What is an EICR?

The report looks at the fixed parts of your electrical installation, not your appliances. That means the consumer unit (fuse board), circuit wiring, sockets, light fittings, switches, earthing and bonding. The electrician checks these against the relevant wiring standards to see if they are safe and in reasonable condition.

It is an inspection of what is already there. It is not a design check or an upgrade, and it does not mean any work is carried out on the day. Portable appliance testing (PAT) is a separate thing.

The electrician carries out a visual inspection, then tests each circuit with specialist instruments. This usually means switching the power off for periods so that connections and protective devices can be tested safely. Plan for that if you work from home or have equipment that cannot be switched off, and tell the electrician in advance.

How long an EICR test takes depends mainly on the size of the property and the number of circuits. A small flat is generally quicker than a large family house, and a property with older or poorly labelled wiring can take longer because circuits have to be traced. Access matters too: locked rooms, a blocked fuse board or boarded-over fittings slow things down. Ask the electrician for an estimate of time when you book.

The report gives an overall outcome of satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Any issues are recorded with a code:

C1 means danger is present and immediate action is needed. C2 means potentially dangerous and urgent attention is needed. C3 means improvement is recommended. FI means further investigation is required to find out what is going on.

A C1, C2 or FI usually leads to an unsatisfactory result. C3 items on their own do not normally cause a fail. If you get an unsatisfactory report, the faults should be put right as soon as possible, and the property is then usually re-checked or the remedial work documented. Keep the report safe, as lenders, insurers, tenants and future electricians may ask for it.

Landlords are the group most often asked for one. Private rented homes in England are generally required to have the electrical installation inspected and tested at regular intervals by a qualified person, and tenants must be given a copy. Rules can differ between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and can change, so check GOV.UK for the current position.

Homeowners are not usually legally required to hold one, but an EICR is a sensible check if you have just bought an older property, have never seen an electrical report, or are noticing warning signs such as tripping circuits, flickering lights, warm sockets or a burning smell. Common guidance is to have the installation inspected every few years, and the report will state the recommended date for the next one.

If you are selling, there is generally no legal requirement to hold an electrical safety certificate, but a buyer or their solicitor may ask for a recent report. Your solicitor or estate agent can tell you what is expected.

There is no single fixed cost, because the job varies. Electricians may quote a set price for the inspection, or charge by time, and some add a callout fee. What moves the cost most is the number of circuits and the size of the property, the age and condition of the wiring, how easy it is to reach the consumer unit and fittings, and how long the testing takes.

Remedial work is separate. If the report finds faults, parts and labour to fix them are normally priced on top, and the time of day or urgency can affect that. Ask for a written quote that says clearly what the inspection includes and how any follow-up work will be charged.

An EICR is only as good as the person who does it. Ask whether the electrician is qualified to carry out periodic inspection and testing, and ask what registration they hold. Make sure the report you receive is detailed, with a schedule of circuits tested, rather than a single page with a tick.

Leigh-on-Sea Electrical Services offers EICR inspections and serves Leigh-on-Sea and the wider Essex area. To arrange one, use the enquiry form on this page and include the property type, roughly how many bedrooms it has, and the reason you need the report.