How to get an EICR

EICR stands for electrical installation condition report. It is a formal assessment of the fixed electrical installation in a property: the consumer unit (fuse board), circuits, sockets, light fittings, switches and earthing and bonding. It is not a check of your plug-in appliances.

The electrician inspects what they can see and carries out tests on the circuits to find out whether the installation is safe to keep using. They look for damage, wear, overloaded circuits, missing protection and anything that does not meet current regulations. The result is a condition report, sometimes loosely called a certificate, though the correct name is the report.

First, decide why you need it. Common reasons are renting a property out, buying or selling, or simply wanting to know the wiring is in good order. Lenders, letting agents and solicitors may ask for a specific type of report, so check with them first.

Second, gather useful details: the property type, the number of floors, the number of circuits or consumer units if you know, and any previous reports. Older reports are helpful because the electrician can compare them with what they find.

Third, ask for a written quote and agree a date. Make sure someone can give access to every room, including lofts, garages, outbuildings and any locked cupboards that hold electrical equipment.

Not every person who does electrical work is suited to inspection and testing. An EICR needs someone who is competent in periodic inspection, who uses calibrated test equipment and who knows the wiring regulations well enough to judge what they find. Ask the electrician about their experience with EICRs, which scheme they are registered with, and whether they can show proof of it.

You cannot sensibly do your own EICR. Even if you are handy, you need the training, the test instruments and the knowledge to interpret the results, and landlords, agents and insurers will expect a report from a qualified person.

You may see EICRs offered online. In practice you can usually request or book online, but the inspection itself must still happen in person at the property. Be wary of anyone offering a report without visiting.

The electrician will usually need to switch off the power for parts of the installation while they test, so plan for some interruption. Save your work on computers and tell anyone who relies on medical or other essential equipment. How long the visit takes depends on the size of the property and the number of circuits.

The report grades any findings using codes. C1 means danger is present, C2 means potentially dangerous, C3 means improvement is recommended, and FI means further investigation is needed. The overall result is satisfactory or unsatisfactory. An unsatisfactory result usually means C1, C2 or FI items need attention.

If remedial work is needed, you can ask the electrician for a separate quote to carry it out. Keep the report safe, as buyers, agents and tenants may ask to see it.

Pricing is usually based on the size and complexity of the installation rather than a single standard amount. The main factors are the number of circuits and consumer units, the size of the property, how easy it is to reach sockets, fittings and the fuse board, and how long the inspection and testing will take. Older or altered wiring with no records can take longer to trace.

Some electricians quote a fixed price for the inspection, others work from an hourly rate or a callout fee plus time. Remedial work is separate and depends on the parts needed and the labour involved. Always ask for a written quote and check exactly what it includes, such as whether a re-visit or the written report is covered.

An EICR sets a recommended date for the next inspection, based on the condition of the installation and how the property is used. For rented homes this is commonly no more than five years, or sooner if the electrician advises it. Owner-occupiers are generally advised to have periodic checks too, especially for older properties.

Private landlords have legal duties to keep the electrical installation safe and to have it inspected and tested at regular intervals, and councils can take enforcement action if those duties are ignored. Rules can differ between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and can change, so check GOV.UK for the current position before you book.