An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a formal document produced by a qualified electrician after inspecting and testing the fixed electrical installations in a property. It assesses whether the wiring, sockets, consumer unit, earthing, and all connected circuits are safe and compliant with current UK standards.
What does an EICR inspect?
A qualified electrician will inspect and test every part of the fixed electrical system. This means anything permanently wired into the building — not plug-in appliances, which are covered separately by PAT testing.
- Consumer unit (fuse board) — circuit protection, RCD devices, labelling, and compliance with BS 7671 18th Edition
- Wiring and cables — age, condition, signs of overheating or damage
- Sockets and switches — correct wiring, no signs of arcing or burning
- Earthing and bonding — one of the most critical checks; verifies all metal pipework is correctly connected to earth
- Circuit breakers — tested to confirm they trip within the required time
- Fixed appliances — electric showers, immersion heaters, extractor fans
What do the results mean?
Every observation is assigned a fault code. These determine how serious the issue is and what action is required.
- C1 — Danger present. Immediate risk of injury or death. The electrician must make it safe before leaving where possible. The report is automatically Unsatisfactory.
- C2 — Potentially dangerous. Not an immediate threat but must be fixed within 28 days under landlord regulations. Report is Unsatisfactory.
- C3 — Improvement recommended. Safe but not meeting current best practice. No legal obligation to fix. Report can be Satisfactory with C3 codes present.
- FI — Further investigation required. Something cannot be fully assessed. Report stays Unsatisfactory until resolved.
Who needs an EICR?
Private landlords in England are legally required to have a valid EICR renewed at least every 5 years under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. Fines of up to £30,000 apply for non-compliance.
Homeowners are not legally required to have one but it is strongly recommended every 10 years, when buying a property, or after major renovation work.
Commercial property owners must maintain safe electrical systems under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, with most premises requiring an inspection every 5 years.
How long does an EICR take?
For a standard 1–3 bedroom flat or house, the inspection takes around 2–3 hours. Larger properties or those with older wiring may take longer.
How much does an EICR cost in London?
At Energy North, an EICR starts from £100 for properties up to 3 bedrooms with a consumer unit up to 10-way. This includes the full inspection, testing, and your certificate emailed the same day. The London average from other providers ranges from £150 to £300.
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