EICR Report
Everything you need to know about the new regulation regarding EICR report
New electrical rules for landlords
Starting with the basics…
What is an EICR Certificate?
An eicr report is an in-depth inspection of the installation and current condition of your property’s electrical systems. The inspection was designed to assess and identify any potential issues or defaults in the system that could result in danger.
It is estimated that electrical faults are the cause of around 50% of household fires across the UK so having a safe and compliant electrical system is important for both you and your tenants.
Is the EICR a legal requirement?
If you are a landlord, you may well have heard about changes in the landlord’s electrical safety certificate legal requirements in 2019. If you haven’t, then allow us to give you the update. If you are privately renting out a property in England and the tenancy was entered into on or after the regulations came into force on June 1st, 2020, then you will be required to have an Electrical Installation Condition Report no later than July 1st, 2020. The EICR is also required for tenancies renewed after July 1st. Landlords with existing tenants in place have until April 1st, 2021 to have an EICR performed.
What does the inspection involve?
Because the EICR certificate is a legal requirement, expect the inspection to be in-depth and thorough as the whole system will need to be tested. Your electrical engineer will pay particular attention to the following areas;
- Adequate earthing and bonding
- Suitability of consumer unit/fuse box
- Condition of switches/sockets/light fittings
- Type/coating/age and condition of the wiring
- Provision of Residual Current Devices (RCDs)
- General wear and tear, damage or deterioration
How long does EICR testing take?
The inspection can easily take 3-4 hours for family homes with small apartments typically closer to 1-2 hours.
What happens after the EICR inspection?
Due to the in-depth nature of the report, the results can sometimes take a few days before they are produced. If your property meets the required 18th Edition standard then your EICR certificate will be classed as satisfactory. Should your property not meet current requirements, the report will be classed as unsatisfactory – which means remedial works are required to bring the property to the required level for private rental. If your EICR report does come back as unsatisfactory, the report will then detail which part failed and why.
Any remedial work required is classified using the following codes:
- C1 danger is present, risk of injury is likely and immediate action is required.
- C2 potentially dangerous and remedial action is needed urgently.
- C3 improvement of your electrical system is recommended. Please note that C3 is the only classification code that can appear on a report and still pass the EICR test.
If the property is classed as unsatisfactory you will need to have a qualified person either perform the required work within 28 days. Once the works are completed to the required standard the engineer will be able to produce a satisfactory report.
How long does an EICR report last?
For privately rented properties, the guidelines state that a standard EICR lasts for 5 years, although it is also recommended best practice to have the report renewed upon changes of the tenancy.
How much does an EICR report cost?
The price of an EICR report is determined by the size of the property. Naturally, the larger the property, the more circuits it is likely to have, which in turn adds to the amount of time required to perform the inspection.
MyConstructor has a nationwide network of fully qualified Electrical Engineers and our marketplace platform encourages the engineers to offer you the most competitive rates possible! See our EICR price list below – and don’t forget to ask for discounted rates if you have multiple properties to book!
Domestic EICR Report Price Guide;
Studio – 89
1 Bed – 99
2 Beds – 99
3 Beds – 109
