EICR - Electrical Installation Condition Report
What is an EICR?
A Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a formal document that assessing fixed electrical installations in accordance with BS 7671.
It evaluates the safety and condition of the permanent wiring, ensuring compliance with UK safety standards i.e. the wiring regulations.
What is Inspected?
An EICR covers the "fixed" installation—everything hardwired into the building:
Consumer Unit: The fuse box, including all circuit breakers and safety devices.
Cabling: Wiring hidden in walls, under floors, and above ceilings.
Accessories: All light fittings, switches, and plug sockets.
Fixed Equipment: Hardwired items such as electric showers and cookers.
Earthing & Bonding: Protective measures to prevent electric shocks.
Legal Requirements
Private Landlords: Legally required to have an EICR at least every 5 years or at a change of tenancy.
Social Landlords: Must have valid reports for all existing tenancies by May 2026.
Homeowners: No legal requirement, but it is strongly recommended every 10 years or when buying/selling a home.
Businesses: Required to maintain safe systems under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989; an EICR is the standard way to prove compliance.
Understanding the Results
After testing, the report will be classified as either Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. Issues are highlighted using these codes:
C1 (Danger Present): High risk of injury; immediate action required.
C2 (Potentially Dangerous): Urgent remedial work needed.
C3 (Improvement Recommended): Not dangerous, but does not meet modern standards (advisory only).
FI (Further Investigation): An issue was found that requires more detail to assess.
Note: An EICR is not the same as PAT testing, which only covers portable appliances like kettles and laptops
Why are some quotes for EICR so low?
In the context of an EICR, a loss leader is a pricing strategy where a contractor quotes an exceptionally low price for the inspection—often below their actual cost—to secure the job. The "loss" on the inspection is then "recovered" through high-margin remedial repair work that they identify during the visit.
How the EICR Loss Leader Tactic Works
The "Hook": You receive a quote significantly below market rates (e.g., £80–£100 for a full house). This attracts price-conscious customers or landlords seeking quick compliance.
The Inspection: Because the fee is so low, the electrician often spends very little time on-site—sometimes as little as 30–60 minutes—which is insufficient for a thorough test.
The "Upsell": The resulting report may intentionally include C2 (Potentially Dangerous) codes for minor issues that are actually C3 (Improvement Recommended). This forces you to pay for "essential" repairs to get a "Satisfactory" certificate.
Locked-in Repairs: Some contractors may insist that they are the only ones who can perform the remedial work to "sign off" the final certificate, often at inflated rates.
Red Flags of a Loss Leader Quote
Unrealistic Price: If a quote is under £150 for a standard 3-bedroom house, it rarely covers the professional's time, insurance, and equipment calibration.
Speed: A proper EICR should take at least 3–4 hours for a typical home. If they are finished in an hour, they have likely "drive-by" tested or only performed a visual check.
Vague Testing Results: Look for a "Schedule of Test Results" in your report. A fake or low-quality report often lacks specific measurements (like Zs or IR values) for every circuit.
Aggressive Recommendations: If every observation is marked as a C2, be wary. For example, a plastic consumer unit in a non-escape route is often just a C3, but loss-leader firms may call it a C2 to force a lucrative fuse board replacement.
How to Protect Yourself
Request a Fixed Quote: Ensure the price covers all circuits and includes the production of the digital certificate.
Verify Accreditations: Only hire electricians registered with a Competent Person Scheme such as the NICEIC Find a Contractor or NAPIT Search tool.
Get a Second Opinion: If you receive an "Unsatisfactory" report with a long list of expensive repairs, you have the right to show that report to another registered electrician for a competitive quote on the remedial work.
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Please get in touch for a free estimate for your EICR.
