EICR: What It Is, What It Costs & Who Legally Needs One
Technically Reviewed By Thomas Jevons
Electrical Training, Assessing & Quality Assurance Expert
Employability Review By Joshua Jarvis
Careers, Employment & Learner Placement Expert
- Last reviewed:
- Changes: Initial publication covering EICR requirements, costs, validity periods, and qualification pathways for England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland
Table of Contents
Everything you need to know about a Electrical Installation Condition Report called an (EICR), when you need one, when you don’t need one, what happens if you need one but don’t have one, and most importantly what, when and how to do it.
What is an EICR?
If you’re searching for EICR most likely you have already come across the term, it stands for – Electrical Installation Condition Report, 99.9% of the UK would not know what is actually involved, speak to most sparkies and even they will struggle to do one, as it’s a specialist area of being an electrician. If you’re weighing up training to become a qualified electrician yourself, we’ve put together a complete guide covering routes, costs, and timelines.
So Why is it so Important Now?
It’s always been important. It hit the spotlight in 2020 when it became a legal requirement for private landlords, and now in 2026 it became a legal requirement for social landlords from 1 May.
How Long is an EICR Valid For?
The certificate is normally valid for 5 years, unless it’s stated otherwise on the certificate by the electrician (the legal standing is that a rented property must have an EICR done every 5 years). Homeowners are advised to have one done every 10 years, and most estate agents recommend house sellers to get one done before listing their property.
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What Does an EICR Provide and What Does It Tell Me?
I have always compared an EICR for a property to being the equivalent of an MOT for a car (fun fact MOTS came into play in 1960), like an MOT, the EICR is there to tell you, is the property fit for use, and if it’s not what is needed.
What Will Be Checked, Inspected and Tested?
The four pillars, this is what most electricians will focus on during an EICR inspection:
- The Consumer Unit (Fuse Board)
- The Wiring (Insulation)
- Damage/Wear and Tear
- Earthing and Bonding
What Standard Should an Electrical Installation Meet?
The UK sets out that all electrical installations should hit certain safety standards, the gold standard has always been linked to BS 7671 (The IET Wiring Regulations) or as I would say the 18th edition.
The confusing part, the BS 7671 is not a legal requirement but Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and the 2020/2025 Rental Regulations are a legal requirement, and the only way to show you’re adhering to the law is by following what is set out by the BS 7671, yep it’s confusing.
What is the Purpose of an EICR? (Electrical Installation Condition Report)
It’s simple, to save lives.
One of the biggest causes of house fires in the UK is electrical faults or faulty electrical items, this year alone house fires took 279 lives in the UK [1].
To me one life lost is one life too many.
How Do EICRs Differ From Visual Inspection Reports?
The best way I can explain it, the difference is the same as someone walking around your car and kicking the tyres whilst checking the paint work, compared to a trained mechanic opening the car and doing a full MOT.
A visual inspection report, literally is that they normally do not focus on:
- Any kind of testing
- Fault Finding
The biggest problem, it does not cover you for legal compliance, it’s sometimes used for peace of mind when in-between checks.
Do I Have to Get an EICR?
If you’re a landlord, social or private you need an EICR by law.
Now we will cover the grey area, do businesses need an EICR?
No, but they still need to adhere to Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, and guess what, the easiest way to show you adhere to this is by getting an EICR done.
The accidental landlord — a friend calls you needing somewhere to stay for a few nights. You don’t charge them rent, but they buy you a pint to say thank you. In the eyes of the law, this could be seen as financial payment, meaning you have just become an accidental landlord.
The good news and the not so good news, if they live with you in your private residence, you do not legally need an EICR, the bad news, if that dodgy light you have had for 3 years electrocutes them, they could take you to court under a civil charge (please seek legal advice if you’re not sure).
Is an EICR a Legal Requirement in Wales?
Yes, it is, and in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The table below focuses on private landlords.
| Country | Started | Full Compliance | Legislation |
|---|---|---|---|
Scotland First in the UK to legislate | Dec 2015 | Dec 2016 | Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 |
England Triggered by Grenfell-era safety reforms | Jul 2020 | Apr 2021 | Electrical Safety Standards Regs 2020 |
Wales Broadest tenancy reform in devolved history | Dec 2022 | Dec 2023 | Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 |
Northern Ireland Most recent — rolling out now | Apr 2025 | Dec 2025 | Private Tenancies Act (NI) 2022 |
What Happens During an EICR?
A normal EICR can take anything from 1-2 hours and then 1-2 hours to do the paperwork (average 3-bedroom property), most will do the paperwork after the day is done, this then reduces the amount of time they are in the property.
What Will Happen in the Check?
They will normally focus on the first 3 points whilst in the house, and the 4th one is normally done after the visit.
- Visual inspection
- Testing of circuits
- Recording the results
- Issuing the report
Expect the power to be turned off during a large portion of the inspection.
