What Are Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs)?

An EICR, or Electrical Installation Condition Report is a safety inspection and test that is carried out on the electrical systems in your home. It is also called a landlord's certificate of electrical safety.

electrical safety certificates stevenage are legally obliged to have their homes tested by an electrician every five years. The tests ensure that the electrical wiring in the property is safe to tenants.

What is an EICR?

An extensive report of electrical installations A comprehensive record of electrical installations, an EICR is also referred to as a Periodic Inspection Check or Electrical Installation Condition Report. If you're a landlord or homeowner, an EICR can be crucial in helping ensure that your property is safe and in compliance with the regulations.

When you book an electrical inspection, a certified electrician will visit your residence to conduct a series of tests on the electrical system. The engineer will perform an inspection of the visuals and look for obvious signs of wear and tear, or damage, like a damaged cable or equipment that appears to be overheating. After that, the engineer will conduct live and dead testing. Live testing is used to determine the effectiveness of disconnection for each circuit. Dead testing is used to test resistance, polarity and continuity.

The results of the tests will be reported on the EICR report. The report will contain the summary along with recommendations for any repairs or upgrades that may be necessary. The report will also contain a code to indicate the overall condition of the electrics, with codes of C1 or C2 which indicate that there is a danger or investigation is required. A code of C3 indicates that the electrics don't pose any danger, but that more improvement is recommended.

An EICR isn't just a requirement for landlords to have in the UK. It could also safeguard you in the case of a fire or accident caused by electrical problems on your property. If you are found to be negligent in the area of electrical safety, your insurer could deny coverage for any damage.

An EICR is not something you can perform yourself because it requires a high level of knowledge and expertise to understand its results. It is important to hire an experienced and qualified electrician or approved contractor to conduct the test for you. A professional with experience can assess the electrical system within your home, point out any issues and provide advice on the best approach to take.

What is the difference between an EICR and the landlord's electrical safety certification?

An in-depth inspection of the electrics in your property is conducted to ensure that they are safe for tenants. The report will identify codes for any faults discovered. They will be compared with the current wiring regulations. These faults can be classified as C1,C2 orC3. Code C1 indicates that there is a risky issue that must be fixed immediately.

Code C2 indicates that the problem isn't immediately dangerous, but needs to be addressed right and immediately. Code C3 indicates that the problem does not pose any danger, however it could be improved. Landlords are not required to make these changes however, they can help reduce the risk of future problems and make the property more secure for tenants.

Landlords need to be aware that they are legally bound to fix electrical installations in their properties in the event that the code is C1 or C2. They could be fined as high as PS30,000 by their local authority if they don't.

Once the electrician has completed their inspection and any faults have been cleared, they will be able to issue the landlord with a certificate of electrical safety. This certificate is valid from 1 to 5 years, depending on the kind of property. Landlords must provide an original copy of their EICR to existing tenants within 28 calendar days of the completion date or prior to the acceptance of any new tenants.


It is essential that landlords keep their electrical safety certificates up-to-date as they can serve as a valuable piece of evidence if a tenant is injured. There are some common myths about these certificates that could lead to misunderstandings as to what they can do and when they should be done. We've put together a basic guide to clarify the distinction between an EICR and PAT test, what is included in the tests and when they must be conducted. We've also provided information on the amount an EICR test costs and who can perform these tests.

Why do I require an EICR?

A EICR is a type of test and inspection that confirms that the electrical installation of a home is secure. It covers the wires and sockets that are fixed in a residential or commercial property. It also looks at any portable appliances in the premises (such as tumble dryers) to ensure they are in compliance with UK safety standards.

Electrical installations can become damaged over time, causing problems like fires, overloads and short circuits. The EICR will reveal these issues and any work required. The electrician who is conducting the test will then issue a certificate that proves the installation is safe to use.

As an owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that the property you rent is safe and compliant with the laws. You must conduct an EICR at the property at least every five years. Additionally, you will need to give your tenants a copy of the report and advise them on any remedial work that may be required.

If you fail to complete an EICR on your property, and someone is injured due to the negligence it could result in a fine. The possibility of injury is real and it's not worth the chance.

When carrying out an EICR the electrical engineer will shut off all the mains electricity for safety reasons. Then, they test the installation by using a combination live and dead tests to look for issues like resistance and disconnection efficiency. The results of the tests will be documented in the final report. All work required is required before a landlord can declare their property safe for use.

It is also a good idea to have an electrician conduct regular inspections and tests of the electrical system. This is especially important for older properties, which are more susceptible to issues such as overheating or frequent tripping of electrical switches and sockets. An electrical inspection is much less expensive than replacing or fixing damaged electrical fittings.

Who can carry out an EICR

A landlord or business owner who wishes to carry out an EICR on their property should seek an electrician who is a professional. An experienced electrician can give a precise report on the electrical condition of a property and will be able to provide advice on any repairs that might be required. Ideally, an electrician will be a member of the Electrical Competent Person Scheme or can sign a check list certifying their competence, experience and insurance information to ensure that they are fully compliant with the current regulations on wiring.

It is now required for landlords to test their electrical systems regularly and provide an EICR to prospective tenants. Landlords also need to have a report completed whenever there is a change of tenant or prior to selling an apartment. A current EICR will protect you from unforeseen electrical problems that could result in costly repair costs or, in the worst case, injury and even death.

When an electrician performs an EICR, they will start by checking the overall condition of the electrical system. This includes an inspection of the visual to find any problems with cables, power sockets lighting fittings, and the consumer unit. They then cut off the electricity and perform various tests on both the dead and live parts of the system. The dead tests include an insulation test, a continuity test and a polarity check, while live tests test for the efficiency of disconnecting in the case of an electrical fault and the security of RCDs (Residual-Current Devices) to avoid fires.

The electrician will then produce an report that details the findings. Any observations found will be identified with a number based on their severity. These codes will indicate whether the electrical installation is deemed satisfactory, if additional investigation is required or if urgent remedial actions are needed.

If an electrical system is deemed hazardous, it will receive an 'Code 1 mark and must be made safe immediately. This is because any problems with electrical systems pose a major fire risk and could cause serious injuries. In some instances an inspector may not be able to come to a conclusion about the problem and will then label the issue as F/I.