What an EICR is
An Electrical Installation Condition Report is a formal inspection and test of a property's fixed electrical installation: the consumer unit, the circuits, and the sockets, switches and fittings connected to them. It records the condition of the installation against the current wiring regulations, BS 7671, and lists anything that needs attention.
It is not an appliance test. Kettles, fridges and washing machines are covered by portable appliance testing, which is a separate check. Landlords who supply appliances often have both done at the same visit.
How often landlords need one
In England, the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require landlords to have the installation inspected and tested by a qualified and competent person at least every five years. The report can recommend a shorter interval, and when it does, that interval applies.
A copy must go to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection, to new tenants before they move in, and to the local council within seven days if it asks for one. Keep a copy for the inspector and tester at the next inspection too; it makes their job quicker and the comparison more useful.
What happens on the day
A typical two- or three-bedroom house takes three to four hours. The inspector needs access to every room, the consumer unit and the loft if cables run through it. The power is off for part of the visit, so tenants need notice.
The inspection is a sample, not a strip-down. A proportion of sockets, switches and fittings are opened up, every circuit is tested from the consumer unit, and the results are recorded on a schedule of test results that forms part of the report.
Reading the codes
C1: danger present. Something is dangerous now, such as exposed live parts. The electrician should make it safe before leaving.
C2: potentially dangerous. Not dangerous at this moment, but it could become so if a fault occurred. Missing RCD protection for sockets that could supply outdoor equipment, or inadequate earthing, are typical C2 observations.
C3: improvement recommended. Not a safety failure; something that would bring the installation closer to the current standard.
FI: further investigation required. The inspector found something that could not be fully assessed during the inspection. Any C1, C2 or FI makes the report unsatisfactory.
The 28-day rule for remedial work
If the report is unsatisfactory, the regulations require the landlord to have the remedial work, or the further investigation, carried out within 28 days, or within a shorter period if the report specifies one. The landlord then needs written confirmation from the electrician that the work is done, and must give that confirmation, with the original report, to the tenants within 28 days of the work being completed.
In practice, that means booking the remedial work quickly. Asking for the remedial quote to be sent with the report saves a round of emails.
Keeping costs predictable
Good records make EICRs quicker. A labelled consumer unit, a previous report and clear access to the loft all reduce the time spent on site. Remedial work should always be quoted separately from the inspection, and you are free to use any qualified electrician to carry it out.
This guide is general information about the rules in England, not legal advice. Scotland and Wales have their own requirements.
General information, not advice for your property. Electrical work should be carried out by a qualified electrician.