Initial Visual Inspection
They will have a quick walk around to see if there are any visual signs of degraded or damaged electrical circuits, the telltale signs normally include but are not limited to:
- Cracked sockets
- Overheating Marks
- Discoloured Sockets
- Buzzing or cracking sounds
- Fuse Board layout and material (general rule of thumb it should have a button on it saying test.)
Testing of circuits
This is broken down into two sections, whilst the power is off and then live testing.
So, the first part is what we call dead testing, as the name says, it’s done when all power is turned off at source. They will send a tiny pulse and measure how much stays inside the wire, if you have leaks it will show up (leaks normally indicate damaged wiring, which is one of the biggest risks that starts house fires).
live testing, for me this is so important (long story short, I got electrocuted as a 7-year-old).
Once the power is back on, the electrician will use a tester to push a small amount of electricity to the earth, this mimics a person touching a bare wire or faulty plug/appliance etc. If it’s working the way it should, it should trigger a shut down within 40 milliseconds (fun fact, 40 milliseconds is faster than the blink of an eye and quick enough to stop the electricity disrupting your heart’s natural beat.)
Recording the results
This is typically what the electrician will use to write down the results.
What Does a Report Include?
Every circuit needs to be documented, this could include but not limited to:
- lighting circuits
- cooker circuits
- shower circuits
- socket circuits
- Outbuildings
- Hard wired smoke/fire alarms
Remedial Work for Electrical Installations or Equipment
Understanding what to do once you have your report is as important as getting the report done in the first place.
The only time nothing is better than anything, most reports will give you a pass, a rank, or letter, or even a *, thumbs up something, to say well done. Not the EICR report.
Each section will have a code section, if it’s blank, it normally means good news. If it has a code, then there is work to be done.
C1 – Danger Present
– Danger, Will Robinson!’ said the robot (Lost in Space analogy), but all jokes aside the electrician should make this safe there and then, as a C1 indicates a direct risk to health.
C2 Potentially Dangerous
This is a fail and needs correcting within 28 days, failure to correct may result in further action taken.
C3 Improvement Recommended
This is a pass, a bit like an MOT advisory it needs looking at as sooner or later it will be a problem, a bit like your tyres, when the MOT says it’s passed but they are running low on the tread.
FI Further Investigation
Something was found but they are not sure what it is, they need to or you need to hire someone to dig deeper, this also counts as an unsatisfactory result until it’s cleared.
What if remedial works to an electrical installation cannot be completed within 28 days?
In an ideal world, I would say this should never happen, but it does, landlords blame tenants, the government blames landlords and somewhere in between everyone gets tarnished with the same brush.
So, for years tenants knew that a valid EICR was needed to serve a section 21 eviction notice, so tenants would not allow an electrician in to do the EICR, so in essence making it much more difficult to evict them.
The other side of the coin, landlords would blame tenants for not giving accesses, as landlords knew that their electrics were either dated, or not suitable for use, so a full house wire might be needed (this can cost anything from £4,500 to £8,000 for a 3-bed house).
In the eyes of the law, all work must be completed within 28 days or sooner. The law states landlords must demonstrate all reasonable steps to get the work done.
Here is where the grey area comes in.
If a landlord genuinely can’t get accesses to the property, and the tenant is non-compliant (please keep a record and seek legal advice).
If the part a landlord needs is on a back order (please keep a record and seek legal advice). [2]
Which Homes Do the Regulations Apply To?
| Property Type | Is it Legal? | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Private Rental | Yes (Mandatory) | Every 5 Years |
| Social Housing | Yes (Mandatory from 1 May 2026) | Every 5 Years |
| HMOs (Shared Houses) | Yes (Mandatory) | Every 5 Years |
| Owner-Occupied | Recommended | Every 10 Years |
Across the UK it’s now mandatory.
Are Specialist Checks Needed for Solar PV or Battery Storage Systems?
Yes, but limitations, the EICR will cover the fixed wiring connected to solar PV or battery storage, but the equipment itself may need a separate or additional inspection by someone competent in that system.
Does Inspection and Testing Need to Be Undertaken if It Is a New Build Home or There Are New Electrical Installations?
| Feature | EIC (New Work) | EICR (Existing Work) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | To certify brand-new wiring. | To check the “health” of old wiring. |
| When you get it | Immediately after the job is done. | Every 5 years (for rentals). |
| Landlord Legal? | Yes, a copy satisfies the 2020 Regulations for the first 5 years after issue. | Yes, it is the standard pass. |
FeatureEIC (New Work)
PurposeTo certify brand-new wiring.
When you get itImmediately after the job is done.
Landlord Legal?Yes, a copy satisfies the 2020 Regulations for the first 5 years after issue.
FeatureEICR (Existing Work)
PurposeTo check the “health” of old wiring.
When you get itEvery 5 years (for rentals).
Landlord Legal?Yes, it is the standard pass.
A brand new house will be issued with an EIC certificate which is valid for 5 years, please check with your legal team if you are unsure.
