. Electrical certificates. Building control notification where applicable. Product warranty documents. Workmanship warranty details. DNO correspondence where relevant. If a contractor repeatedly delays or avoids providing certificates, treat that seriously. Certification is part of a properly completed electrical installation, not an optional extra. Handover documents and manuals. Commissioning records for EV chargers, solar PV, batteries or commercial equipment. Updated schedules, labels or drawings where provided.

A practical way to choose with confidence

Start with reviews, but make the final decision using evidence. Shortlist two or three companies with recent reviews for similar work, then check registration, insurance, quote detail, experience and aftercare. For small businesses, add commercial references and paperwork checks before appointing anyone.

The right installer depends on your property, supply capacity, job complexity, budget, location and future plans. A sole trader may be ideal for a small domestic repair. A larger contractor may be better for multi-site business work, tight deadlines or projects involving EV charging, renewables, distribution upgrades or out-of-hours working.

For EV chargers and more complex electrical projects, avoid choosing purely on the cheapest price or highest star rating. The better choice is usually the provider who surveys properly, explains constraints clearly, includes testing and certification, and is realistic about permissions, DNO involvement and timescales. If you are still comparing providers, bookmark this checklist and use it while reading reviews and quotes. It can help you separate good marketing from genuine electrical competence.