Electrical Installation Report (EICR)

Not sure what an EICR is, how to get one, or what it’s for? Let us help explain the importance of this crucial certificate and why you need it when you’re renting out a property.

What does EICR stand for?

An EICR is an Electrical Installation Condition Report. Sometimes it’s called a Periodic Inspection Check. Both terms help explain the concept.

It’s an inspection carried out periodically to check the condition of your electrical installations. To sum up: it’s a certificate that confirms your property is electrically safe.

What is an EICR?

An EICR is an official document that is issued after an in-depth inspection of your property’s electrical installations. The purpose is to help make sure your property is safe for tenants.

While getting an EICR is obviously a good idea to protect your tenants and your property from any preventable potential disasters, having one in place has been a legal requirement since 1st April 2021 for all privately owned rental properties.

Who can carry out an EICR?

The report must be conducted by an experienced, qualified electrician or approved contractor. If you’d like to choose your own inspector, make sure they’re a member of the Electrical Competent Person Scheme. Or ask them to sign a checklist certifying their competence, experience, insurance details and how they are qualified to implement the latest Wiring Regulations and inspection, testing and certification of electrical installations.

Sounds complicated? Let us organise all that for you, book your EICR today through Mashroom for just £273. We’ll arrange for one of our highly experienced engineers to visit your property at a time that’s convenient for you.

The advantages of having an Electrical Installation Report (EICR)

The important thing is to keep your building safe, but beyond that an up-to-date EICR will also save you money and bring you untold peace of mind.

Safety

Whether it’s your staff or your tenants, you want to know that everyone in and around your building is safe.

Cost

A comprehensive EICR will uncover any potential problems before they develop into something far more serious. This will save you money, as it will reduce the number of call-outs for repairs.

Peace of mind

An EICR will ensure that your building is compliant with all the relevant electrical standards – and that your mind is at ease, leaving you able to focus on the rest of your business.

Don’t let electrical repairs be a shock to the system

Your EICR testing must be carried out by someone who is competent and qualified. With that in mind, get in touch with us today, so we can take care of the whole process on your behalf. Now what’s what we call a bright idea.

EICR

Since April 2021, it is mandatory for all rental properties to have a valid Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR).

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Who pays for an EICR?

Paying for the EICR is your responsibility as a landlord. But the good news is, it is tax deductible from your rental income. And it buys you peace of mind!

Get ready for your EICR inspection

During your EICR inspection, your engineer will assess the condition of your electrical systems and evaluate how efficiently they are working. Expect them to pay particular attention to any deterioration, defects or potentially faulty electrical work which may become hazardous.

Your engineer will inspect:

Fuse boxes
Protective bonding
Lighting, switches
Sockets
Any DIY modifications, to make sure they’ve been completed safely
Check which of your circuits or equipment might become overloaded or if any are at risk of overheating the system
Check for areas at risk from electric shock risk and assess any fire hazards

A qualified electrician will come to your property. The inspection usually takes 3-4 hours for a typical 3-bedroom house where all the electrical installations are relatively easy to access. When booking an EICR, the rates can vary depending on your location and the size of your property – at Mashroom, we charge a flat rate regardless of size or location.

Factors that might cause the inspection to take longer include:

Property size
Number of rooms
Accessibility of electrical installations and cables
Presence of asbestos
Amount of testing required
Any high-level circuits.

Usually, it’s not practical to take apart every socket, light, light switch and boiler so a sample rate of 10% is applied. This can be increased if necessary.

If your tenants are going to be at home during the inspection, it is safer for them to stay in one room while electrical tests are being conducted.

To prepare for the EICR:

Switch off and unplug any sensitive devices to protect them against accidental damage during testing
To help the engineer reach the plugs, move as much furniture away from them as possible
Remind your tenants not to open the freezer during the inspection to help the contents remain frozen

No, it is not currently possible to do an EICR by video call as the electrician needs to physically test and check items throughout the property.

How many rooms does an EICR cover?

Some inspectors will charge more depending on the size of your house. At Mashroom, our price of £273 for an EICR inspection is always the same, however many rooms you have and no matter your property’s location.

Everything you need to know about EICRs

Here, we’ve put together a list of the questions we often get asked about all things EICR. For any other questions just get in touch – we’re always happy to help.

When should I update my EICR?

As a landlord of a privately owned rental property, you must get an EICR every 5 years. You may want to do it more frequently, for example if you’ve made renovations to the property or are about to bring in new tenants.

For private homeowners, every 10 years is recommended.

Should I update my EICR mid-tenancy?

Yes. From April 2021, all private rental properties are legally required to have an EICR updated every 5 years. So, if you don’t already have one, or if your current EICR is approaching 5 years old, you need to urgently ask your tenants to allow a new inspection as soon as possible.

This is for their safety as well as for your compliance, so they will hopefully be happy to accommodate this check!

