What is an EICR or Electrical Installation Condition Report?
The EICR is the report provided by a qualified person that records the findings of an electrical inspection to confirm how safe the existing electric circuits in your home are. We are all well aware of all the possible dangers of electricity. If there is a fault with the “electrical installation” then you must request and EICR Report. Please note that the EICR doesn’t test the portable appliances, like the things that you plug into to the sockets like lamps and portable heaters. In order to ensure these are safe you need to have a PAT or Portable Appliance Test, which only qualified electricians can complete.
When Is an EICR Needed?
There is no legal requirement to have an EICR, however there are some recommended guidelines about how often you should have an electrical inspection.
BS7671 (17th Edition Wiring Regulations) does recommend having the EICR at the following frequencies:
- Domestic properties: every 10 years, or whenever there is a change of occupancy
- Swimming Pools: Every year
- Commercial (including educational establishments): Every 5 years
- Industrial Premises: Every 3 years
What Does an EICR Cost?
The cost of the inspection is based on the time that it will take the electrician to complete the report.
This will be determined by the number of circuits there are that would need to be tested, which will be more the large your home is.
Expect to pay in the region of £180 to around £800.
What is Involved and How to Ensure that Your Electrical Inspection Goes Smoothly?
The electrical installation is inspected and tested against the current standards.
The electricians working will be looking for faults with the wiring, with the components and earth bonding, including the serviceability of all the equipment available, particularly safety components.
The electricians will require access to every socket, switch and outlet, so make sure that they are accessible and that if furniture needs to be moved it can be.
How the faults found will be prioritized from C1 to C3 based on the threat that they pose?
The EICR will show whether the electrical installation is in a ‘satisfactory’ or in ‘unsatisfactory’ condition.
These observations will be supported by codes.
Unsatisfactory Codes are:
- Code 1 – Dangerous: Immediate remedial action is required as there is a real risk of injury.
- Code 2 – Potentially dangerous: Urgent remedial action required to ensure that safety is not compromised.
- FI – Further investigation required
A Satisfactory Code is:
- C3 – Improvement recommended: These are issue that are not considered dangerous but are recommended to be carried out
Will I get a Certificate to demonstrate my compliance?
There is no requirement for an electrical inspector and tester to issue you with a certificate but a report will be issued which must include:
- The results of the inspection and test (satisfactory or unsatisfactory)
- If applicable, a list of observations requiring remedial work or further investigation
- The date the next inspection and test is due by
Do I have to have another full electrical installation safety report carried out if my first one is unsatisfactory?
No. If the electrical installation safety report is unsatisfactory, you will need to ensure any required remedial work or further investigation is carried out within 28 days or within the time period specified on your report if less than 28 days.
What happens if I don’t comply with these Regulations?
If as a private landlord you do not receive a satisfactory electrical installation safety report for your property within the timescales outlined within the regulations, or if you fail to undertake required remedial work or further investigation within the necessary timeframe, the local housing authority must serve a remedial notice giving the landlord 28 days to take action.
If the landlord fails to take action for this, then the local housing authority can arrange for an authorized person to undertake the required remedial work.
Do these regulations apply to fixed and portable electrical appliances as well as the electrical installation?
These regulations do not place any defined requirement on fixed or portable electrical appliances provided by the landlord. It is recommended that landlord supplied electrical appliances should be regularly electrically inspected and tested and the testing of fixed electrical appliances could be agreed as part of the Electrical Installation inspection and test.
For further information on portable appliance testing, see the NRLA’s separate guide on this topic.
Is a domestic electrical installation certificate the same as an electrical installation condition report? What is the difference between electrical installation certificate and condition report?
The installation certificate is completed by the person who did the work. On the other hand, the EICR is done often by someone else. The EICR was recommended to be done every 10 years or change of occupant which ever sooner, however the new landlord laws ask for it every 5 years.
Do I need an electrical installation condition report to sell my house?
You do not need to provide an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) in order to sell a property, although it will give your buyer peace of mind that the property, they are buying is electrically safe.
Is EPC and EICR the same?
An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is mainly focused on the safety of electrical installations. It does cover the wiring, the sockets, the electrical components and identifies potential hazards and non-compliance. In contrast, an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) evaluates the energy efficiency of the property.
Can you sell a property with an unsatisfactory EICR?
As an EICR is not a legal requirement when you sell a home, you can definitely sell a property with an unsatisfactory EICR. By an ‘unsatisfactory EICR’ we mean an EICR which has uncovered electrical work that needs to be done in order to make the house safe.
Can you check if a property has an EICR?
There is no register that registers the electrical certificates that have been issued, the entire responsibility sits with the home owner.
