What This Requirement Covers
An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a formal assessment of the condition and safety of the electrical installation in a property. Since April 2021, landlords in England must obtain an EICR every 5 years for rented properties.
Key Requirements
When an EICR Is Required
- Rented properties (England): Every 5 years or at a change of tenancy (whichever is sooner) under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020
- Rented properties (Scotland): Every 5 years under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006
- Owner-occupied properties: Recommended every 10 years (not legally required but strongly advised)
- Before purchasing a property: Highly recommended as part of due diligence
- After major electrical work or a rewire: To verify the installation is satisfactory
What the EICR Covers
- Visual inspection of the consumer unit, wiring, accessories, and earthing
- Testing of all circuits for insulation resistance, earth fault loop impedance, and RCD operation
- Verification of protective devices (MCBs, RCDs) against the circuit design
- Assessment of the overall condition of the installation
Classification Codes
- C1 (Danger present): Risk of injury; immediate remedial action required
- C2 (Potentially dangerous): Urgent remedial action required
- C3 (Improvement recommended): Not immediately dangerous but improvement would enhance safety
- FI (Further Investigation): Further investigation required to determine the nature and extent of a deficiency
Satisfactory vs Unsatisfactory
- An EICR is classified as Satisfactory if there are no C1 or C2 items
- An EICR is classified as Unsatisfactory if any C1 or C2 items are identified
- For rented properties, an unsatisfactory EICR must be remedied within 28 days (or as specified by the local authority)
Practical Compliance Tips
- For landlords, obtain an EICR before the start of a new tenancy and every 5 years thereafter
- Provide a copy of the EICR to tenants within 28 days of the inspection
- If the EICR is unsatisfactory, arrange remedial work within 28 days and obtain a satisfactory re-inspection certificate
- Keep the EICR and any remedial work certificates for at least the duration of the tenancy
- For homebuyers, request an EICR as part of the property survey; it reveals hidden electrical deficiencies
- C3 items are not failures but represent opportunities for improvement; consider addressing them during other electrical work
- Choose a registered electrician (NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA) to carry out the EICR