How to Choose a Company for an EICR

An EICR is a formal inspection and test of the fixed electrical installation in a property. It needs someone with the right training, experience and calibrated test equipment. Being a qualified electrician is a good start, but inspection and testing is a specific skill, so it is fair to ask whether the person has experience of periodic inspection, not only installation work.

As advice, ask whether the company is registered with a recognised competent person scheme and ask to see evidence. You can usually verify membership with the scheme itself. Also ask who will actually attend and sign the report, because the signature is what gives the document its weight with landlords, tenants, letting agents and insurers.

A good company will answer these plainly:

What will be inspected? A proper EICR looks at the consumer unit, wiring, sockets, switches, lighting circuits and earthing and bonding. Ask whether outbuildings, garages or an electric vehicle charger are included.

Will every circuit be tested? Some limits are reasonable, for example where something cannot be switched off. Any limits should be written on the report, not hidden.

Will I get a full written report? You should receive the complete condition report with observations and a clear overall result, not a one line certificate.

What happens if faults are found? Ask how remedial works are handled, whether they are quoted separately, and whether you are free to get that work done elsewhere.

There is no single going rate to rely on, because the work varies from property to property. Rather than comparing headline numbers, compare what each quote actually includes.

Companies may charge a fixed price for the inspection, an hourly rate, or a callout fee plus time. What moves the cost is mainly the size of the property, the number of circuits and consumer units, how easy it is to reach sockets, fittings and the consumer unit, and how long the testing takes. Occupied homes full of furniture, or properties with several floors and outbuildings, generally take longer than a small empty flat. The time of day or week you want the visit can also affect the price.

Ask for a written quote that states what is covered, whether the written report is included, and how any extra work such as repairs, replacement parts or a return visit would be charged. Be cautious of a quote that seems vague about scope.

The report should identify the property, the extent of the inspection, any limitations, and the overall outcome of satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Problems are normally recorded with observation codes. C1 means danger is present, C2 means potentially dangerous, C3 means improvement is recommended, and FI means further investigation is needed. Ask the company to explain any codes in plain language.

If the result is unsatisfactory, remedial works are needed before the installation can be considered satisfactory. A trustworthy company will explain what is urgent and what is advisory, and will not pressure you into a full rewire or new consumer unit without showing you why.

An EIC (Electrical Installation Certificate) is issued when new electrical work is completed, such as a new circuit or a new installation. An EICR reports on the condition of an installation that already exists. They are not the same document. An EIC shows that the work was designed and tested when installed, but it does not replace a later inspection, because wiring ages and gets altered over time.

For rented homes, the landlord is generally responsible for arranging the inspection and sharing the result with tenants. Landlords are commonly expected to have inspections at intervals of no more than five years, or sooner if the report says so. Rules can change and differ between parts of the UK, so check GOV.UK for the current position. Homeowners are not usually required to have one, but an inspection is sensible when buying a property or if the wiring is old.

Leigh-on-Sea Electrical Services covers Leigh-on-Sea and the wider Essex area for EICR enquiries.