If you own or manage a UK property, you’ve almost certainly been asked about your EICR — the Electrical Installation Condition Report. It’s one of the most common compliance questions we get on the DecorFM office phone, and it’s also one of the most confusing because the rules differ slightly for rented homes, owner-occupier homes and commercial premises.
This guide sets out how often you actually need to renew an EICR, what the certificate is really checking, and what happens when a report comes back unsatisfactory.
What is an EICR?
An EICR is a thorough inspection of the fixed electrical wiring inside a property. It tests things like sockets, light circuits, consumer units, earthing and bonding — the parts of the electrical installation that don’t move around. Portable appliances (kettles, laptops, chargers) are covered by a separate test called PAT.
The engineer reports each circuit against the current UK wiring regulations (BS 7671, currently the 18th Edition) and issues codes to describe anything they find. If nothing serious comes up the report is marked “satisfactory” and you get a certificate that’s valid until the next inspection is due.
How often do you need to renew an EICR?
Rented homes in England
For privately rented residential properties in England, the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require an EICR at least every five years, and also at the start of every new tenancy. A copy of the current EICR must be given to any new tenant before they move in, and to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection.
The five-year cap is a maximum. The inspector can recommend a shorter interval on the certificate if they judge the installation warrants it — for example if the wiring is old, has been altered heavily, or is in a challenging environment (a coastal property with salt-air corrosion, say). Whatever the certificate specifies is the interval you’re legally required to work to.
Rented homes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Scotland has had similar rules since 2015. Wales introduced statutory five-year EICR requirements for rented properties in 2022. Northern Ireland does not yet have identical statutory rules but strongly recommends the same five-year cycle, and most insurers now require it in practice.
Owner-occupied homes
If you live in your own home the law does not force you to have an EICR. However, the industry recommends an inspection at least every ten years, or on change of ownership. If you’re buying a period property or one that hasn’t been rewired for decades, an EICR before exchange is one of the smartest £180 you can spend.
Blocks of flats and commercial premises
Common electrical installations in blocks (communal lighting, entry systems, lift power) should be inspected at least every five years. For most commercial properties the recommendation is also five years, but heavier-use environments like restaurants and workshops are commonly on a three-year cycle. Insurers will often specify.
What does the certificate cost and how long does it take?
A typical one-bedroom flat takes around two hours to test and costs around £120 + VAT. A three-bed house is closer to three hours and £180 + VAT. For blocks and portfolios we bundle inspections and typically discount 10–20% on volume. There is no per-circuit hidden cost — a good electrician quotes the whole property up front.
What if my EICR comes back unsatisfactory?
An EICR is marked “unsatisfactory” if the inspector finds one or more items coded C1 or C2:
- C1 = danger present, requires immediate action. Common examples: exposed live conductors, broken sockets, damaged insulation.
- C2 = potentially dangerous, requires urgent remedial action. Common examples: a missing earth bond on a bathroom radiator, an older split-load consumer unit that no longer meets standards.
- C3 = improvement recommended, non-urgent. These do NOT make a report unsatisfactory. Common examples: a slightly outdated fuse label, a socket that would be safer with RCD protection.
- FI = further investigation required. If the engineer needed to disturb something they weren’t able to safely test on the day.
For rented properties, if a report is unsatisfactory the landlord has 28 days (or sooner if the engineer specifies) to complete the remedial works and get written confirmation that the installation is now satisfactory. Failing to do that is a breach of the regulations and can lead to a local authority fine of up to £30,000.
The most common reason an EICR fails in our experience is a missing earth bond on the copper pipework or a very old consumer unit. Both are usually straightforward to fix on the same visit.
How to book an EICR that isn’t painful
A good EICR provider will quote a fixed price on the phone or by email, deliver the certificate digitally the same day, and only recommend the remedial works you actually need. If a report comes back with a long list of C2s that all look suspiciously profitable, get a second opinion.
Book a fixed-price EICR with DecorFM
NICEIC-approved electricians. Fixed prices, digital certificate the same day. Bulk pricing for landlord portfolios.
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