What Happens If Your Electrician Goes Out of Business?

It's not something most people think about when they hire a tradesperson — but it happens more than you'd expect, especially in uncertain economic times. You've booked work, maybe even paid a deposit, and then you try to get in touch and find the number's disconnected, the website's gone, and the company no longer exists.

Or perhaps you had work done recently and now realise you need to follow something up — a certificate you never received, a job that wasn't quite finished, or a query about the work that was done.

Here's exactly what you need to know.

Are Your Certificates Still Valid?

This is the question I get asked most often in this situation, and the answer is reassuring: yes, they are.

Think of an electrical certificate like a car's MOT certificate. The garage that issued it doesn't need to still be trading for the certificate to remain valid — it records what was inspected and the result at that point in time. An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) or Installation Certificate is exactly the same. Keep it safe, store a digital copy somewhere you can find it, and it remains a valid record of your installation's condition on the date it was issued.

What changes is who you'd contact if you had a question about the work. The answer there is: another qualified electrician can review any previous work and either sign off on it or identify anything that needs addressing.

What If the Work Was Unfinished?

This is more complicated, and the most important thing is to assess whether the unfinished installation is safe.

Once it's safe, document everything. Take photos of the work as it stands before anyone touches it. This protects you if there's any later dispute about what was and wasn't done.

A new electrician can then assess what's been completed, what still needs doing, and — crucially — whether anything that was done needs correcting. Not all unfinished work is dangerous, but some of it can be. Having it assessed properly gives you a clear picture.

Can You Get Your Money Back?

This depends on how you paid and what stage the insolvency is at.

Paid by credit card? You may be able to make a Section 75 claim through your card provider for services that weren't delivered. This applies to transactions over £100 and is one of the stronger consumer protections available. Call your card provider and explain the situation.

Paid by debit card? A chargeback request may be possible through your bank, though the rules are less straightforward than Section 75. It's worth asking.

Paid by bank transfer or cash? Unfortunately this is the hardest route. If the company enters formal liquidation, you can register as a creditor — but unsecured creditors (which most customers are) typically receive very little, if anything, once secured creditors and HMRC have been paid. Think of it like a queue at a closing-down sale — you're at the back, and the shelves may already be empty.

One thing worth knowing: if you still have an unpaid invoice from a company that has since dissolved, you're generally not legally required to pay it. The debt effectively has no one to collect it. If you're unsure, it's worth getting brief legal advice before paying anything.

What About the NICEIC Complaints Route?

This is where being a customer of an NICEIC or NAPIT approved contractor matters — even after they've closed.

Both schemes have a complaints process that can, in certain circumstances, lead to a formal investigation and remedial work being carried out by another approved contractor at no cost to you. The schemes exist precisely because electrical work carries a safety risk, and that risk doesn't disappear when the company does.

If your electrician was NICEIC approved, contact NICEIC directly at niceic.com and explain the situation. They'll advise on whether a formal complaint is appropriate and what steps to take. This route is most relevant where safety is a concern — not just inconvenience.

How to Protect Yourself Next Time

The simplest protection is choosing an approved contractor in the first place. Here's why that matters more than most people realise.

Anyone can call themselves an electrician. There's no legal requirement to be registered or approved to do most electrical work in a domestic setting — which is a sobering fact. An NICEIC Approved Contractor has been assessed on technical competence, their work has been inspected, and they're subject to ongoing monitoring. If something goes wrong, there's a formal route to address it.

I'm an NICEIC Approved Contractor — you can verify that on their website right now. I mention it not to blow my own trumpet, but because it's a meaningful distinction that's worth understanding. It means someone independent has assessed my work and continues to do so.

A Word on Certificates and Property Transactions

If you're selling a property and the electrician who did previous work has since closed, you may be asked to provide evidence of the installation by a buyer's solicitor. Your existing certificates are still valid documents — present them as you would any other building record.

If there's a gap — work was done but you never received a certificate, which sometimes happens — a new EICR will give a current picture of the installation's condition. It won't retrospectively certify the earlier work, but it does demonstrate due diligence and gives buyers confidence. In most cases, that's what they actually need.

The Bottom Line

Having a contractor go out of business is stressful, especially if you're mid-job or you've just realised you're missing paperwork. But it's not always as catastrophic as it feels in the moment.

Your certificates are still valid. Your safety options exist. And if you need someone to come and assess or complete work, I'm based in York and I'm straightforward about what I find and what it'll cost to put right.

That's just how I work.

— Frankie, Bright Sparks of York