Why BS 7671 Will Cost FM Contractors More Than Just Paperwork (Unless You’re Ready)

If you’re an FM company or an electrical contractor in the UK, you’ve probably noticed that compliance is no longer just a line item on a checklist. It’s fast becoming the deciding factor in whether you keep contracts or lose them.
 

Between the latest updates to BS 7671 Wiring Regulations, tighter enforcement of the Electricity at Work Regulations, and a growing obsession with Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs), the industry is heading into a period where “nearly compliant” won’t cut it. Auditors, insurers, and clients want evidence and lots of it.

Now, that’s all very noble, but anyone who has wrestled with compliance paperwork knows it feels less like safety assurance and more like a never-ending admin marathon. Spreadsheets get lost, deadlines sneak up, and suddenly you’re in front of a client explaining why an EICR from 2019 is still sitting in someone’s inbox. Not a great look.
 

Why This Matters Now

For mid- to large-sized FM and electrical contracting businesses, the stakes couldn’t be higher. One missed certificate or late inspection can lead to fines, voided insurance, or worse, losing a multi-site maintenance contract you’ve spent years building. Clients aren’t interested in excuses; they want proof, neatly packaged and ready for audit.

And let’s be honest, engineers didn’t join the trade to become part-time administrators. Every hour spent chasing paperwork is an hour not spent fixing, installing, or actually running the business.

The Smarter Way Forward

This is where technology finally earns its keep. A modern CAFM platform (that’s “computer-aided facilities management” for the uninitiated) can turn compliance from a daily panic into a calm, automated process.

👉 Discover how Arez keeps electrical contractors audit-ready and in control of every job

Take Arez, for example. We built it with a straightforward idea: compliance should be as effortless as booking a cab. Engineers get a free mobile app, yes, free, no hidden licence fees, where they can log jobs, capture photos, and generate EICRs right on site. No clipboards, no chasing signatures.

For managers, the magic happens in the background. Certificates and records are automatically stored, suppliers’ insurance and training documents are tracked without endless email chains, and dashboards give you a live view of compliance across every site. If something’s about to expire, you know before it becomes a problem.

Why Bother?

Because in 2025 and beyond, compliance isn’t just about avoiding fines. It’s a competitive advantage. FM clients are under pressure too, and they’ll choose the contractor who can keep them audit-ready without fuss. If you can show up with a digital trail that proves every test, inspection, and supplier credential is bang up to date, you’re not just ticking boxes. You’re winning trust (and contracts).

So, while the new wave of regulation may give plenty of firms a headache, the smart ones will treat it as an opportunity. Compliance doesn’t have to be tedious paperwork; it can be the thing that sets you apart. And if you can save a few trees by ditching paper along the way? Even better.