Electrical inspections · Portugal
Electrical inspections for property in Portugal
An independent assessment of accessible electrical components and agreed installation tests, with measured findings, limitations and recommended actions explained clearly.
Why it matters
Understand the installation you are buying
Electrical installations vary in age, design, alterations and condition. Two properties built in the same decade can have entirely different arrangements depending on what has been added, altered or replaced since.
We identify the accessible equipment and supply arrangements, perform the agreed tests where safe and practical, and report limitations rather than assume the installation is suitable from its appearance.
What matters is the installation in front of us rather than what is typical for the country or the decade, and that is why the scope is set for each property.
The testing
What can be tested depends on the installation
No two installations are the same. Age, the original design, every alteration made since, and what is safely accessible on the day all decide what can usefully be measured and what cannot.
That is why we do not publish a fixed list of tests. We agree the scope for your property when we quote, carry out what was agreed where it is safe and practical to do so, and record the method, the results and anything that could not be assessed.
Tell us when you enquire if you need a particular test. We will discuss its suitability and the information or access needed before confirming the scope.
The board
What we look at in the quadro
The consumer unit is inspected as well as tested, within the agreed scope. We record the accessible devices and their ratings, how the circuits are labelled, whether the labelling appears to match what the circuits feed, and what spare capacity is present.
Where markings are legible, we record the RCD type and rating. Suitability for the connected equipment may require further review, particularly where an installation has been altered or additional systems such as solar generation, heat pumps or vehicle charging have been fitted.
Where a board cannot be safely opened, or where isolation is not permitted at the time of the visit, that limitation is recorded rather than worked around.
Findings
What we commonly find
We explain the significance of the findings identified within scope and prioritise recommended actions. Any concern requiring urgent attention or further specialist testing is stated clearly.
Be clear about this
What this is, and what it is not
This report is a condition assessment, not a statutory electrical certificate or approval. We assess the accessible installation, carry out the agreed tests, record what we find, and explain what it means and what we recommend doing about it. It is written for you, and it is the document you use to discuss the property, to budget, or to brief an electrician.
Where a connection, alteration or other process requires formal documentation, the applicable requirements and authorised provider must be confirmed separately.
We say this plainly because the boundary matters. Knowing which document you actually need is often the most useful thing we can tell you before you appoint anybody.
Timing
When it matters most
Before you buy — within a pre-purchase inspection where it is included, or as a dedicated assessment where the electrical installation is your specific concern. Work to an installation in an occupied property is disruptive, and it is better understood before the price is agreed than after.
It is also worth considering on a property you already own if you are planning to add significant load — an induction hob, air conditioning, a heat pump, a pool, solar and battery storage, or vehicle charging — or if something has started tripping and the cause has not been established.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as an electrical certificate?
No. This is a condition assessment within an agreed scope. Any statutory inspection, certificate or declaration required for the installation is a separate matter and should be confirmed with the appropriate authorised provider.
My RCD did not trip during the test. Is it broken?
Not necessarily. The result must be interpreted against the RCD’s rating, type, test settings and the circuit arrangement. Further checks may be needed before concluding that the device is faulty or that the required protection is absent.
Do you carry out the remedial work?
No. The report is written so that a competent electrician can pick it up and quote from it.
Can this be done as part of a full inspection?
Electrical checks can form part of a pre-purchase inspection, but the extent of testing is confirmed in the quotation. A dedicated electrical assessment may be appropriate where a more detailed investigation is required.
Find out what is behind the board door
Send the property address or listing and tell us what you want to know about the installation. We will confirm the scope that fits and provide a quotation.