Emergency electrician in Leeds: no power, tripping and burning smells

Is it a power cut?

If your neighbours have no power too, it is likely a power cut. In Leeds, call 105, the free national power cut number, to reach the local network operator. An electrician cannot fix a fault on the network.

Check the consumer unit

• Look for a switch or RCD that has tripped to off.
• Switch everything off, reset the main switch, then turn circuits back on one by one.
• If one circuit trips straight away, unplug everything on it and try again. A faulty appliance is a common cause.
• If it still trips, leave it off and call an electrician.

When to call an emergency electrician

• A burning smell, scorch marks or smoke from a socket, switch or the consumer unit
• A circuit that trips and will not reset with appliances unplugged
• Water leaking near electrics
• Exposed or damaged wiring
• No power to the whole home when neighbours have power

What does an emergency electrician cost?

Checkatrade's 2026 guide gives a typical electrician rate of £40 to £70 an hour plus VAT, averaging £55. Evening, night and weekend call outs usually cost more. Ask for the call out fee and hourly rate before they come.

Choose a registered electrician

Check the electrician is registered with a scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT so the work can be certified. See our list of electricians in Leeds.

Electrical faults that need an emergency electrician

Most emergency electrician call outs in Leeds are for a circuit that keeps tripping, a fuse box or consumer unit fault, a socket or switch that has overheated, or water leaking onto electrics. These faults can cause a fire or an electric shock, so turn off power to the affected circuit if you can do it safely and do not use it again until it has been checked.

Choosing an emergency electrician in Leeds

• Ask whether the electrician is registered with NICEIC or NAPIT, so any repair can be certified under Part P of the Building Regulations.
• Ask for the emergency call out fee and the hourly rate before they come, including evenings and weekends.
• Ask whether they carry common parts, such as RCDs and breakers, so the fault can be fixed on the first visit.
• Ask for a written report of what was found and fixed.

After the emergency

If the fault was caused by old wiring, the electrician may recommend an EICR, an inspection of the whole installation. Landlords must have one at least every 5 years. See our EICR cost guide for 2026 prices, and our list of electricians in Leeds, including Martin Day Electricians, for planned work.