What Is It?
An EICR is a standardised inspection report that records the condition of a property's fixed electrical installation against the requirements of BS 7671. It documents every circuit, identifies defects and deviations from current regulations, assigns observation codes to each finding, and provides an overall assessment of whether the installation is satisfactory or unsatisfactory for continued use. It is not a certificate of compliance but a condition report that reflects the state of the installation at the time of inspection.
About This Template
An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a formal document produced after inspecting and testing a property's fixed electrical installation. Since June 2020, landlords in England are legally required to have an EICR carried out every five years, and the report must follow the format prescribed by BS 7671 (the IET Wiring Regulations). A properly completed EICR protects both the electrician and the property owner by providing a clear, standardised record of the installation's condition, any defects found, and whether the installation is safe for continued use.
When to Use
- Every five years for rented properties as required by the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020
- Every five years for domestic properties (recommended) or every three years for commercial premises
- When buying or selling a property to assess the condition of the electrical installation
- After major alterations or additions to an electrical installation
- When an installation is suspected of being defective or outdated
- For insurance purposes or when required by a mortgage lender
What to Include
- Details of the installation (address, description of premises, estimated age of wiring)
- Purpose of the report and extent of the inspection carried out
- Supply characteristics (earthing arrangement, supply type, protective device ratings)
- Details of the means of earthing and main protective bonding
- Schedule of items inspected covering every circuit and accessory
- Test results for each circuit including insulation resistance, earth fault loop impedance, and RCD operation times
- Observations with classification codes: C1 (danger present), C2 (potentially dangerous), C3 (improvement recommended), FI (further investigation required)
- Overall assessment: satisfactory or unsatisfactory for continued use
- Recommendations for remedial work with priority ratings
- Inspector's details, qualifications, and signature with date of next inspection
Tips
Always use the correct observation codes - C1 and C2 observations make the report unsatisfactory, while C3 observations alone result in a satisfactory outcome
Take photographs of key observations, particularly C1 and C2 defects, to support your findings and protect yourself against disputes
Record the date of the next recommended inspection - five years for domestic, three years for commercial, or sooner if significant defects are found
If you cannot inspect or test a particular part of the installation, record it as a limitation and consider issuing an FI code
Provide clear, jargon-free descriptions alongside the observation codes so that non-technical property owners can understand the findings