What are the consequences of not having an up-to-date EICR?

Not having an up-to-date EICR on your rental property doesn’t just put your tenants and your property in physical danger from electrical shocks and fire, it is also a criminal offence. You could find yourself facing a hefty fine of up to £30,000, issued by your local Housing Authority.

So, stay on the right side of the law and make sure your EICR is in place! We can send a qualified engineer out to your property within days, to check the integrity of your wiring, systems and installations. Help keep your tenants safe and protect your property from preventable damage.

Is my property EICR exempt?

You do not need an EICR if you or one of your family members live in the property, or if you have a lodger. Every privately rented property now legally needs a valid EICR, but there are some exceptions to the rule:

Private registered provider of social housing
Shared accommodation with landlord or landlord’s family
Long leases
Student halls of residence
Hostels and refuges
Care homes
Hospitals and hospices
Other accommodation relating to healthcare provision
You can find more information about these exemptions in The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020

Even though EICR inspections are not legally required for these kinds of properties, it’s still best practice to do so to keep your tenants and your property safe.

Can my property fail its EICR, and what happens if it does?

It is entirely possible for your rental property to fail its EICR. If it does, you’ll be given the reasons why on a piece of paper (and in some cases also digitally), and you’ll then have 28 days to make the suggested repairs.

Once completed, you have to get written confirmation from a qualified engineer that the work’s been done and the required standards have been met. Hand this and the original report to each resident and the local council within 28 days of the work being completed.

Is an EICR more expensive in London?

Although some companies and inspectors will charge more for an EICR in London, we charge £273 for an EICR inspection wherever you live.

What do the different EICR codes mean?

If you receive any C1, C2 or FI codes, unfortunately your EICR will be considered a failure and you’ve got some work to do. Have a look at the codes below to understand their implications.

Danger Present

This could be live, exposed cables. Usually, one of our engineers would start to work on these immediately so as not to leave your tenants in a dangerous situation

Potentially Dangerous

There could be no RCD protection on socket circuits that could be used for mobile equipment outdoors. Work is required but not urgently

Improvement Recommended

This means a safety feature can be improved, but it is not immediately required e.g., consumer unit (fuse box) is not labelled correctly

Further investigation

Insulation resistance could be low, current may be leaking through the insulation. Your report will advise on what needs to be done and how quickly it needs to be done

Limitation

Items or circuits were not tested or inspected

Not verified

An NV would be something that was not inspected or discussed.

What if my EICR says more work is required?

If your EICR says remedial or further investigative work is required, you must act on this within 28 days of receiving the report, unless a shorter period is specified.

When the work is complete, you do not need to do another EICR. But you must provide certificates and receipts to your tenants and local housing authority proving the remedial work was finished as required. The electrical installation that was in question must now be safe for continued use and you should have written confirmation of this.

Be sure to use our free Document Storage tool to keep a track of all these documents, so you always know where they are.

What are the legal requirements regarding an EICR?

As a landlord, you’re probably aware that the laws around EICRs have recently changed. Since 1st July 2020, up-to-date EICRs are legally required for all new tenancies and fixed-term renewals. This was extended to include all other private tenancies since 1st April 2021.

The rules are clear. You must supply new tenants with a valid EICR before they move into the property. Existing tenants need to be given an EICR that’s less than 5 years old. Tenants must be given the report within 28 days of an inspection.

If you need to check the finer details, have a look at the official government regulations for Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector 2020.

Make sure national standards for electrical safety are met

You can find these standards in the 18th edition of the ‘Wiring Regulations’, which are published as British Standard 7671

Make sure electrical installations are inspected and tested

This needs to be done at least every 5 years, by a qualified and competent person

Obtain a report

Once the inspection has been carried out, you need to get a report from them, confirming the results, with a date for the next inspection and test

Supply the report to the existing tenant

A copy of this report should be given to your existing tenant within 28 days of the inspection

Supply the report to the new tenant

If the inspection was carried out before a new tenant moved in, make sure they have a copy of the report before they move in

Supply the report when requested by a potential tenant

Any prospective tenant can request a copy of the report, which you will need to supply within 28 days of receiving the request

Supply the report when requested by the local authority

You will need to supply a copy within 7 days of receiving the request

Keep a copy for the next inspection

You should always have a copy of your certificates and reports (and never delete your old ones!). The next inspector will need a copy of the last inspection report, so make sure you have it!

Complete work required

You may find that your report shows remedial or further investigative work is required. You will need to fulfil this within days or even quicker, if specified as necessary in the report

Confirm work has been completed

When the work has been done, you’ll need to supply written confirmation from the electrician who carried out the work to your tenant and the local authority within 28 days of completion of the works

Don’t let electrical repairs be a shock to the system

EICR

Since April 2021, it is mandatory for all rental properties to have a valid Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR).