Homes in Westminster and what they mean for an EICR
Westminster is a city of flats. At the 2021 Census, seven in ten households lived in a purpose-built block and one in six in a converted or shared house. Only about one household in ten lived in a house of its own.
The classic Westminster let is the mansion flat. Maida Vale is made up largely of late Victorian and Edwardian mansion blocks, and more line the streets near Baker Street. Many of these flats have been rewired at least once, often in stages, so an inspection can find a modern consumer unit feeding older circuits, or sockets added over the years. The electrician tests every circuit and checks the earthing and bonding — the connections that stop metal pipes and fittings becoming live in a fault.
Pimlico was laid out in the mid-19th century as squares and cream stucco terraces, and many houses of that kind across the city are now split into flats. Conversions often have a bank of meters in the basement or under the stairs, a separate landlord supply for the hallway, and circuits that do not always run where you would expect. Labelled boards and easy access to the meters make the visit quicker.
In mixed streets such as Soho and Marylebone, many flats sit above shops, restaurants and offices. Your report covers the installation that serves your flat, so it helps to know which meter is yours before the electrician arrives.
Letting a property in Westminster
More than four in ten Westminster households rent privately. As a private landlord in England, you must have the electrical installation inspected and tested at least every five years by a qualified person and give your tenants a copy of the report. Anything coded C1 or C2, and any further investigation the report asks for, must be dealt with within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so. Councils can fine landlords up to £40,000.
Westminster adds licensing on top. Since November 2025, most privately rented homes in 15 of the 18 wards need a selective licence, and the application asks for an EICR. Shared homes need an HMO licence anywhere in the city.
Listed buildings and access
More than three-quarters of Westminster lies in its 56 conservation areas, and many buildings are listed. An EICR only inspects and tests, so nothing about the building changes. Remedial work is different: in a listed building, check with the council's planning team before any rewiring that could affect its character. Book online or call 07301 010244, and tell us about porters, key collection and the meter cupboard key.
