What
is EICR

What an EICR is and why UK properties need them

EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is the UK standard for verifying electrical safety in homes and businesses. Whether you're a landlord, homeowner, business owner or tenant, understanding EICRs helps you stay safe and compliant.

What an EICR involves:

• Visual inspection. Of consumer unit, sockets, switches, light fittings, visible cabling.
• Insulation resistance testing. Tests insulation between live conductors and earth on each circuit.
• Continuity testing. Checks earth and ring main continuity.
• Polarity testing. Confirms live and neutral correctly wired.
• RCD testing. Tests residual current device trip times.
• Earth fault loop impedance. Measures resistance of earth fault path.
• Documentation. Findings recorded on EICR document with codes for any defects.
• 2-4 hours typical for 3-bedroom property.

Who needs an EICR:

• UK landlords. Mandatory every 5 years (Electrical Safety Standards 2020). Includes private rental, social housing, HMOs.
• Commercial property operators. Required for Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 compliance. Typically 5 years.
• HMO landlords. Always required. Council licence often mandates 3 years.
• Homeowners. Recommended every 10 years (not mandatory).
• Property buyers. Sometimes request as part of due diligence.
• Insurance customers. Some insurers require for older properties.
• Business operators. Insurance and HSE compliance.

When EICRs are required:

• Periodic basis. Every 5 years for rentals. 10 years for owner-occupied. Specialised environments shorter.
• Change of tenancy. Provide copy to new tenant within 28 days. New EICR if expired or expiring.
• After major electrical work. Confirm new installations meet standards.
• Concerns reported. Tenant or visitor reports of electrical issues.
• Insurance renewal. Some insurers request periodic verification.
• Property purchase. Buyer due diligence.
• Mortgage application. Some lenders request for older properties.

EICR coding system explained:

• C1 - Danger present. Immediate remedial action required. Risk of injury. Examples: exposed live conductors, no earth on installation. Power off circuit if needed.
• C2 - Potentially dangerous. Urgent remedial action required (typically within 28 days). Examples: damaged outer sheath, no RCD on shower circuit.
• C3 - Improvement recommended. Not dangerous but should be addressed. Does not affect Satisfactory result. Examples: older fuse board could be RCD-protected.
• FI - Further investigation. Cannot be fully assessed during inspection. Needs follow-up. Examples: areas inaccessible during visit.
• Satisfactory. No C1, C2 or FI items present.
• Unsatisfactory. One or more C1, C2 or FI items present. Remedial work required.

UK legal framework for EICRs:

• Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. Mandatory rental EICRs.
• Renting Homes (Wales) Regulations 2020. Welsh equivalent.
• Housing (Scotland) Act 2014. Scottish Repairing Standard.
• Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Commercial premises duties.
• Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. Workplace electrical safety.
• IET Wiring Regulations BS 7671. National standard for installations.
• Building Regulations Part P. Notifiable electrical work.

UK EICR validity periods at a glance:

• Rental properties. Maximum 5 years (legally mandated).
• Owner-occupied homes. 10 years recommended.
• HMOs. 5 years (often shorter via licence).
• Office and retail. 5 years typical.
• Industrial. 3-5 years depending on use.
• Restaurants. 3-5 years.
• Schools. 5 years.
• Hospitals. 1-5 years.
• Caravans (touring). 3 years.
• Static caravans. 1 year.
• Swimming pools. 1 year.
• Construction temporary. 3 months.

EICR cost overview:

• 1-bedroom flat. £120-£180.
• 2-bedroom flat or house. £150-£250.
• 3-bedroom house. £180-£300 (most common).
• 4-bedroom house. £220-£380.
• 5+ bedroom property. £250-£500.
• Commercial small. £300-£500.
• Commercial larger. £500-£1000+.
• Remedial work. Variable £100-£2000+ if Unsatisfactory.

Who can issue EICRs:

• NICEIC. National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting. Most common UK scheme.
• NAPIT. National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers.
• ELECSA. Now part of NICEIC.
• STROMA. Building services certification body.
• Verification. Check registration number on the relevant scheme website.
• Insurance. Registered electricians have public liability insurance (£2 million minimum typical).
• Qualifications. 18th Edition IET Wiring Regulations BS 7671 qualified.

EICR vs other electrical certificates:

• EICR. Periodic inspection of existing installation. Every 5-10 years.
• EIC (Electrical Installation Certificate). For new installations or rewires. One-off.
• MEIWC (Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate). For small jobs.
• PAT (Portable Appliance Testing). For plug-in appliances, not fixed wiring. Annual.
• EPC (Energy Performance Certificate). Energy efficiency, not electrical safety.
• Gas Safety Certificate (CP12). Gas appliances, separate from electrical.

What to do with your EICR:

• Landlords. Provide to existing tenants within 28 days. New tenants within 28 days of move-in. Local authority within 7 days of request.
• Owner-occupiers. Keep with property documents. Provide to buyers when selling.
• Commercial. Keep on file for HSE and insurance.
• Set reminder. Calendar retest date 1-3 months before expiry.
• Address issues. Within timeframe specified for any C1, C2 or FI items.
• Get retest. If Unsatisfactory result requires remedial work.

Penalties for non-compliance:

• Landlords. Civil penalty up to £30,000 per breach. Plus enforcement action, Rent Repayment Orders.
• Commercial. HSE prosecution. Unlimited fines for serious breaches. Director personal liability.
• Reputation. Listed on rogue landlord databases. HSE prosecution register.
• Civil claims. If fault causes harm to tenants or visitors.
• Insurance. May be voided if testing not maintained.

Knowing what an EICR is helps UK landlords, homeowners and businesses navigate electrical safety compliance. Our full EICR Help hub covers EICR cost, validity periods, legal requirements and broader electrical inspection guidance for UK homes and businesses.