Electrical Installation Conditional Report (EICR) - London

Yes. Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, all rental properties in London must have a valid Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). Landlords must:

• Have an EICR carried out every 5 years, or sooner if recommended
• Provide a copy to new tenants before move‑in
• Provide a copy to existing tenants within 28 days
• Provide a copy to the council within 7 days if requested

For homeowners, an EICR is not legally required, but it is strongly recommended every 10 years or when selling a property.

The recommended intervals are:

• Landlords: Every 5 years (legal requirement)
• Homeowners: Every 10 years
• HMOs: Every 5 years (mandatory)
• Commercial properties: Typically every 5 years
• When selling or buying a house: Often required by solicitors or mortgage lenders

If the previous report recommends a shorter interval (e.g., 1 or 3 years), you must follow that.

An EICR is a full assessment of the safety and condition of your electrical installation. It includes:

• Consumer unit (fuse box) condition
• RCD protection
• Earthing & bonding
• Socket and switch safety
• Lighting circuits
• Cable condition
• Signs of overheating or damage
• Testing of circuits (continuity, insulation resistance, polarity, loop impedance)
• Identification of defects, deterioration, or non‑compliance with BS7671

The engineer will test every accessible circuit and visually inspect the entire installation.

It depends on the size, condition, and number of circuits in the property:

• 1‑bed flat: 45 min – 2 hours
• 2‑bed flat: 1.5- 2.5 hours
• 3‑bed house: Up to 2 hours
• Large or older properties: 3-4+ hours

If issues are found, the inspection may take longer because additional testing is required.

The cost of an EICR in London depends on several factors, including the size of the property, the number of circuits, the age of the installation, and how easily the engineer can access the consumer unit and sockets. Smaller flats typically take less time to inspect, while larger or older properties may require more detailed testing. For an accurate quote, it’s best to check our live pricing or use our online booking system.

These codes determine whether your installation is safe:

• C1 – Danger Present Immediate risk of electric shock or fire. Must be made safe immediately.
• C2 – Potentially Dangerous Not immediately unsafe but could become dangerous. Remedial work required.
• C3 – Improvement Recommended Not dangerous but not compliant with current standards. Optional upgrade.
• FI – Further Investigation Required Something is unclear or suspicious; more testing is needed before a result can be given.

If you receive C1, C2, or FI, the EICR is unsatisfactory.

If the report is unsatisfactory:

• You must complete remedial work
• Only a qualified electrician can carry out the repairs
• A satisfactory certificate or written confirmation must be issued after repairs
• Landlords must complete work within 28 days (or sooner if the report states)

Once fixed, you do not need a full new EICR — only confirmation of compliance.

Legally:

• 28 days to complete remedial work
• Shorter if the report specifies a more urgent timeframe
• You must provide written proof of completion to the tenant and local authority

If a landlord fails to comply, councils can issue fines up to £30,000.

It’s not a legal requirement, but:

• Many solicitors, surveyors, and mortgage lenders now request it
• Buyers often ask for one to avoid hidden electrical issues
• A recent EICR increases buyer confidence and speeds up the sale

If the installation is older than 10 years, an EICR is strongly recommended.

EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) A safety inspection of an existing installation.

EIC (Electrical Installation Certificate) Issued for new installations, consumer unit replacements, or major rewires. These works normally require Building Control notification under Part P.

Minor Works Certificate Issued for small jobs such as:

• Adding a socket
• Adding a light
• Small circuit alterations

They are not interchangeable.

Yes. HMOs and all rental properties in London must have:

• A valid EICR every 5 years
• Remedial work completed within 28 days
• Proof of compliance available for tenants and the council

Councils can request the certificate at any time.

Common reasons include:

• No RCD protection
• Damaged sockets or switches
• Exposed live parts
• Old or deteriorated wiring
• No earthing or bonding
• Overloaded circuits
• Incorrect polarity
• High earth loop impedance
• Failed insulation resistance
• DIY electrical work

Older properties fail more often due to outdated wiring.

A qualified electrician will perform:

• Continuity testing (checking cables are connected correctly)
• Insulation resistance testing (checking for cable deterioration)
• Polarity testing
• Earth loop impedance testing
• RCD testing
• Visual inspection of all accessible components

These tests ensure the installation is safe and compliant.

• Landlords: 5 years (legal requirement)
• Homeowners: 10 years (recommended)
• Commercial: 5 years (typical)
• HMOs: 5 years (mandatory)

If the report recommends a shorter interval, you must follow it.

Only a competent, qualified electrician can carry out an EICR. They should be registered with:

• NICEIC
• NAPIT

They must be trained in inspection & testing (2391 or equivalent).