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As a homeowner, getting an electrical installation condition report isn't a legal requirement so you don’t have to have one.

However, for the safety and well-being of you and your home, we recommend carrying out an EICR every 10 years.

You should also consider booking an EICR inspection each time you make a major change to your electrical system or move into a new property.

As a landlord, you’ll need an EICR for each of your rented properties every 5 years or every time you change tenants.

Reasons to carry out an EICR

Here are some circumstances that might mean you want to carry out an electrical installation condition report:

• Electrical issues – If you’re having any electrical issues in your home, getting an EICR is recommended for safety reasons

• Older properties – Over time electrics can deteriorate or become damaged so getting them checked is important to ensure they’re safe to use

• Buying or selling your home – While it’s not mandatory, having a recent EICR can reassure potential buyers about the electrical safety of your property

• Renting your property – Landlords in England and Wales are legally obliged to have an EICR for their rental properties every 5 years or whenever changing tenants

• Property features – Certain features in a property make getting an EICR more important, such as a swimming pool

  If you have any concerns about your home’s electrical system, contact experienced electrical installation condition report specialists in SM2.

During an EICR inspection, the electrician will carry out a visual assessment searching for any signs of damage or faults in the electrical system. EICR activities include:

• Checking for damage to cables, sockets, and switches

• Testing the earthing and bonding system

• Measuring insulation resistance

• Testing circuit breakers and fuses

• Checking for signs of overheating or electrical arcing

  If any of these issues are found, they need to be repaired as soon as possible to prevent injuries and accidents.

The cost of an EICR can vary based on property size, the complexity of the electrical system, and regional pricing.

Generally, you can expect to pay somewhere in the region of:

• £100 - £230 for a flat

• £150 - £300+ for a house

  Learn more about pricing in our guide to electrical installation condition report costs.

You can also get multiple quotes from approved EICR experts in SM2 using our request a quote tool.

The time it takes to complete an EICR can vary depending on your property. However, as a rough guide, you can expect the full EICR inspection to take around 1 - 4 hours.

Some of the factors that affect EICR inspection times include:

• Property size – As you might expect, larger properties with more rooms and electrical circuits take longer to inspect

• Accessibility – The easier it is for the EICR electrician to access the electrical system, the quicker it will take to complete

• Number of faults – If the electrician finds numerous issues, they will likely spend additional time assessing and documenting them

To get accurate timings for the inspection, discuss the details of your property and electrical system with local EICR specialists in SM2.

An EICR must be carried out by a qualified and competent electrician. Not all electricians have the necessary qualifications and experience to inspect electrical installations.

When choosing a local electrician, here’s what to look out for:

• Accreditations from recognised national bodies, such as NAPIT, NICEIC or ELECSA

• Relevant qualifications for carrying out electrical inspections and testing, including City & Guilds or NVQ Level 3

• Experience in carrying out EICR inspections

• Appropriate insurance that protects both them and you as their customer

• Positive reviews from previous customers

To get started, read our top tips for finding the best electrical installation condition report services in SM2.

If your EICR electrician encounters any issues with your electrical system, they will log them with a code that indicates the severity of each issue:

• C1 (danger present) – The most serious classification that represents any risks of injury that require immediate action

• C2 (potentially dangerous) – For potential risks that should be addressed as soon as possible

• C3 (improvement recommended) – Less urgent issues that could benefit from improvement but don’t post an immediate safety risk

• FI (further investigation) – Sometimes additional testing is needed to determine the severity of the issue

  As a homeowner, you should address any issues identified and prioritise any C1 and C2 issues.

Landlords are legally obliged to address issues all identified in an EICR, often within strict timeframes.

After any necessary repairs or upgrades have been completed, a qualified EICR electrician will need to re-inspect the property and issue a new EICR.

An EICR and a landlord electrical safety certificate both relate to electrical safety but there are some subtle differences:

• An EICR is a comprehensive assessment of an entire electrical system

• A landlord electrical safety certificate is a document that confirms compliance with electrical safety standards for rental properties

• A landlord electrical safety certificate focuses on fixed electrical installations but not portable appliances

In effect, an EICR is the comprehensive inspection and the landlord electrical safety certificate is the official document that confirms the property meets safety standards.

Want to know more? Read our guide on what you need to know about a landlord electrical safety certificate.