What is an EICR? The electrical installation condition report explained
In short: An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is a formal inspection and report on the condition of an existing electrical installation against the BS 7671 wiring regulations. It records observations coded C1, C2, C3 or FI and gives an overall satisfactory or unsatisfactory result. Private rentals in England need one at least every five years.
Key points
- EICR stands for Electrical Installation Condition Report.
- It inspects and tests an existing installation against BS 7671 and rates it satisfactory or unsatisfactory.
- Findings are coded C1, C2, C3 or FI; C1, C2 and FI make it unsatisfactory.
- Private rentals in England need one at least every five years; homeowners have no legal duty.
- It is a snapshot of condition on the day, valid for up to five years on a rental.
EICR is one of those acronyms that gets used as if everyone already knows it, usually by an electrician or a letting agent who does. Here is the plain version: an EICR is a health check on the fixed electrical installation of a building, written up as a report. It is the document most people mean when they ask for an "electrical safety certificate".
What EICR stands for
Electrical Installation Condition Report. Each word does work. Installation means the fixed wiring, the consumer unit, the sockets and the circuits, not the appliances plugged into them. Condition means it reports on what is already there, rather than certifying new work. Report means it is a record of findings, not a pass certificate. It checks the existing installation against BS 7671, the wiring regulations.
What the inspector checks
An EICR is part looking and part measuring. The inspector visually examines the consumer unit and a representative sample of accessories, then runs the tests that prove the installation is safe:
- Continuity of protective conductors, that the earth path is intact
- Insulation resistance, that there is no breakdown between conductors
- Polarity, that everything is connected the right way round
- Earth fault loop impedance, that a fault will trip the protective device in time
- RCD operation, that the safety devices trip within their rated time
Our guide to how long an EICR takes breaks down where those hours go on a typical house.
The codes and the result
Every problem found is given a code, and the codes decide the outcome. In short: C1 means danger present, C2 means potentially dangerous, C3 means improvement recommended, and FI means further investigation needed. A single C1, C2 or FI anywhere makes the whole report unsatisfactory; C3 items do not. The full detail, with worked examples of how common faults are coded, is in our guide to EICR codes.
Who needs one
| You are | Your position |
|---|---|
| A private landlord in England | Legally required, at least every five years |
| A homeowner selling | Optional, but a recent satisfactory report shortens the buyer's questions |
| A homeowner buying | The cheapest survey on the most dangerous system in the house |
| A business occupier | Driven by the Electricity at Work Regulations and your insurer; commonly five-yearly |
The landlord duty is the strict one, with deadlines and penalties, set out in our guide to landlord EICR requirements.
How long it lasts, and what it costs
An EICR is a snapshot of condition on the day it was done, valid for up to five years on a rental or the shorter period the report sets. A major change to the installation, a new consumer unit or an extension, can warrant a fresh look sooner. On cost, budget £120 to £400 by property size and region, explained in full in our EICR cost guide. The cheapest quote is usually the most heavily sampled inspection, which is the one piece of advice worth carrying into the conversation.
Common questions
What does EICR stand for?
Electrical Installation Condition Report. It is the formal report on the condition of an existing electrical installation, inspected and tested against BS 7671, the UK wiring regulations.
What does an EICR check?
The condition of the consumer unit and a representative sample of accessories, then dead and live tests on the circuits: continuity, insulation resistance, polarity, earth fault loop impedance and RCD operation. The findings are coded and the installation is rated satisfactory or unsatisfactory.
How often should an EICR be done?
For a private rental in England, at least every five years, or sooner if the report says so. Homeowners have no fixed interval; a common recommendation is every ten years for an owner-occupied house, or at a change of occupancy.
How long does an EICR certificate last?
Up to five years for a rental, or the shorter period the report specifies. It is a snapshot of condition on the day, so a major change to the installation can warrant a fresh inspection sooner.
Is an EICR a legal requirement?
For private rentals in England, yes, under the Electrical Safety Standards regulations. For owner-occupied homes there is no legal duty, though it is the cheapest survey you can run on the most dangerous system in the house.
Who is responsible for an EICR on a commercial property?
Usually the duty holder for the premises, which depends on the lease. Often it is the occupier or employer under the Electricity at Work Regulations, but a full repairing lease can place it on the tenant. The lease and the duty holder decide it, not a single rule.
SparkCerts runs the whole job for a UK sparky: quote it, fill the certificate in on site with readings checked as you type, and the invoice goes out with the cert attached. Three jobs free, then £12 a month.
Try it on your next job