An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is a formal report on the safety of a property’s fixed electrical installation, such as the wiring, consumer unit, sockets, switches and light fittings, produced after a qualified electrician inspects and tests it against the wiring regulations, BS 7671. It is often called an EICR certificate, but it is a report: it records any defects using the codes C1, C2, C3 and FI and gives an overall result of satisfactory or unsatisfactory, and landlords in England must have one at least every five years.

What an EICR covers

An EICR looks at the parts of the electrical installation that are fixed to the building. That includes:

• the consumer unit (fuse box), its circuit breakers and RCDs
• the circuits and cables, as far as they can be accessed
• sockets, switches and light fittings
• the connections to fixed equipment such as an electric shower, cooker or immersion heater
• earthing, and the protective bonding to gas and water pipes

It does not test the appliances you plug in, which is a separate check usually called portable appliance testing (PAT). It is also not a design check of new work. New work gets its own certificate when it is done.

The report tells you whether the installation is safe to keep using, and lists anything that is damaged, deteriorated, overloaded or does not meet the current standard in a way that matters for safety. Our EICR service covers homes, rented properties and commercial premises.

EICR and other electrical certificates

It helps to know which document is which, because several get called “electrical certificates”.

Document	When it is issued	What it tells you
Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)	After a periodic inspection of an existing installation	The condition and safety of what is already there
Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC)	After new circuits, a rewire or a new consumer unit	That the new work was designed, installed and tested to BS 7671
Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate	After small additions or alterations, such as an extra socket on an existing circuit	That the minor work was installed and tested properly
Building Regulations compliance certificate	After notifiable work such as a new circuit	That the work has been notified under Part P of the Building Regulations
PAT record	After portable appliances are tested	That the plug-in appliances checked were safe

What happens during the inspection

An EICR has two parts: a visual inspection and a set of tests.

1. Agreeing the extent. The electrician confirms what will be inspected and any limitations, for example areas that cannot be reached. On larger installations a sample of accessories may be opened up rather than every one.
2. Visual inspection. Looking for damage, wear, signs of overheating, missing covers, poor workmanship, and whether the consumer unit and protective devices are suitable.
3. Dead testing. With the power off, circuits are tested for continuity, insulation resistance and correct polarity.
4. Live testing. With the power back on, the electrician measures earth fault loop impedance, which shows whether a fault would disconnect quickly enough, and tests that RCDs trip within the required time.
5. The report. The results are recorded, each defect is coded, and the report is given an overall result and a recommended date for the next inspection.

The power will be off for periods during the inspection, so plan around fridges, freezers, alarms and home working. A small flat or house usually takes a few hours. Larger or more complex properties take longer.

Understanding the codes

Code	Meaning	What happens next
C1	Danger present. Risk of injury	Needs immediate action. The electrician will usually make it safe on the spot, for example by isolating the circuit
C2	Potentially dangerous	Needs urgent remedial work
C3	Improvement recommended	Not a failure. Worth planning in, but not required for a satisfactory result
FI	Further investigation required without delay	Something could not be confirmed during the inspection and needs investigating promptly

If there is any C1 or C2 on the report, the overall result is unsatisfactory. A report with only C3 observations can still be satisfactory. Common C2 findings include missing earthing or bonding, damaged sockets or cables, and circuits without the protection they need.

EICRs for landlords

Under the Electrical Safety Standards regulations, landlords in England must have the electrical installation in their rented properties inspected and tested by a qualified person at least every five years. The government guidance also says landlords must:

• give a copy of the report to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection
• give a copy to a new tenant before they move in
• give a copy to a prospective tenant within 28 days of them asking for it
• give a copy to the local council within 7 days of a request
• complete any remedial work or further investigation within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so
• give the tenant and the council written confirmation within 28 days of the work being finished

The rules have covered private tenancies since 2020 and were extended to the social rented sector in 2025. For social housing, they apply to new tenancies from 1 December 2025, and existing tenancies must be inspected before 1 November 2026. Some types of accommodation are excluded, such as lodgers living with their landlord, long leases of seven years or more, student halls and care homes. Councils can impose substantial financial penalties for breaches.

Wales and Scotland have their own requirements for rented homes, so check the rules for where the property is. Our landlord services bring EICRs, remedial work and landlord gas safety certificates together on one account.

How often you need an EICR

Property	How often
Privately or socially rented home in England	At least every five years, by law, or sooner if the report says so
Owner-occupied home	Recommended at least every 10 years
When buying a home	Strongly recommended before or soon after you move in
After a flood, fire or major water leak	As soon as the property is dry and safe to test
Commercial premises	The interval the last report recommends, which depends on the type of premises

The report itself gives a recommended date for the next inspection. The electrician may set a shorter interval if the installation is old or in poor condition.

Signs you need one sooner

• circuit breakers or RCDs tripping regularly
• scorch marks, buzzing or a burning smell at sockets or switches
• an old fuse box with rewireable fuses, or no RCD protection
• extension leads and adaptors used everywhere because there are too few sockets
• previous DIY electrical work of unknown quality

If you have a fault now rather than a routine check, our electrical fault finding service will trace and fix it.

What if your report is unsatisfactory?

An unsatisfactory report means remedial work is needed before the installation can be considered safe. The electrician will explain each coded item and quote for the work. Once it is done, you receive the right certificate for the work carried out, usually a Minor Works certificate or an Electrical Installation Certificate, which you keep with the EICR as proof. Landlords then need to send written confirmation to the tenant and, if relevant, the council. If you are choosing who to use, our guide to choosing an electrician covers what to check.

What it costs with Vantage

In normal working hours there is no call-out fee. Every rate is published on our prices page, so you know what you will pay before we arrive. Any remedial work found during the inspection is explained and quoted before we do it, and after the first hour, repair time is charged in half-hour steps. Evening, weekend and overnight visits are charged at the out-of-hours rates. Our electrical work is certificated on completion and carries a 12 month labour guarantee.

Frequently asked questions

Is an EICR a legal requirement?

For landlords in England, yes: rented homes must be inspected at least every five years. For owner-occupiers there is no legal requirement, but an inspection at least every 10 years, and when you buy a home, is recommended.

How long is an EICR valid for?

The report gives a recommended date for the next inspection. For a rented home in England that is five years at most, and the electrician can set a shorter period if the installation needs it. For an owner-occupied home it is often up to 10 years.

Does an EICR include PAT testing?

No. An EICR covers the fixed installation only. Portable appliances are tested separately, and landlords usually only need to consider it for appliances they supply.

Can I sell a house without an EICR?

Yes. There is no legal requirement to have one to sell a home in England, although buyers, surveyors and some lenders may ask about the condition of the electrics. Having a recent report can help answer those questions.

What is the difference between an EICR and an electrical safety certificate?

“Electrical safety certificate” is an everyday name people use for an EICR, especially for rented homes. Strictly, an EICR is a condition report, while certificates such as an EIC or Minor Works certificate are issued for new electrical work.

Help in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire

Whether you are a landlord with a deadline or a homeowner who wants peace of mind, our electricians can inspect, test and report, then put right anything that needs attention. See our EICR service or call 01462 506374. For an urgent fault, our emergency electrician service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.