How to get an EICR

EICR stands for Electrical Installation Condition Report. It is a formal assessment of the fixed wiring and connected parts of a property, such as the consumer unit (fuse board), circuits, sockets, light fittings, earthing and bonding. It is not a quick visual look. The electrician inspects the installation and carries out tests on the circuits to see whether it is safe to keep using.

The result is a written condition report. It records what was inspected, what was found, and whether the installation is rated satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Think of it as a health check for your electrics rather than a pass certificate for appliances.

First, decide what you need it for. Landlords, homeowners selling or buying, and people with an older installation all have different reasons, and it helps the electrician to know yours.

Second, gather what you can: the property address, the number of floors, roughly how many circuits or consumer units there are, and any previous electrical reports or certificates. Mention any known problems such as tripping circuits, flickering lights or warm sockets.

Third, ask for a written quote and agree a date. Make sure someone can give access to every room, the consumer unit and any outbuildings, garages or meters that are part of the installation. Tenants should be given proper notice.

Finally, plan for the power. Testing usually means turning the electricity off for periods, so move any sensitive equipment and warn anyone working from home.

Not every electrician is suited to inspection and testing. It needs specific knowledge of the wiring regulations, the right calibrated test equipment, and the experience to judge what the results mean. Ask the electrician whether they regularly carry out EICRs, what qualifications they hold in inspection and testing, and whether they are registered with a recognised competent person scheme. You can also ask to see proof.

Can you do your own EICR? In practice, no. Without the training and test instruments, a homeowner cannot produce a report that a mortgage lender, insurer, letting agent or local authority would trust. You can, however, do simple checks yourself, such as noting damaged sockets or a cracked consumer unit, and pass those observations on.

The electrician will usually start by looking at the consumer unit and checking the condition of accessories and visible wiring. They then isolate circuits in turn and test them. Expect some interruptions to power and a fair amount of time spent in cupboards, lofts and under stairs, depending on the property.

The report grades any findings with observation codes. C1 means danger is present and immediate action is needed. C2 means potentially dangerous. C3 means improvement is recommended. FI means further investigation is needed. A report with C1, C2 or FI findings is generally classed as unsatisfactory.

If remedial work is needed, ask for it to be itemised and quoted separately in writing. Once the faults are fixed, the electrician can confirm this in writing so you have a record that the installation has been brought up to a satisfactory standard.

A fair EICR quote depends on the size and complexity of the installation. The main things that move the cost are the number of circuits and consumer units, how many rooms and outbuildings there are, how easy it is to reach wiring and accessories, and how long the testing is likely to take. Older or altered installations can take longer to trace and test.

Some electricians quote a fixed price for the inspection, while others charge by time or add a callout element. Remedial work is separate from the report itself, and parts such as a replacement consumer unit are priced on top. Evening or weekend appointments can also change the price. Ask for a written quote that says what is included, so you can compare like for like.

For privately rented homes in England, landlords must ensure the electrical installation is inspected and tested at regular intervals, no longer than five years, and must give tenants a copy of the report. Other kinds of property commonly use five years or less as a guide too, and the report itself will recommend when the next inspection is due. Rules differ between nations and can change, so check GOV.UK for the current position before you book.