Do the Regulations Apply to Communal Areas in Blocks of Flats or Communal Areas Within the Premises?
| Area | Frequency | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Corridors & Stairs | 5 Years | To ensure safe exit routes and lighting. |
| Lifts & Risers | 5 Years | To prevent entrapment and electrical fires. |
| External Lighting | 5 Years | To prevent shocks in wet outdoor conditions. |
Simple answer is yes if you’re the owner of the block/managing agent.
Please note: emergency lighting follows BS 5266.
What Does It Mean for Landlords?
Simple, get it done, get it right. There is no way around it, take your responsibility seriously when it comes to keeping tenants safe.
Does an EICR Need to Be Undertaken Before Each New Tenancy if a Valid Report or Record Already Exists?
No, it does not, unless stated on the last report.
Will a Tenant Be Entitled to Compensation if They Have Been Living in a Home With Faulty Electrics?
Yes, they may, depending on the situation please refer to [3], at this point please seek legal advice.
What if the Landlord Is the Local Council?
Councils fall under the social landlord banner.
Want to learn how to do an EICR? Reach out:
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Do You Need a Professional to Install an EICR Test?
Yes, you do. The person needs to belong to a government-approved competence scheme such as NICEIC, NAPIT, or SELECT.
These schemes are governed by the Electrotechnical Assessment Specification (EAS). From 1 October 2026, the EAS will require electricians who carry out EICRs to have passed the C&G 2391-52 Electrical Inspection & Testing Course or equivalent, have at least two years documented practical experience (the same kind of hands-on evidence you build while completing our NVQ Level 3 course), and maintain ongoing CPD records.
Failure to comply may result in periodic inspection and testing being removed from a business’s scope of registration.
If you’re considering a career change into the electrical trade, take a look at our electrician training courses to see how you could qualify.
How Does a Landlord Find a Qualified Person?
Just type ‘EICR Certificates’ and lots of companies will come up. The ones I’d recommend can be found at the registered competent person electrical website [4].
Financial Penalties
I would always advise doing it properly so you never fall into this bracket.
Curious what qualified electricians actually earn in the UK? Our electrician salary guide breaks down real pay figures by experience and region.
What Happens if I Don’t Have an EICR or Don’t Get the Issues Fixed?
| Category | Is it Mandatory? | Frequency | Primary Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private Landlord | YES | Every 5 Years | Up to £40,000 fine + Rent Repayment |
| Social Landlord | YES | Every 5 Years | Mandatory from 1 May 2026 |
| Business / Commercial | YES (De Facto) | 1–5 Years* | Unlimited H&S fines / Void Insurance |
| HMO (3+ tenants) | YES | Every 5 Years | £40,000 fine + Loss of Licence |
| Resident Landlord (1–2 Lodgers) | NO | Recommended | Civil liability if injury occurs |
| Homeowner | NO | 10 Years (Rec) | Possible insurance claim rejection |
| Selling a Home | NO | Upon Sale | Often requested by buyers/lenders |
| Stage | Name | What Happens | Your Action/Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Alleged Breach | The council identifies a potential failure (e.g., no EICR on file or a tenant complaint). | Ensure your records are organised and ready. |
| Stage 2 | Notice of Intent | The council sends a formal letter stating they intend to issue a financial penalty. | 28 Days to submit “Representations” (your evidence/defence). |
| Stage 3 | Final Notice | The council reviews your defence. If they reject it, they issue a formal demand for payment. | Payment is now legally due unless you choose to appeal. |
| Stage 4 | Formal Appeal | You lodge a case with the First-tier Tribunal if you believe the fine is unfair or legally wrong. | 28 Days from the Final Notice to lodge the appeal. |
| Stage 5 | Tribunal Decision | An independent judge hears the case and makes a final ruling on the penalty. | The fine is either upheld, reduced, or cancelled entirely. |
Three things mainly affect your EICR cost: your region, your property type, and the number of bedrooms. The table below shows typical price ranges across the UK based on these factors. Your actual quote may vary depending on the number of circuits in your property and how long the inspection takes.
EICR Cost Estimator
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Estimated EICR Cost
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Based On
What This Covers
Inspection, testing and the EICR report. Remedial work for any faults found is always quoted separately.
How Much Does an EICR Cost?
Two major factors that affect EICR costs:
- Regional Area
- Property Size
| Region | 1-2 Bed | 3-4 Bed |
|---|---|---|
| London | £120–£250+ | £220–£400+ |
| South East | £130–£230 | £180–£350 |
| South West | £120–£210 | £160–£330 |
| Midlands | £110–£190 | £150–£300 |
| North West | £110–£180 | £150–£290 |
| North East | £100–£170 | £130–£270 |
| Scotland | £120–£220 | £160–£330 |
| Wales | £110–£190 | £140–£290 |
| Northern Ireland | £100–£180 | £130–£280 |
References
Note on Accuracy and Updates
Last reviewed: 05 May 2026. This page is maintained regularly. We correct errors and refresh sources as electrical safety regulations and guidance change. EICR legal requirements updated following Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 implementation. BS 7671 references current as of 18th Edition Amendment 2 (2022). Costs and market expectations reviewed quarterly based on industry data.
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