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How to choose an electrician in St Albans.
Ten checks that protect you whoever you hire. Written by SEG, so we say plainly where we do well and where we may not suit.
Choosing an electrician usually happens when something has gone wrong, or when a landlord certificate is due. That is the worst time to be guessing. These are the checks we would make ourselves, and what a good answer sounds like.
10 checks before you book an electrician
1. Are they registered with a competent person scheme?
Ask which scheme (NICEIC, NAPIT and others), then look the firm up on that scheme’s own online register. Do not rely on a logo on a van or website. Registration is what allows them to certify notifiable work, such as a new consumer unit or a new circuit in a kitchen, without involving building control separately.
2. Who will actually turn up?
Ask whether the engineer is employed by the firm or is a subcontractor, and for their name. A good firm can tell you before the day. An anonymous subcontractor you have never heard of is a fair reason to ask more questions.
3. Are the engineers qualified for this specific job?
For an EICR, the person signing it should hold the current inspection and testing qualification. For new work, ask about their 18th Edition qualification and ECS card. These are quick questions and a professional will not mind them.
4. Is the firm insured?
Ask for proof of public liability insurance. A reputable firm will send a certificate without fuss.
5. Do you get a written quote that says what is and is not included?
The scope, the price, any exclusions and what happens if they find something unexpected behind a wall. Verbal prices lead to arguments. If a price is far below every other quote, ask what has been left out.
6. Will you get the right certificate?
New circuits should come with an Electrical Installation Certificate, small additions with a Minor Works certificate, and a condition report is an EICR. Notifiable work in England should also be notified under Building Regulations, usually through the firm’s scheme. Ask what you will receive and when.
7. Does an EICR include a full schedule of circuits?
A proper EICR lists every circuit with test results, and the observations are coded (C1, C2, C3 or FI). A one-page pass sheet with no circuit schedule is not the same product, whatever it costs.
8. Can you see evidence of past work?
Photographs, case studies, and reviews you can check in more than one place. Be wary of a handful of reviews all posted in the same week.
9. What happens if something goes wrong afterwards?
Ask what guarantee or remedial period applies and who you phone. A firm with a real office and a landline is easier to hold to account than a mobile number.
10. Do they communicate like a professional?
A fixed appointment time, a call or text when the engineer is on the way, and a clear answer on when the paperwork will arrive. How a firm behaves before you hire it is the best preview of what happens after.
Different kinds of firm, different trade-offs
- Sole traders and very small firms. Often good value and direct contact with the person doing the work. The trade-offs can be availability when they are ill or busy, and less capacity for large or urgent jobs. Check the scheme register and insurance as you would for anyone.
- Online directories and lead sites. Fast to use, but the firm that answers may not be the firm that attends. Ask who will come, whether they are scheme-registered, and who issues the certificate.
- A contractor with employed engineers and an office. This is how SEG works. You usually get named engineers, set processes and a single point of contact. The trade-off can be price on very small jobs.
How SEG answers the same checks
- Registration: NICEIC-registered, and a member of the ECA. Check us on the NICEIC register as you would anyone else.
- Who turns up: our engineers are employed by SEG, not anonymous subcontractors, and we give you the name of the engineer.
- Quotes: a written quote before work starts, with a clear scope.
- Appointments: a fixed slot rather than “between 8 and 6”, and a text when the engineer is on the way.
- Evidence: certificates, test results and photographs are stored against the job in our own system, SEG Command, so a landlord, agent or insurer can ask for a copy years later.
- Where we are: SEG House, 192 Watford Road, Chiswell Green, St Albans, with an office that answers the phone on 0345 3 822 833.
See the detail on EICR testing, rewires, emergency call-outs and our customer reviews.
When we may not be the right choice
We are not always the cheapest for a one-off socket or light. If you are outside Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire or North and West London, a closer firm will probably serve you better. If we are not the right fit, we will tell you on the phone. You can still use the ten checks above to pick someone good.
Questions people ask
Is every electrician registered with a competent person scheme?
No. Anyone can call themselves an electrician. Registration with a scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT is what lets a firm certify notifiable work itself, and you can check a firm on the scheme’s own online register before you book.
How often does a landlord in England need an EICR?
At least every five years, or sooner if the previous report says so. The landlord must give tenants a copy and carry out any required remedial work within 28 days. Your report may name a shorter interval.
Should an electrician give a fixed price?
Where the job can be scoped, yes: in writing, saying what is included and what is not. For fault finding the honest answer is usually a call-out and diagnosis first, then a written price for the repair.
What paperwork should I receive after electrical work?
An Electrical Installation Certificate for new circuits, a Minor Works certificate for small additions, or an EICR for a condition report. For notifiable work in England you should also get a Building Regulations compliance certificate through the electrician’s scheme or the council.
Is SEG the cheapest electrician in St Albans?
Probably not for a single socket or light fitting. We are a larger firm with employed engineers, insurance, certification and records behind every job. If lowest price is your only test, get several quotes and use the checks above on each.
Last updated 3 October 2026. Written by The Specialist Electrical Group Ltd (SEG), St Albans. Guidance is general and not legal advice.
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