Yes — mandatory under the Electrical Installation Regulations (GN R990 of 2009) under the OHS Act 85 of 1993. Your conveyancer cannot register a property transfer at the Deeds Office without a valid Electrical CoC. There are no exemptions for property age, price, or transaction type.

2 years from the date of issue — provided no changes are made to the fixed electrical installation. Any alteration (adding a socket, replacing the DB, installing an inverter) automatically invalidates the existing CoC. A property sold 18 months after the CoC was issued, with no work done, can use the existing certificate provided it remains within the 2-year window at transfer registration.

By South African legal convention, the seller is responsible for obtaining and paying for all compliance certificates. This is standard in the Agreement of Sale used by most estate agents. The parties may agree otherwise — always review the specific clauses of your sale agreement. Remediation costs are also typically the seller’s responsibility.

You receive a detailed fault report within 2 hours with every non-compliance itemised and a fixed-price remediation quote. Once repairs are completed, we re-inspect within 48 hours. Straightforward faults (RCCB fitting, DB labelling, cable protection) are often resolved within 1–2 business days. Certificate issued same day as the re-inspection pass.

Yes — any solar PV system, battery backup, or inverter hardwired to the DB board must appear on the Electrical CoC. If your system was installed after the most recent CoC, you need a new inspection and updated certificate before transfer. See our Solar CoC page for a full breakdown including SSEG grid registration.

Not necessarily. Many older Cape Town homes have been upgraded and already have RCCB protection and compliant wiring. The key factors are: (1) whether a modern DB board with earth leakage was installed, (2) whether wiring has been updated or is still original rubber-insulated cable, and (3) whether unauthorised electrical work was done. We recommend booking an inspection 3–4 weeks before your planned listing date to allow time for any remediation.

For properties that pass the first inspection, we issue the certificate the same day. Inspections are booked within 1–2 business days of your request; same-day available on request in most areas. For properties requiring remediation, the total process from booking to certificate typically takes 3–7 business days.

Yes — if the CoC is still within its 2-year validity window and no electrical work has been done since it was issued. A CoC issued during a prior transfer does not expire at transfer — it remains valid for 2 full years from its date of issue, subject to the no-alterations condition.

Yes — if permanently wired via a fixed circuit to the DB board, it must be included in the inspection. Pumps connected via a standard plug into a socket are assessed as part of the socket circuit. The circuit feeding a permanently wired pool pump must have correct overcurrent protection, RCCB protection, and earth continuity verified.

Most South African short-term insurance policies allow insurers to decline claims where the electrical installation was non-compliant at the time of loss. Without a valid Electrical CoC, your insurer may deny a fire or damage claim — even if the incident was unrelated to the specific non-compliance. Maintaining a valid CoC protects your insurance cover and demonstrates due diligence.

ECRA (Electrical Contractors Registration Authority) registers electrical contractors in South Africa. Only ECRA-registered contractors employing DoEL-licensed electricians may legally issue Electrical CoC certificates. Certificates from unregistered or unlicensed individuals are legally invalid — the transfer cannot proceed and the issuer faces criminal penalties under the OHS Act. Always request your inspector’s DoEL licence number before booking.

Yes — each individual sectional title unit requires its own Electrical CoC covering the electrical installation within that unit. The body corporate may hold separate CoC documentation for common areas. When purchasing a sectional title property, ensure the CoC provided covers the specific unit you are purchasing, not only the common property.

An electrical CoC inspection runs the SANS 10142-1 test sequence: earth continuity, insulation resistance (must read at least 1 MΩ), polarity and correct connections, earth-leakage (RCD) trip testing, plus a check of the distribution board, bonding and earthing. Every test point must pass before the certificate is issued.