Faulty wiring is one of the main causes of electrical fires in the home. Because cables are often hidden away inside walls, it can be easy to forget about checking the condition of electrical installations. It’s still important to bear electrical safety in mind though. An electrical installation condition report (EICR) can greatly reduce the risk of property damage by ensuring that all cables, switches, sockets and other accessories are up to par.
They’re especially important in private rented homes, as it’s the landlord’s responsibility to ensure their tenants live in a safe property.
Navigate our article on electrical installation condition reports (EICR):
What Is An EICR?
An electrical installation condition report (EICR) is a mandatory certificate that details the condition of all electrical installations in a property. An electrical installation refers to all the fixed electrical equipment which is supplied through the electricity meter. This assessment has to be performed by a qualified electrician. The purpose of an EICR is to ensure that the property is safe and compliant with electrical safety standards.
After an inspection has been carried out, you’ll be provided with an EICR. This report will contain:
- Property details and who performed the inspection
- Any inspection limitations. For example, if only some of the installations were tested or if some circuits couldn’t be turned off
- Whether the inspection was satisfactory or unsatisfactory (a pass or fail)
- A breakdown of any issues and the relevant classification codes by room/area (we’ve gone into these below)
- An inspection schedule that shows what’s been tested and the results of each test
You should keep this report safe – you might need to provide a copy to your local authority or insurance provider.
You can book an EICR through several UK energy providers, such as British Gas.
EICR codes
For a property to pass an inspection, all electrical installations need to be considered satisfactory. Any electrical circuits that are classed as less than satisfactory are given a grading system. If a report comes back as unsatisfactory, the landlord then has 28 days to complete any necessary repairs. They then need to provide copies to their tenant(s).
C1 = Danger present
This is the highest-priority code used in an EICR inspection. Getting a C1 means that there’s a risk of electric shock or fire if the issue isn’t quickly dealt with. Some examples of this are exposed live wires or broken plug sockets. A C1 can be resolved through repair or the relevant part/circuit being taken out of use.
C2 = Potentially dangerous
A C2 isn’t immediately dangerous like a C1, but could become so in the future. An example of this is a lack of mains protected bonding/earthing.
C3 = Improvement recommended
A C3 refers to any part of the electrical installation that isn’t in line with wiring regulations, but doesn’t present any immediate danger. An example of this is a plug socket that could cause damage to the plug itself. You don’t have to get these fixed, but it’s recommended that you do.
FI = Further investigation required without delay
Here, the electrical engineer has identified a problem but requires more time to investigate it. After this investigation, they’ll then be able to properly determine the severity of the issue.
Why Is An EICR Needed?
Here are the five main purposes of an EICR:
- Recording the inspection and testing results to ensure that all electrical installations are safe for use until the next inspection. A qualified electrician/engineer will perform these inspections
- Finding and reporting any damage and wear-and-tear that might affect the safety of those living in the property. Once issues are identified, the electrician will then recommend corrective action
- Finding any parts of the electrical installation that don’t meet IET wiring regulations. Criteria includes the suitability of control gear and switchgear, along with the condition of sockets
- Finding anything that might cause electric shocks and high temperatures. An EICR can recommend the repair and replacement of any items deemed as unsafe
- Providing an important record of the installations at the time of inspection, and for any inspection testing in the future. This also acts as proof to tenants that you’ve taken the necessary steps to ensure their safety
There are several other benefits to an EICR, such as:
- Safety of your tenants and any staff
- Remaining compliant with regulations
- Being legally protected in case of any electric fires or shocks that do occur. Otherwise, you could be required to pay up to £30,000 worth of penalties and fines
- Several insurance companies require you to have your electrical systems tested regularly
- Better energy efficiency (as an EICR will make you aware of areas where energy consumption can be reduced)
- Reducing your energy consumption will have the knock-on effect of saving you money. Identifying electrical faults also means that they can be corrected before they cause any costly damage
How Do EICR Tests Work?
During an EICR inspection, a qualified electrician/engineer will inspect electrical installations within your property. They’ll begin by carrying out a visual inspection. This includes checking for cracks, breaks and signs of overheating. They’ll then perform electrical testing by using voltage and currents to check the safety of different circuits. For an EICR test to be performed, the electrician will need to disconnect the electrical installation from the property’s main power supply.
Any discovered issues will be recorded and mentioned in the report. Some of the specific things that will be looked at during an EICR test include:
- Adequacy of bonding and earthing
- Condition of visible cables, leads, light fittings and downlighters
- Availability of residual current devices for sockets used to plug in outdoor electrical equipment
- Damage or wear and tear to electrical equipment and installations
- Suitability of control gear and switchgear
- Serviceability of sockets, switches, light fittings and any other electrical equipment
- Property changes that may have led to electrical installation deficiencies
- Any instances of “daisy-chaining” – when one extension lead is connected to another extension lead
Once the inspection is over, you’ll be issued with an EICR which needs to be kept until the next inspection date. The EICR will specify damages, defects, deterioration and any other conditions that could put anyone living in the property at risk.
You’ll be required to resolve any electrical issues within 28 days of receiving the recommendations (the electrician should have also provided you with a fixed price quotation for the remedial work). Once this work has been carried out, you’ll then get an EICR Certificate of Safety which verifies that your electrical systems are safe.
EICR FAQs
How long does an EICR take?
As a general rule, an EICR test will take anywhere between one and four hours to complete. How long it takes depends on the size of the building, the number of circuits that need testing and how accessible these electrical systems are. A typical property will probably fall somewhere between the 3-4 hour mark.
How much does an EICR cost?
Again, this depends on the size of your property, location (EICR costs tend to be higher in cities), the age of the property (as older properties require more thorough inspections) and how many different electrical systems need inspecting.
To give you a rough idea though, the average cost of an EICR for a two-bedroom flat is around £120 to £150. A one or two-bedroom house will be around the £150 to £180 mark, whereas a three or four-bedroom house will be around £200 to £250.
Are EICRs compulsory?
Although EICRs have been available for some time, they haven’t previously been compulsory. However, the new EICR regulations from June 2020 means that EICRs now need to be conducted before a tenancy commences, along with any remedial work being completed within 28 days. Existing tenancies also need a valid EICR.
So yes, electrical installation condition reports are now compulsory for landlords and/or letting agents.
How often are EICR inspections needed?
How often an EICR is required depends on the building. Some building types are more prone to risk than others, so they’ll require more frequent EICRs. The engineer will let you know how frequent these testing intervals are and what causes them to be this way.
Roughly speaking, it’s recommended that an EICR is carried out every 10 years (and every 5 years for privately rented properties).
Some of the reasons why an electrician might recommend more frequent inspections than every 5 years include:
- Age of installation – More regular tests are required for older electrical systems
- Property type – Properties with swimming pools need more frequent assessments (every 1-3 years)
- Environmental conditions – After a fire or flood, an inspection will be needed straight away, to assess the extent of damage to electrical systems
- Property usage change – If there’s a change in tenants or the property is being prepared to be sold then EICR’s are often recommended to see what work needs to be performed beforehand
When all inspections have been completed, the engineer will give a label to each electrical installation, showing the date of the inspection and the recommended date for the next EICR test.
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