EICR Certificate: What It Is & Who Needs It 2026
An EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report — is a formal safety inspection of a property's fixed wiring, and it is a legal requirement for landlords in England at least every five years. Homeowners are advised to get one periodically but are not required to. Here is what it covers, who needs it, typical costs, and how to choose a qualified electrician.
What an EICR covers
An EICR is a thorough inspection and test of a property's fixed electrical installation — the consumer unit, wiring, sockets, switches and fixed appliances. A qualified electrician checks for damage, wear, overloading, inadequate earthing and anything that does not meet the current wiring regulations, then records each issue with a code. It does not cover plug-in appliances, which are checked by PAT testing instead.
What the report codes mean
Observations are coded: C1 means danger present and immediate action is required, C2 means potentially dangerous and remedial work is needed, and FI means further investigation is required. Any C1, C2 or FI makes the report unsatisfactory, and the faults must be fixed and re-checked. C3 is an improvement recommendation only and does not fail the report. A satisfactory EICR confirms the installation is safe for continued use.
Who needs an EICR and how often
In England, private landlords must have a satisfactory EICR at least every five years and give tenants a copy. Homeowners are advised to have one roughly every ten years, or before buying or selling. It is also wise after a major change, or when moving into an older property with unknown wiring history. Scotland and Wales have their own landlord rules, so check local requirements.
How to arrange and compare quotes
1. Confirm you need one
Landlords need one every five years; homeowners about every ten, or before a sale or purchase.
2. Use a qualified electrician
Choose a registered competent person from a scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT to carry out the inspection.
3. Separate the test from remedial work
Get the EICR quoted on its own, then price any remedial work separately so you can compare fairly.
4. Get three like-for-like quotes
Compare on the same property size and scope so you judge value, not just headline price.
FAQs
Related guides
Get 3 Free Quotes — Vetted UK Electricians
BestBuilders matches you with up to 3 vetted, registered UK electricians for an EICR. Compare quotes — no cost, no obligation.