What Is It?
An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is a detailed assessment of the condition and safety of the fixed electrical wiring in a property. A qualified electrician inspects and tests every circuit, the consumer unit, earthing arrangements, and bonding, then produces a written report grading any defects found. It replaced the older Periodic Inspection Report (PIR) and is the standard document used to demonstrate that an electrical installation is safe for continued use.
Who Needs It?
Landlords in England are legally required to have a valid EICR for all rental properties under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. Similar requirements exist in Scotland under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006. Homeowners are not legally obliged but should obtain an EICR if the property is more than 25 years old, before buying or selling, after significant renovations, or if there are any concerns about electrical safety. Commercial property owners also require periodic inspection under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.
When Is It Required?
For rental properties in England, an EICR must be obtained before a new tenancy begins and renewed at least every 5 years. Landlords must provide a copy to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection and to new tenants before they move in. Homeowners should consider an EICR every 10 years, or every 5 years for older properties. An EICR is also triggered when buying a property, when insurance companies request evidence of electrical safety, or when there are visible signs of electrical deterioration such as scorch marks, buzzing, or frequently tripping circuits.
What Does It Cover?
- Visual inspection of the consumer unit, wiring, sockets, switches, light fittings, and any permanently connected equipment
- Continuity testing of protective conductors, bonding, and ring final circuits
- Insulation resistance testing on every circuit to check for deterioration or damage to cable insulation
- Earth fault loop impedance testing to verify that protective devices will operate quickly enough in a fault condition
- Polarity checks to confirm live, neutral, and earth connections are correctly wired throughout
- RCD (residual current device) testing to confirm trip times are within safe limits
- Prospective fault current measurement to ensure protective devices can safely interrupt the highest possible fault current
- A written report with observations graded as C1 (danger present), C2 (potentially dangerous), C3 (improvement recommended), or FI (further investigation required)
How Long Is It Valid?
An EICR is typically valid for 5 years for rental properties, as required by law. For domestic owner-occupied properties, the recommended interval is 10 years, though the inspecting electrician may recommend a shorter period if issues are found. For commercial properties, the interval is usually 5 years but may be shorter depending on the environment. The recommended re-inspection date is stated on the report itself.
How Much Does It Cost?
£120–£350
Prices vary by property size: 1-bed flat from around £120, 3-bed house £180-£280, 4+ bed house up to £350. London prices are typically £50-£100 higher. HMOs and commercial premises can cost £300-£600+.
What Happens If You Don't Comply?
Landlords who fail to comply with the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector Regulations can face fines of up to £30,000 per breach. Local authorities can also issue remedial notices requiring urgent work and, if ignored, can arrange for the work to be done and recover costs from the landlord. Persistent non-compliance can affect a landlord's ability to use Section 21 notices for eviction.
How to Get One
Find a qualified electrician registered with a competent person scheme such as NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, or BRE. You can search their online registers by postcode.
Request quotes from at least 2-3 electricians, specifying your property size, number of bedrooms, and whether it is domestic, rented, or commercial.
Ensure the electrician holds the City & Guilds 2391 (or equivalent) Inspection and Testing qualification.
On the day of inspection, ensure all areas are accessible — clear around the consumer unit, provide loft access, and make sure every room can be entered.
The electrician will carry out visual inspection, dead testing (power off), and live testing (power on). Expect the process to take 2-4 hours for a typical house.
Receive the written EICR report, usually within a few days. If the result is 'Satisfactory', retain the certificate. If 'Unsatisfactory', arrange remedial work within 28 days (landlords) or as soon as practical (homeowners).
