What is an EICR?

An EICR is an Electrical Installation Condition Report — a safety check of a property’s permanent fixed electrics. It includes wiring, sockets, switches, fuse boards, and light fittings. A qualified electrician looks for hazards, wear and tear, or anything outdated that might cause problems.

After the inspection, you’ll receive a written report. This confirms whether the electrics are safe or highlights issues that need attention. The report clearly categorises any problems, so you’ll know which need urgent action and which are simply recommendations for the future.

What is a qualified electrician?

A qualified electrician should be able to demonstrate:

· Relevant electrical qualifications – NVQ Level 3 or equivalent

· Current knowledge of BS 7671

· Competence in inspection and testing – City & Guilds 2391 or equivalent

· Professional indemnity and public liability insurance

Membership of the NICEIC (National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting), NAPIT (National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers) and

the ECA (Electrical Contractors’ Association) provide assurance of quality and compliance. An ECS card demonstrates that an electrician has met defined competency and safety requirements for electrical work.

What are the Results?

You’ll get a result of “Satisfactory” or “Unsatisfactory”, plus observations coded by severity (commonly C1, C2, C3, FI).

Every EICR uses the same coding system:

C1 – Danger Present: fix immediately.

C2 – Potentially Dangerous: urgent remedial work needed.

C3 – Improvement Recommended: not unsafe, but not up to current standards.

FI – Further Investigation: more checks needed before confirming safety.

Your report is only classed as “satisfactory” if no C1 or C2 issues are present. While you don’t have to act on C3 findings straight away, many landlords choose to, keeping the property in good condition.

However, if you receive any C1 or C2 issues on the report then this will come back as unsatisfactory and the works will be required to be completed within 28 days to bring the report up to a satisfactory standard.

What Happens During the Inspection (what the electrician actually does)

This isn’t a quick visual check. The electrician uses specialist equipment to test wiring, circuits, and safety devices such as “trip switches”. They’ll check sockets and light fittings, confirm earthing and bonding arrangements, and assess the safety of any fixed electrical appliances.

The goal is simple: identify risks now and spot anything that could become a problem later. By the end of the visit, you’ll know whether your property meets the latest safety standards.

Expect power to be switched off briefly at points.

The law: when EICRs are required

The law sets out specific responsibilities under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. You must:

· Arrange an EICR at least every five years.

· Use a qualified electrician.

· Give a copy of the report to new tenants before they move in, and to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection.

· Provide a copy to the local authority within seven days if they ask for it.

If the report identifies urgent issues, you must fix them within 28 days, or sooner if advised. Once the work is done, the electrician issues written confirmation that the problems have been resolved.

Skipping or delaying an EICR is a false economy. Fines can reach £30,000 per breach, and unsafe electrics may invalidate your landlord insurance. If something went wrong, you could be personally liable.

Just as important, unsafe electrics put tenants at risk and disputes or legal claims can follow quickly. Keeping your EICR up to date avoids all of this and shows tenants you take their safety seriously.

The minimum legal requirement is every five years, but sometimes it makes sense to do it sooner. Arrange one if major electrical work is carried out, if tenants raise concerns, or if the property suffers damage such as flooding or fire. If you’ve just bought a rental property and there isn’t a recent EICR available, get one done before tenants move in. You need to be able to provide the current report to the incoming tenant.

Common issues that come up on EICRs (real-world examples from Hello Neighbour)

These are some of the most frequent “flags” electricians find:

· No “trip switch” protection on circuits that now typically require it (shock/fire protection improvement)

· Consumer unit / fuse box issues (old rewireable fuses, poor labelling, inadequate protection, heat damage). Metal units are recommended

· Poor earthing/bonding to gas/water services

· Damaged accessories (cracked sockets/switches, loose connections, signs of overheating)

· DIY alterations not correctly protected or terminated

· Overloaded/incorrect circuits or missing documentation/identification

How to get an EICR (step-by-step)

1. Find a competent qualified electrician (ideally inspection/testing experienced; verify registrations where possible).

2. Request a quote (give property type/size, number of bedrooms, if it’s an HMO, age of electrics if known).

3. Book access (all rooms, consumer unit, meter cupboard; tell tenants what to expect).

4. Receive report (and keep it safely; share it with tenants/contract-holders as required).

5. Do remedial work (if needed) and obtain written confirmation once fixed a passed EICR report once completed.

Or ask Hello Neighbour to do it!

What do EICRs cost?

Prices vary by region, size and layout of the property size, number of circuits, and complexity. A small flat will cost less than a large HMO, but in either case, the report gives you compliance protection, peace of mind, and evidence for deposit or insurance disputes. At Hello Neighbour, we arrange professional EICRs for £175 inc. VAT, or include them as part of our Management Plus package.

Important: If the EICR finds problems, remedial work is extra, sometimes minor (replacing a damaged socket), sometimes bigger (consumer unit upgrade, bonding, partial rewire).

How Hello Neighbour can help

We know keeping on top of compliance can be daunting. That’s why we take care of everything. We arrange the inspection with a qualified electrician, coordinate with tenants for access, and share copies of the report with you and your tenants.

We also track renewal dates, sending reminders in good time so nothing gets missed. If remedial work is needed, we manage that process too and make sure you get confirmation once the work is complete.

Preparing for the Visit

A little preparation goes a long way. Make sure the electrician has access to all rooms and the consumer unit, share any previous electrical reports, and fix small visible issues like cracked sockets ahead of time. Let your tenants know when the visit is happening, as power may need to be turned off during testing.

Neighbourly Takeaways

· An EICR every five years is a legal requirement

· They must be carried out by a qualified electrician

· Your report is graded “satisfactory” or “unsatisfactory”

· Unsatisfactory requires action within 28 days

· Don’t skip as it is dangerous and fines are substantial

· Hello Neighbour can arrange, coordinate with tenants, remind and manage fixes for £175

You can order one here https://www.hello-neighbour.com/eicr-certificate

If you have any questions on this or anything else to do with Letting or Managing a property please do get in touch.