How Long an EICR Takes and What Is Involved

EICR stands for Electrical Installation Condition Report. It is a formal assessment of the fixed electrical installation in a property: the wiring, the consumer unit (fuse board), sockets, light fittings, switches and the earthing and bonding. It checks whether these are safe to keep using and whether anything is damaged, worn out or does not meet current standards.

It is not the same as PAT testing, which covers portable appliances such as kettles and lamps. An EICR looks at the permanent installation behind the walls and in the fuse board.

For a typical three-bedroom house, expect the inspection to take a few hours. A small flat is often quicker. A large house, a property with several consumer units or a commercial unit with many circuits can take most of a day or spread over more than one visit.

The main things that affect the time are:

The number of circuits and outlets. Every circuit has to be tested, so more sockets, lights and fixed appliances mean more time.

Access. Locked rooms, furniture in front of sockets, a loft or garage full of boxes and a consumer unit hidden behind stored items all slow things down.

The condition of the installation. Older wiring, signs of damage or poor previous work take longer to trace and record.

Any missing records. If there are no earlier certificates or circuit schedules, the inspector may need to work out what each circuit does.

The inspector starts with a visual check of the consumer unit, wiring where it can be seen, sockets, switches and light fittings. They look for scorching, cracked accessories, loose fixings, missing covers and anything that looks unsafe.

Next comes testing. Some tests are done with the circuit isolated, such as checking continuity and insulation between conductors. Others are done with the supply on, such as measuring how quickly protective devices would respond to a fault. The inspector records results for each circuit on a schedule that forms part of the report.

The power will be switched off for periods while this happens. That can affect computers, freezers, alarms and anything else that needs constant power, so plan around it.

Clear access to the consumer unit and to sockets and switches in every room. Let the inspector know about any outbuildings, garages, shared supplies or extra fuse boards, as these should be included.

Turn off and, where sensible, save work on computers and other sensitive equipment. If you are a landlord, arrange access with your tenants beforehand. If the property is commercial, tell the electrician about server rooms, data equipment and any machinery that cannot be shut down so timing can be agreed.

Pass on any earlier electrical certificates or reports you have. They help the inspector and can speed things up.

Once testing is finished, the electrician produces the report. How soon you receive it depends on the electrician, so ask when you book.

The report gives an overall result of satisfactory or unsatisfactory, with observations coded by severity. Code C1 means danger is present, C2 means potentially dangerous, and C3 means improvement is recommended. FI means further investigation is needed. A C1, C2 or FI code leads to an unsatisfactory result, and the problems need to be put right.

An unsatisfactory result is not a punishment, it is a list of what needs attention. Remedial work is usually quoted separately from the inspection, so ask for it in writing. Landlords have specific duties when a report flags urgent faults, and the rules can change, so check GOV.UK for the current position.

An EICR is not valid forever. It gives a recommended date for the next inspection, based on the condition of the installation and how the property is used. Intervals are commonly longer for owner-occupied homes and shorter for rented homes, and a new report is also sensible after major work or when you buy a property. Check GOV.UK for the current requirements, especially if you let property.

For pricing, ask for a written quote. The cost is usually driven by the size of the property, the number of circuits and consumer units, how easy everything is to reach, and how long the job is expected to take. Some electricians quote a fixed price for the inspection, others charge by time, and any follow-up repairs and parts are normally separate. Make sure the quote says what is and is not included.