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Electrical Inspection Condition Reports - EICRs

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What is an EICR?

Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs) are official documents provided by engineers or electricians after conducting electrical inspections on residential and business properties. The assessment is based on the quality of the building’s electrical installations.

If you’re a landlord looking for a one-off EICR, click the ‘Order Now’ button to get an instant quote.

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electrician making electrical checks

How much does an EICR cost?

The cost of an EICR depends on a number of factors. These include location, age of property, the size of property and the scope of the report.

For more information about the costs of an EICR visit our eicr-costs page or click below for a quote.

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Why is an EICR important?

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In the UK, up to seven fire incidents in a day can be attributed to faulty wires.

EICRs have five main purposes:

  1. Report any damage to electrical wiring that might compromise safety
  2. Find wires that don’t comply with IET Wiring Regulations
  3. Report any problem that may cause electric shocks and high temperatures
  4. Record the results of the assessment and ensure the electrical installations are safe to use until the next inspection
  5. Make a recording of the current assessment for future use
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What is inspected?

In an inspection, the electrician checks the following:

  • Electricity supply installations
  •  Electrical fittings like visible wiring, light fixtures, electrical sockets and switches
  • Fixed electrical equipment like electric heaters (incl. panel and storage heaters), boilers, other heat-producing equipment
  • Any electrical installation that fails to pass the test must be replaced or repaired immediately to comply with safety standards.
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eicr codes explaining report codes from c1,c2,c3, and f1

What do the EICR codes on the report mean?

The inspector may classify problematic installations either as Code C1, Code C2 or Code C3.

  • C1 – “Danger present. Risk of injury. Immediate remedial action required.”
  • C2 – “Potentially dangerous. Urgent remedial action required.”
  • C3 – “Improvement recommended.”

Examples of Code C1 include exposed live wires that are accessible to human touch and conductive parts that have become exposed.

Examples of Code C2 include the absence or a reliable earthing, and when a metallic pipe is used for flammable liquids like gases.

Examples of Code C3 include the absence of a ‘Safety Electrical Connection – Do Not Remove’ sign, and socket outlets mounted incorrectly.

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How long does an assessment take?

A typical EICR assessment takes approximately 1-4 hours, depending on the size of the property and problems encountered.

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What happens during an EICR inspection?

Energy-Performance-Certificates

An EICR test can only be carried out by an electrician or electrical engineer.

For commercial and rental properties, operational limits will be established with a qualified electrician before work starts. You can request for certain areas to be exempted from inspection and testing, but the reasons for this must be explained.

For instance, you may request that cables concealed within walls, floors, trunking and conduits be left out from testing to ensure your plaster or flooring remains untouched throughout the test.

An EICR inspection will usually require a few minutes to several hours of downtime depending on the size of your property and the extent of testing needed. In some cases, the electrical inspection may require a complete shutdown of all servers and/or phone lines.

Both client and electrician must decide on a sampling rate, which indicates the percentage of sockets to be assessed. The sample size may be increased should any faults occur during the inspection of your property.

To start the inspection, the electrician will disconnect the electrical installation from the property’s main power supply. All wires, cables, fittings, sockets and components will be thoroughly tested based on the IET’s Wiring Regulations.

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How often should EICRs be conducted?

The electrician will determine how frequent an EICR should be performed. For example, the standard inspection for a rental property should take place every five years, but the electrician can recommend inspection every three years if the electrics are old.

In general, inspection should be done every:

  • 10 years for a privately owned property
  • 5 years for a rental property
  • 5 years for a commercial property
  • 3 years for a caravan
  • 3 years for an industrial installation
  • 1 year for a swimming pool

    A periodic inspection must be carried out when selling a previously owned house, or if the property is a house in multiple occupation (HMO).
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Do rental properties require regular inspections?

The law requires landlords to ensure their electrical installations are checked by a qualified person every five years.

Likewise, it is their responsibility to maintain the integrity of the installations throughout the tenant’s stay.

New regulations from the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector state:

By 1 July 2020, a landlord must give a tenant an accomplished EICR before their move-in date. The rules will apply only to new tenancies.
By 1 April 2021, a landlord must supply any current tenants with an EICR

Failure to comply with regulations can cost fees of up to £30,000.

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electrician testing circuits and fuses with a multimeter

What issues does an EICR reveal?

Issues that can be revealed during an EICR test include:

  • Suitability of control gear and switchgear
  • Potential faulty electrical work that could result in fires or electrical shocks
  • Serviceability of switches, fuse board, sockets, light fittings and other electrical equipment
  • The extent of damage or wear and tear on consumer units, appliances and electrical installations
  • Condition of cables, light fittings and downlighters
  • Changes in the property that have resulted in, or might result in, electrical issues
  • Adequacy of bonding and earthing
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EICR and PAT Test bundle

Many customers get a PAT test alongside their EICR. Our electricians can do both in one visit. Save time and money by combining services. Click below for more information.

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Why PropCert?

Since 2010, we have been providing you with EPCs, EICRs, CP12s and lots more. We’ll take the stress out of getting certified, keep you compliant and your tenants safe. 

Experience our ‘Excellent’ rated, fast and friendly, hassle-free service today. 

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