What Is an EICR?

If you’ve been asked for an EICR, by a letting agent, a council, a buyer’s surveyor, or an insurer, and you’re not sure what one actually is, this guide explains it in plain English. When you’re ready to book one in Kent, our EICR testing page covers how we do it.

What an EICR actually is

EICR stands for Electrical Installation Condition Report. It’s a formal inspection and test of the fixed wiring in a property: the consumer unit (fuse board), the circuits running off it, and the accessible sockets, switches, and light fittings. The result is a written report that says whether the installation is satisfactory or unsatisfactory against BS 7671, the UK wiring regulations, and lists anything that needs attention.

It’s a snapshot of condition at a point in time, a bit like an MOT for a property’s electrics. It doesn’t cover plug-in appliances, just the fixed installation that’s part of the building.

What gets tested

An EICR is both a visual inspection and a set of electrical tests. The visual side checks the consumer unit, the condition of accessories, earthing and bonding, and signs of damage or overheating. The testing side measures things you can’t see: the continuity of conductors, the insulation resistance between them, polarity (that live and neutral are the right way round), earth fault loop impedance, and that every RCD trips correctly and fast enough.

Together those checks tell a qualified electrician whether the installation is safe to keep using, and exactly where it falls short if it doesn’t.

What the codes mean: C1, C2, C3 and FI

Anything found during the inspection is given a code, and these are the heart of the report:

• C1, danger present. A risk of injury now. This fails the report and needs sorting immediately.
• C2, potentially dangerous. Not an immediate danger but could become one. This also fails the report and needs remedial work.
• C3, improvement recommended. Not a failure. The installation is safe, but something could be better.
• FI, further investigation required. Something needs looking into more deeply before a code can be given.

A report is satisfactory when there are no C1 or C2 items. C3 items on their own still pass. So a property can have recommendations on its report and still be perfectly compliant.

Who needs an EICR

Landlords need one by law. Since June 2020, every privately rented home in England must have a satisfactory EICR at least every five years and at the start of any new tenancy, with the certificate available to tenants and the council on request. Local authorities can issue penalties of up to £30,000 for non-compliance, so it isn’t optional.

Buyers and sellers often commission one around a sale. A seller uses it to head off questions from a buyer’s surveyor; a buyer uses it to understand what they’re taking on before committing.

Homeowners are sensible to have one if the installation hasn’t been tested in around ten years, if they’ve just moved in, or if they’ve noticed warm sockets, frequent tripping, or a burning smell.

How long it takes and what it costs

How long depends on the property: the number of circuits, the age of the installation, and how accessible everything is. Some are done in a morning, others take a full day. The written report follows within 48 hours of testing.

Cost depends on the size of the property and the circuit count, so it’s priced as a fixed quote after a quick conversation about the property rather than a one-size-fits-all figure. If the report comes back unsatisfactory, any remedial work is quoted separately, so you stay in control of what you spend.

Booking an EICR in Kent

We carry out EICRs for landlords, buyers, sellers, and homeowners across Kent, with same-week appointments and the report within 48 hours. For the full service, including landlord compliance and remedial work, see our EICR testing and landlord EICR pages, or get in touch for a quote.

Frequently asked questions

Is an EICR a legal requirement? For privately rented homes in England, yes, every five years and at each new tenancy. For owner-occupiers it’s strongly recommended but not a legal requirement.

What happens if my property fails? A fail just means there are C1 or C2 items to put right. We quote the remedial work separately, carry it out, and re-test, after which a fresh satisfactory report is issued.

How often do I need one? At least every five years for a rental, or sooner if the report specifies. For an owner-occupied home, around every ten years is a sensible guide.

Does an EICR cover my appliances? No. It covers the fixed wiring of the building, not plug-in appliances. Appliance testing (PAT) is a separate thing.