How to choose a company for an EICR

An EICR is an inspection and test of the fixed electrical installation in a property: the consumer unit, wiring, sockets, switches, lighting circuits and earthing and bonding. The electrician records what they find and gives an overall outcome of satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Observations are coded to show how urgent each issue is.

It is a condition report, not a repair job. If problems are found, the remedial works are separate, and you should know before you book how the company deals with them.

Not every electrician who is good at installing is suitable for inspecting. Inspection and testing is its own skill. The person needs to know the current wiring standards, use calibrated test equipment and interpret results with sound judgement.

Ask the company who will carry out the inspection, what qualifications they hold in periodic inspection and testing, and how recently they have done this kind of work. A good company will answer plainly. Also ask whether the electrician is registered with a recognised competent person scheme, and ask to see proof. A genuine electrician will not mind.

A few practical questions tell you a lot:

What will the report include? You should receive a full written report with a schedule of circuits tested and any observations coded clearly, not just a one page pass or fail.

Do they test every circuit? A sample is sometimes appropriate on larger installations, but the extent of testing should be agreed and written down.

Will the power be switched off, and for how long? Parts of the inspection need circuits isolated, which matters if you have tenants, a business running or sensitive equipment.

How will they handle faults? Find out whether they will explain the findings, quote for remedial works separately, and let you choose whether to use them or someone else.

This is also where you work out who needs to be involved. For a rented home the landlord is normally the one responsible for arranging the inspection, while tenants need to allow access at a reasonable time.

Be cautious of any company that quotes a figure without asking about the property. The cost is shaped by the size of the installation, mainly how many circuits there are and how many rooms and outbuildings need testing. The age and condition of the wiring also matter, along with how easy it is to reach the consumer unit, sockets and fittings.

Some companies charge a fixed price for the inspection, some work to an hourly rate, and some add a callout fee. Parts and repairs are normally extra, and the time of day or week can affect the price. Furniture, locked rooms and poor access can make the visit take longer.

Whatever the structure, ask for a written quote that says what is included, what is not, and how any further work will be charged. Compare quotes on the same basis, not just on the bottom line.

Be wary of a company that will not say who is attending or will not show proof of registration. Treat a report promised without an inspection as a serious red flag, as is a vague quote. Pressure to agree to repairs on the spot is another warning sign, especially if the repair list seems unrelated to the observations in the report.

It also helps if the inspector is independent in how they present findings. You want an honest account of the condition, not a long list designed to generate work.

An EIC, an electrical installation certificate, is issued when a new installation or a new circuit is completed. An EICR looks at the condition of an installation that is already in use. They are not the same document.

An installation certificate shows that the work met the standards when it was done. Over the years wiring ages and gets altered, so a periodic condition report is still needed. Landlords and other property owners should check the current rules and recommended intervals on GOV.UK, because rules can change.