What is an EICR?

The purpose of an EICR is to assess the electrical installation against the current wiring standards, known as BS 7671. A qualified electrician inspects what is fixed in the property: the consumer unit (fuse board), circuits, sockets, light fittings, switches, earthing and bonding, and the condition of visible cable.

The inspection has two parts. First comes a visual check for damage, overheating, poor connections or signs of unsafe DIY work. Then comes testing with specialist instruments, which measure things like insulation resistance, earth connections and how quickly protective devices respond to a fault. Some of this needs the power switched off for a time, so expect some disruption.

An EICR does not normally cover plug-in appliances. That is a separate job called portable appliance testing.

The report gives an overall outcome of satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Anything found is recorded with a code:

C1 means danger is present and there is a risk of injury. This needs urgent attention.

C2 means potentially dangerous. It also needs urgent attention.

C3 means improvement is recommended. It is not classed as dangerous.

FI means further investigation is required, because the inspector could not tell the full picture from the inspection alone.

A C1, C2 or FI code generally means the report is unsatisfactory until the issue is dealt with. A C3 on its own does not usually cause a fail. If the report is unsatisfactory, the remedial work should be done as soon as possible, and you should keep the paperwork showing it was completed.

Landlords are the group most often asked for one. Private landlords have legal duties to keep the electrical installation safe and to have it inspected and tested at regular intervals, and to give tenants a copy of the report. The detail differs between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the rules can change, so check GOV.UK for the current position before relying on this guide.

Homeowners are not usually legally required to have an EICR, but it is sensible if you have just bought an older property, have never seen an electrical report, or are planning major work. Inspectors normally recommend a longer gap between reports for an owner-occupied home than for a rental, and the report itself states when the next one is due.

Selling a house does not generally require an electrical safety certificate, but buyers, solicitors or mortgage lenders sometimes ask for a recent EICR. Having one ready can avoid delays, and your solicitor can tell you what applies to your sale.

The time depends on the size of the property, the number of circuits and how easy everything is to reach. A small flat can often be done in a few hours, while a large house, or one with several consumer units, can take longer, sometimes a full day. If faults are found, extra time may be needed to investigate.

To help things run smoothly, make sure the electrician can reach the consumer unit, meter and any outbuildings with their own supply. Move furniture away from sockets where you can, and warn anyone in the property that the power will be off at times. Tenants should be given notice, and landlords should arrange access in good time.

There is no single fixed rate for an EICR, because the job varies from one property to the next. Electricians usually price by the size of the installation, in particular the number of circuits and consumer units, rather than by the hour alone. Some quote a fixed price for the inspection, others work from an hourly rate plus a callout element.

What moves the cost: the size of the property, how many circuits it has, how accessible the wiring and consumer unit are, whether the property is occupied or empty, and the time of day or week the work is done. Any repair work needed after an unsatisfactory result is usually priced separately, including parts and labour.

The best approach is to ask for a written quote that states exactly what the inspection covers and how any follow-up work would be charged.

An EICR is only as reliable as the person who completes it, so ask who will be doing the inspection and whether they are qualified to carry out periodic inspection and testing. Reputable electricians will be happy to explain their qualifications and show the paperwork they provide.

Braintree Electrical Services offers EICR inspections and serves Braintree and the wider Essex area. Whoever you choose, make sure you receive the full written report, not just a summary or a pass mark.