Save on an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)

What an EICR provide and what does it tell me?

An EICR provides landlords with a summary of the condition of the electrics in their rental property – and recommends any remedial action needed to make sure everything is in satisfactory condition, in line with the British standard for electrical safety (BS 7671). If any installation, fixture, fitting or equipment doesn’t pass electrical safety inspection, it will be given one of three codes:

• C1 – danger present, a risk to anyone using it
• C2 – potentially dangerous
• C3 – not immediately dangerous, but improvement recommended

Anything classified as FI (further investigation required) should be looked into as soon as practically possible. Further investigation could reveal a dangerous or potentially dangerous condition.

If the EICR recommends work to make your home safe, our electrician will give you a free quote for getting this done. Any work which is undertaken will be recorded separately on a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate – and you’ll be given a copy. This will detail all actions taken to fix problems found during the inspection.

Is an ECIR a legal requirement in Wales?

Landlords in Wales are legally required to get an EICR every 5 years for privately and socially rented homes in Wales.

Electrical installations should be inspected and tested to ensure they are safe for continued use. This test is known as ‘periodic inspection and testing’ (PIT). Once the PIT has been completed, you will be issued with an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR).

A landlord is required to have the electrical installation of the dwelling tested every five years, unless the previous EICR indicates a shorter testing interval is required.

What happens if the report finds additional C1/C2 remedial work is needed?

If we find work is needed to make the property safe, your electrician will explain the requirement and also provide a free quote for getting everything done for you. Legally, it’s the landlord’s responsibility to either investigate further or repair any faults found in the electrical safety report. The landlord must ensure further investigations or repairs are completed within 28 days of the inspection, or within the timeframe set out in the report if this is shorter. When the repairs have been carried out, landlords need written evidence that the electrical safety standards have now been met and the property is electrically compliant. This confirmation must be supplied to each existing tenant, along with the original report identifying further work is required. The local authority may request a copy of the report and evidence of work completed at any time. 

How do EICRs differ from visual inspection reports?

In general, there are two types of domestic electrical safety report: a visual inspection report (VIR) and an electrical condition report (EICR).

The VIR (sometimes called a visual condition report) is a basic check to identify defects, signs of damage, recommendations and observations. This does not include circuit testing and it’s only suitable if the installation has been tested recently.

The EICR (also called the periodic inspection) includes visual checks as well as testing of electrical installation, which would identify any hidden damage. It includes checking the safety of the electrical installation, including a visual inspection of fixtures and fittings, plus a fixed electrical equipment test, and a portable appliance test (PAT) on portable appliances.

What happens if I don’t have an EICR or don’t get the issues fixed?

Non-compliance with the regulations means the local authority will supply the landlord with an enforcement notice. If a landlord fails to act on this, the local authority can enforce it by having the repairs completed (and billing the landlord). They can even impose a fine of up to £30,000.