What an EICR actually is, who needs one and how to read the result — without the scare tactics.
If you let a property in England, an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) isn't optional — it's the law. But there's a lot of noise around them, so here's the honest version.
What an EICR actually is
It's a thorough check of the fixed wiring — the consumer unit, circuits, sockets and accessories — to confirm they're safe to keep using. A qualified electrician inspects and tests, then writes up what they found and gives the installation an overall satisfactory or unsatisfactory result.
Who needs one, and how often
- Private landlords: at least every five years, and at the start of a new tenancy.
- Homeowners: not legally required, but sensible every ten years or when you buy.
- Anyone with older wiring, frequent tripping, or scorch marks: sooner rather than later.
How to read the result
Observations are coded. C1 means danger present — act immediately. C2 means potentially dangerous — needs fixing soon. C3 is improvement recommended, and on its own doesn't make a report unsatisfactory. A good electrician will talk you through every code rather than just handing you a fail.
If your report comes back unsatisfactory, you've 28 days to put the work right. We can quote the remedial work and re-test once it's done.
