EICR Certificate
The landlord electrical safety certificate every rented home in England must hold — a full inspection of the fixed wiring by qualified electricians, reported against the 18th Edition (BS 7671), with plain-English advice on anything that needs fixing.
The law
What the 2020 Regulations ask of landlords
Since the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 came fully into force, an in-date EICR has been as non-negotiable for a landlord as the annual gas certificate. The duties come with specific deadlines attached:
- An inspection and test at least every 5 years — or sooner, if the previous report set a shorter interval
- A copy of the report to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection
- A copy to new tenants before they occupy, and to prospective tenants within 28 days of a request
- A copy to the local authority within 7 days if they request it
- Where remedial work is required: completed within 28 days (or any shorter deadline the report specifies), with written confirmation supplied afterwards
Ignore the duty and the local authority can impose a civil penalty of up to £30,000 for each breach. Councils also have the power to arrange the remedial work themselves and recover the full cost from the landlord — so the work happens either way; the only question is who controls the price.
The inspection
What the electrician examines
The EICR looks at the fixed installation — everything electrical that stays behind when a tenant moves out. That means the consumer unit and its protective devices, the condition and age of the wiring, a sample of sockets and switches in each room, light fittings, and the earthing and bonding that keep the whole installation safe when a fault occurs.
Allow two to four hours for a typical home. Testing means switching circuits off in stages, so occupants should know in advance — we handle that liaison with tenants if you'd rather not. Plug-in appliances aren't part of the EICR; items you supply with a let are covered separately by PAT testing, which we can do in the same visit.
Every finding is recorded as a coded observation, so the report tells you not just what was found but how much it matters.
| Code | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| C1 | Danger is present now — the electrician makes it safe before leaving, and urgent repair follows |
| C2 | Potentially dangerous — must be put right within the 28-day window |
| FI | Something needs further investigation — carries the same 28-day urgency as a C2 |
| C3 | Improvement recommended only — a report with nothing worse than C3s is satisfactory |
A satisfactory report stands for up to five years. An unsatisfactory one isn't a disaster — it's a work list with a deadline.
How it works
From booking to certificate
Book
Send the bedroom count and postcode for a fixed quote. We arrange access directly with your tenant if you'd like.
Inspect and test
Two to four hours on site, with power off in planned stages while circuits are tested.
Report
You receive the full report with every observation coded and explained in plain English — not just left as regulation numbers.
Remedials, if needed
A fixed quote for any C1, C2 or FI items, completed within the 28-day window, with written confirmation for tenants and the council.
One pattern worth knowing: the single most common cause of an unsatisfactory report is an obsolete fuse board with no RCD protection. In those cases a consumer unit upgrade often clears several observations in one job. Licensed HMOs face additional scrutiny on top of the 2020 Regulations — see our HMO certificates service for the full picture, or browse all electrical services. Ready to book? Get in touch.
Common questions
EICR questions, answered
How much does an EICR cost?
It depends on the size of the property and the number of circuits — larger homes and older installations take longer to test. Send the number of bedrooms and the postcode via WhatsApp or the quote form and we'll reply with a fixed quote, usually the same working day.
How often does a landlord need an EICR?
At least every five years — but check the report itself, because the inspector can set a shorter interval where the condition of the installation justifies one. The next inspection date is written on the certificate.
What happens if my EICR is unsatisfactory?
Any C1, C2 or FI observation makes the report unsatisfactory, and the remedial work must be completed within 28 days — or sooner if the report says so — with written confirmation then supplied to tenants and, where they've asked, the local authority. We quote the remedials, complete them within the window and issue the confirmation paperwork.
Do tenants need to move out during the inspection?
No. The electrician needs access to the consumer unit and to sockets and switches in each room, and power goes off in stages during testing — typically for two to four hours in total. We can arrange access and timings with the tenant directly so the disruption is planned, not sprung on them.
Does the EICR cover appliances like the cooker and washing machine?
No — the EICR examines the fixed installation only: the wiring, consumer unit, accessories and earthing. Plug-in appliances you supply with a let are checked separately through PAT testing, which we can carry out during the same visit.