If you have an electrical emergency in London, call us on 0203 908 4790, day or night. Polarity Electrics provides a 24 hour electrician service across London with no call-out charge, sending NICEIC-certified engineers to make the installation safe, find the fault and, wherever possible, fix it on the same visit. If you can see smoke or flames, leave the property and dial 999 first.
What counts as an electrical emergency?
Call an emergency electrician straight away if you notice any of the following:
- A burning smell, scorch marks, smoke or crackling from sockets, switches or the consumer unit
- Water leaking into light fittings, sockets or the fuse box
- Total loss of power that is not a wider power cut
- An RCD or breaker that trips immediately every time you reset it
- Exposed or damaged cables, for example after drilling or building work
- Sockets or switches that feel hot to the touch
- Anyone receiving an electric shock from an appliance, fitting or metalwork
Not every problem needs a middle-of-the-night visit. A single blown bulb or a non-urgent socket repair can wait for a normal booking. If you are not sure, call us and we will give you honest advice.
What to do while you wait
- Stay safe – do not touch anything you suspect is live, wet or damaged.
- Switch off at the main switch on the consumer unit if it is safe to reach and dry.
- Check whether it is a local power cut – if neighbours and street lights are off too, contact your network operator on 105.
- Unplug appliances on the affected circuit if a breaker keeps tripping, as a faulty appliance is a common cause.
- Turn off the water at the stopcock if a leak is affecting electrics.
Our guide on what to do in an electrical emergency covers this in more detail.
What's included in an emergency visit
- Safe isolation of the affected circuit or installation
- Systematic fault finding using proper test equipment, not guesswork
- Repairs to damaged cables, accessories, fittings or protective devices
- Temporary make-safe where a full repair needs parts or follow-up work
- Restoring power to unaffected circuits so you can use the rest of the property
- Written notes explaining what we found, what we did and anything that needs further attention
We carry common parts in our vans, including breakers, RCDs, RCBOs and accessories, so many faults can be fixed first time.
Common causes of electrical emergencies
Many of the call-outs we attend come down to a handful of causes. Knowing them can help you describe the problem when you call:
- Faulty appliances – a kettle, washing machine or immersion heater with an internal fault will often trip an RCD.
- Water ingress – leaks from bathrooms or flats above reaching light fittings and junction boxes.
- Damaged cables – nails, screws and drill bits through hidden wiring during DIY or building work.
- Loose connections – terminals that have worked loose over time and overheat under load.
- Ageing installations – old wiring and fuse boxes that are no longer up to modern demands.
If the cause turns out to be the age or condition of the installation, we will tell you honestly and recommend an EICR so you can plan any further work.
Emergency electrician pricing
There is no call-out charge. You pay for the work carried out, and we explain the cost before starting so you are not surprised by the bill. For context, the figures below are typical London market ranges for emergency electrical work, not our published prices:
| Time | Typical London market range (first hour) |
|---|---|
| Weekday daytime | £80 – £120 |
| Evenings and weekends | £100 – £150 |
| Overnight and bank holidays | £120 – £200 |
Where follow-up work is needed, such as a consumer unit replacement or a section of rewiring, we give you a fixed written quote so you can decide in your own time.
How it works
- Call 0203 908 4790 – our line is answered 24 hours a day. Tell us what is happening and the address.
- Safety advice – we tell you how to make the situation safe while you wait.
- Engineer dispatched – we confirm an expected arrival time.
- Make safe and diagnose – the engineer isolates the fault and explains the cause.
- Agree and repair – we confirm the cost, then fix the fault or make it safe for a follow-up.
- Paperwork – you receive written details of the work and any certificate required.
Emergency help for landlords and businesses
Landlords and letting agents can call us directly when tenants report a fault, and we will liaise with the tenant to arrange access. For businesses, we understand that a power failure means lost trade, so we prioritise getting essential circuits such as tills, refrigeration and lighting back on safely. If a repair relates to an EICR observation, we supply the paperwork you need. See also our commercial EICR service.
Why choose Polarity Electrics
- Genuine 24/7 availability, including weekends and bank holidays
- No call-out charge and costs agreed before work begins
- NICEIC Approved Contractor (Enrolment No. 602034000), Part P registered
- 8+ NICEIC-certified engineers and more than 5,000 jobs completed
- 12-month workmanship guarantee and £10M public liability insurance
- Contact by phone or WhatsApp on +44 7932 046977
Areas covered
Our emergency electricians cover all of London and nearby counties, including Central London, Camden, Westminster, Newham, Waltham Forest, Croydon, Ealing and Enfield. See all areas we cover.
Related services
- EICR London – a full check of the installation after a fault
- Consumer unit replacement – if your fuse box is the problem
- Rewiring – for repeated faults caused by old wiring
- Fire alarm installation
Electrical emergency right now? Call 0203 908 4790 at any time. For non-urgent work, book online.
Frequently asked questions
Do you really have no call-out charge?
Yes. There is no call-out charge for emergency visits. You pay for the work carried out, and we explain the cost before we start.
Are you available 24 hours a day?
Yes. Our phone line is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and bank holidays, on 0203 908 4790.
My electrics keep tripping. Is that an emergency?
If a breaker or RCD trips immediately each time you reset it, try unplugging appliances on that circuit. If it still trips, or you notice burning smells or heat, call us.
What should I do if water is leaking near electrics?
Do not touch the wet fittings. If it is safe, switch off at the main switch and turn off the water at the stopcock, then call us straight away.
How much does an emergency electrician cost in London?
Typical London market rates for the first hour range from around £80 on weekdays to £200 overnight or on bank holidays. We have no call-out charge and confirm the cost before starting work.
Can you fix the fault on the first visit?
Many faults are fixed on the first visit because we carry common parts. Where a larger repair is needed, we make the installation safe and give a fixed written quote for the follow-up work.