Electrical safety inspection

In the case of a change of ownership of an apartment, an electrical safety inspection may be required if no inspection documentation less than 6 years old is available.

In the case of renting out a property, an electrical safety inspection may also be required if no inspection documentation less than 6 years old is available.

Yes. In the case of renting out an apartment or a change of ownership, an inspection document less than 6 years old, also referred to as an inspection certificate, is generally the relevant document. According to Section 1.13.2 f) of the Electrical Technical Safety Regulations, forming Annex 1 to Decree 40/2017 (XII. 4.) NGM, an electrical safety inspection must be carried out on the electrical installation of apartments in residential buildings when renting out the apartment or transferring ownership, unless an inspection document, or inspection certificate, confirming an inspection carried out not more than 6 years before the date of rental or transfer of ownership is available.

The electrical safety inspection may be carried out by a specialist with the appropriate electrical qualifications, professional experience and inspection authorisation. The inspection is not a simple visual check: it also includes instrument-based measurements, evaluation of the results and the preparation of an inspection certificate.

To issue the inspection certificate, the specialist must be familiar with the requirements relating to protection against electric shock, electrical standards and electrical safety, and must also have the necessary measuring instruments and documentation background.

The VBF inspection certificate summarises the result of the electrical safety inspection. It includes the findings, measurement results, any identified defects and the final assessment.

The purpose of the electrical safety inspection is to check whether the electrical installation of the property can be used safely. The inspection may include, among other things, protective conductors, earthing, protection against electric shock, fault protection conditions, the operation of residual-current devices and protective devices.

The measurements are carried out using professional Fluke or Metrel installation testers with valid calibration. The measuring instruments used have measurement functions in accordance with the MSZ EN 61557 standard series for testing low-voltage electrical installations.

An RCD, commonly also referred to in Hungarian as a FI-relé, is a residual-current device. Its purpose is to disconnect the circuit in the event of a fault if it detects a difference between the current flowing in the phase conductor and the neutral conductor. Such a difference may occur, for example, in the case of an insulation fault, a fault to exposed conductive parts or a risk of electric shock.

In apartments and family houses, 30 mA residual-current devices are often used for personal protection. However, an RCD alone does not replace a properly installed protective conductor, earthing and overcurrent protection, so the condition of the entire electrical installation must also be checked separately.

For an accurate inspection, it may be necessary at certain points to check the connections behind fittings, sockets, switches or light fittings, or to temporarily remove the cover of the distribution board.

This may be necessary because visual inspection and instrument-based measurements together provide a reliable picture of the condition of the installation. For example, the presence and continuity of protective conductors, the condition of connections, the arrangement of the distribution board and, in the case of certain light fittings — including double-insulated light fittings — the presence or termination of the protective conductor may need to be checked.

Any required access is always carried out with the least possible intervention and agreed on site in advance. The purpose is not to alter the electrical installation, but to verify whether it can be used safely.

Certain measurements may require a short disconnection or temporary power shutdown. This is always agreed on site in advance.

The on-site inspection of an average apartment can usually be completed within 1–2 hours. The exact duration depends on the floor area, the number of distribution boards, the condition of the electrical installation and accessibility.

Typical defects may include missing or damaged protective conductors, faulty sockets, unsuitable protective devices, incorrectly installed circuits, missing residual-current protection or inadequate insulation condition.

The identified defects are recorded in the documentation. The final assessment depends on how serious the defect is, whether it poses an immediate danger and whether it affects the safe use of the electrical installation.

After the defects have been corrected, a repeated check or supplementary measurement may be required. In most cases, this is provided with a significant discount, as the follow-up inspection focuses specifically on checking the correction of the previously identified defects.

If a previous document with an unsatisfactory assessment is available, we review the identified defects and check whether they have been corrected. An unsatisfactory assessment does not in itself prove that the electrical installation is in a safe condition, so after the defects have been corrected, a repeated inspection or supplementary measurement may be required. In most cases, this is provided with a significant discount.

Yes. During the electrical safety inspection, photographs may be taken of the inspected electrical installation, distribution boards, measurement points and any identified defects. The photographs form part of the inspection documentation and help clearly identify the findings.

The photographs attached to the documentation, together with the property details, ensure that the inspected electrical installation and the location can be clearly identified. The purpose of the images is solely to document the technical condition and support the professional findings of the inspection.

Yes. The inspection typically does not involve significant dirt or mess. For occupational safety reasons, the measurements are carried out using appropriate protective equipment, which may include safety boots. To protect the cleanliness of the property, clean shoe covers are always used over the boots.

In the case of a property sale, the cost of the electrical safety inspection usually depends on the agreement between the seller and the buyer. In practice, the seller often orders the inspection, as having the documentation required for the change of ownership available may also support the sale process.

The parties may agree otherwise, so it is advisable to clarify at the beginning of the sale process who will order the inspection and who will bear its cost.

The fee for the electrical safety inspection of an average apartment may typically be around HUF 50,000–60,000. However, every property is different, so the exact fee is determined based on an individual quotation.

Request a free quotation through the quotation request form.