Electrical survey in Bordeaux

Report on the indoor electrical installation, so you can sell or let safely.

The electrical survey, or report on the indoor electrical installation, identifies faults that create a risk of electric shock or fire. It covers the installation after the meter: consumer unit, protective devices, sockets, lighting and bathroom.

In Bordeaux and the Gironde, many older homes still have partly original wiring. CBDI, a property survey firm based in Mérignac, carries out your electrical survey within 24/48 hours across the Bordeaux metropolitan area, the Médoc, the Arcachon Basin, the Graves and the Libournais. You receive the report within 48 hours.

When is an electrical survey required?

An electrical survey is mandatory when the installation is more than 15 years old. For a sale, it is part of the technical survey file given to the buyer. For a letting, it is attached to the tenancy agreement, whether the home is let furnished or unfurnished.

The age of the installation is counted from when it was installed or from its last documented full renovation. If it was completely rewired less than 15 years ago, keep the evidence, such as the certificate of compliance endorsed by Consuel.

What we check during the visit

The surveyor checks for a main switch and protective device, a residual current device suited to the earth connection, and overcurrent protection matched to cable sizes. They measure the resistance of the earth electrode.

They check equipotential bonding and the specific rules for bathrooms, and look for outdated or unsuitable equipment, unprotected conductors and accessible live parts. The inspection is visual with no dismantling, but a brief power cut is needed to test the RCDs.

How long is an electrical survey valid?

For a sale, the electrical survey is valid for 3 years. For a letting, it is valid for 6 years. The report must still be valid on the day the deed of sale or tenancy agreement is signed.

A survey carried out for a letting can be used for a sale if it is less than 3 years old. After major work on the installation, a new survey gives a more accurate picture of its condition.

Bordeaux and Gironde buildings concerned

Bordeaux échoppes and stone buildings in the Chartrons, La Bastide or Caudéran have often been renovated in stages: a new consumer unit but old circuits, unearthed sockets, shower rooms squeezed into small spaces. Houses from the 1950s to the 1990s in Mérignac, Pessac, Talence and Bègles sometimes keep their original installation.

Right-bank housing, villas around the Basin and timber houses in the Médoc, in Lacanau, Carcans or Hourtin, are also concerned. In holiday homes exposed to sea air and rarely heated, damp wears equipment out faster. Wine estates often add converted outbuildings.

Quotes and timescales with CBDI

The price depends on the size of the home and the other surveys carried out at the same time. Your free quote arrives within 24 hours. Call +33 6 98 13 41 53 or ask for a call-back.

Our surveyors are Qualixpert-certified and insured. Our office is at 26 avenue de Bellefort in Mérignac. We visit within 24/48 hours in Bordeaux and the Gironde, and send the report within 48 hours.

Frequently asked questions : electrical survey

Does the power need to be on during the visit?

Yes. The installation must be live so the surveyor can measure the earth connection and test the residual current devices. These tests cause a brief power cut, so think about sensitive equipment such as a computer that is switched on. In a holiday home, check before we arrive that the electricity contract is active and the main breaker is on.

Who pays for the electrical survey?

The owner. For a sale, the seller includes it in the technical survey file. For a letting, the landlord attaches it to the tenancy agreement, whether the home is let furnished or unfurnished. The electrical survey is usually carried out during the same visit as the gas, asbestos, lead or DPE surveys.

Do I have to carry out works if faults are found?

For a sale, no: the report informs the buyer, who knows what to expect and can price the works. For a letting, the home must meet decent housing standards, which means an electrical installation that is safe for the tenant. Serious faults must therefore be fixed by an electrician before the home is let.

How long does the electrical survey take?

It depends on the size of the home, the number of circuits and access to the consumer unit. A studio is quicker to check than a house with a garage and outbuildings. The surveyor needs access to the consumer unit, the sockets and the light fittings in every room. Please clear access to the consumer unit before we arrive.

Can the electrician who rewired my home carry out the survey?

No. The electrical survey must be carried out by a certified, insured surveyor who is independent of any firm that might carry out the works. However, the certificate of compliance issued after a full rewire proves the age of the installation. As long as it is less than 15 years old, that document exempts you from the survey.

Electrical survey : where do we work?

In Bordeaux, across the metropolitan area and in the Médoc, from Lacanau to the Pointe de Grave.

Our other surveys in Bordeaux