Obtain your EICR Certificate

Why do you need an EICR certificate in the UK?

Electrical safety is paramount for any property. As a landlord, you’re legally required to provide an EICR Certificate to your tenants at least every 5 years, or whenever there is a change of tenancy. Homeowners and business owners are also advised to have regular inspections to avoid electrical risks such as fire, electric shocks, or system failures.

The benefits of having an EICR certificate:

Legal compliance: Landlords must comply with the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. Without a valid EICR Certificate, you could face fines of up to £30,000.

Tenant safety: An EICR report ensures that your property is safe for tenants, giving them confidence in the electrical installations.

Prevent fire hazards: Faulty or ageing wiring is one of the leading causes of electrical fires. Regular checks and an EICR Certificate can help prevent potential disasters.

Insurance validity: Many insurance policies now require a valid EICR Certificate to ensure claims related to electrical faults are covered.

How often do you need an EICR certificate?

The recommended frequency of obtaining an EICR Certificate varies based on property type:

Domestic properties: Every 10 years or at the change of occupancy.
Rental properties: Every 5 years or at the change of tenancy.
Commercial properties: Depending on the business, EICR reports are recommended every 3 to 5 years.
HMOs (Houses of Multiple Occupation): Every 5 years by law.

What’s involved in an EICR inspection?

During an EICR inspection, a qualified electrician will assess your electrical systems, looking for potential issues such as:

• Deterioration of wiring and cables.
• Faulty or outdated electrical installations.
• Risks of electric shock or fire hazards.
• Missing or insufficient earthing or bonding.

After the inspection, the electrician will provide you with a detailed EICR report. This will state whether your property is Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory, alongside any recommendations or urgent repairs required to meet compliance.

Benefits of an up to date EICR

Compliance

With the recent legislative changes, it is vital that you take the appropriate action to ensure that you and your properties are fully compliant.

Safety

Many people are injured or killed in fires caused by electrical faults, and electrical faults are responsible for nearly half of all accidental UK house fires, which is why an EICR check should be performed on a regular basis to ensure that all electrics are protected.

Insurance

Increasingly insurance companies are asking for EICR checks to be carried out regularly. The EICR certificates will notify the insurance company if the accident could have been avoided, it will help your claim in most cases.

Save Money

You can save money with the EICR. The EICR certificates help to keep the system safe. Don’t wait for the electrical to be damaged because you may have to pay more for repairs. If problems are detected, they can be fixed before they become bigger.

What does an EICR check?

The aim of an EICR inspection is to see if there are any major problems with a property’s electrical systems. The inspection entails a visual examination of the electrical systems as well as thorough testing of related components such as the interior, consumer unit, light fittings, switches, sockets, wiring, etc.

Most importantly, the engineer will need to turn off the power for a short period of time to carry out the tests. It will take sometimes to complete the inspection and testing. Finally, the length of the inspection can be determined by the size of the premises, the number of circuits, and other factors.

The tests include dead testing, live testing, and RCD testing. Find the followings:

Visual Inspection

The test starts with a visual check. A visual inspection is a quick check to see if there are any noticeable signs of damage, corrosion, or defects.

Dead Testing

Dead testing is, as it sounds, performed on the circuits when they are de-energized, and form the initial testing of the circuits. Continuity testing, Polarity testing and insulation resistance testing are the three sections of the Dead Testing process. These tests will outline the new circuits’ insulation resistance and the continuity of the ring circuits.

Live Testing

The process of working on parts of an electrical device while they are still live is referred to as live testing or live working. In the event of a major problem or emergency, these checks ensure that the electric system can quickly shut down to avoid potentially unsafe situations and further harm.

RCD Testing

RCDs Residual-Current Devices are installed for fire prevention purposes. After disconnecting the load, RCD tests are performed with a special tester connected between the phase and protective conductors on the load side of the RCD.
In general, RCD testing is the method of “tripping” the RCD in a safe manner to ensure that it can respond quickly in the event of an electrical incident. Another name for this test is safety switch checking. Your RCD is programmed to trip or switch off all power to that circuit.

What will the EICR certificates show?

The EICR certificates display the relevant recommendation code and informs the landlord of any required remedial work. The date of the next electrical safety inspection will be listed on the certificate of electrical safety.

Electricians use a variety of classification codes to determine whether or not a landlord is required to do remedial work.

Please see the following for more information:

Code 1 (C1) indicates that there is a risk.

Code 2 (C2): This is a potentially risky situation.

Further Investigation (FI): Immediate further investigation is needed.

Improvement is suggested in Code 3 (C3).

If the document contains code C1 or code C2, remedial work must be done.

The EICR will demonstrate that the installation should be deemed unsatisfactory.

If an inspector determines that further investigation is necessary (FI), the landlord must ensure that it is completed.

The C3 code does not require any corrective action but rather enhances it. The electrical system’s protection would be improved if the landlord made these changes.

What happens after the inspection?

Once you clear the payment, you will receive your EICR certificates, but It can take some time to get the EICR certificate as the engineer needs to create a digital report with the findings. Your property is marked as ‘satisfactory’ when it complies with the required standard. If your property doesn’t meet the required standard, it is classified as “unsatisfactory.” This means that remedial work is required to achieve the required standard. The report will also show which part of the electrical system is not safe and why.

Regulations and EICR certificates for landlords

Private landlords must ensure that any electrical system in their rental property is tested and inspected at least every 5 years by a competent and qualified person. The legislation in England took effect on 1st July 2020 for new tenancies and 1st April 2021 for current tenancies.

After the inspection and testing, a private landlord must:

• Ensure that electrical safety requirements are fulfilled. The 18th edition of the Wiring Regulations, known as BS7671, was recently issued.
• Ensure that properties are inspected and checked by a qualified and competent electrician/engineer at least once every five years.
• Obtain a report from the inspector, including the findings of the inspector and the date of the next EICR test.
• Provide a copy of this EICR certificate to the current tenant within 28 days of performing the inspection and test.
• Before moving in, a new tenant must obtain a copy of this EICR certificate.
• Within 28 days of their testing and inspection, make a copy of this report available to all prospective tenants.
• Within 7 days of receiving a request, send a copy of this EICR certificate to the local government.
• Keep a copy of the report to hand over to the next inspector.
• If the report requires further investigation or remedial work, you must complete it in 28 days or less.
• Provide written notice from the electrician to the tenant and the local authority within 28 days of the completion of the remedial works.

How to get an EICR certificate

If you’re in need of an EICR Certificate, our team of qualified and experienced electricians is here to help. We provide thorough inspections for domestic, rental, and commercial properties throughout the UK. Here’s how we make the process simple:

Book your inspection: Get in touch with us to schedule an EICR inspection at a time that suits you.

Qualified electricians: All inspections are carried out by fully qualified, NICEIC-registered electricians.

Receive your EICR certificate: Once the inspection is complete, we’ll provide you with your EICR Certificate and any recommended actions if necessary.

Why choose us for your EICR certificate?

Experienced professionals: Our team has years of experience delivering reliable EICR Certificates for properties across the UK.

Compliance guaranteed: We ensure that your property meets the latest electrical safety regulations.

Affordable pricing: We offer competitive prices for our EICR services without compromising on quality.

Fast and efficient: We know your time is valuable, which is why we aim to deliver your EICR report promptly, keeping the process hassle-free.

Get your EICR certificate today

Don’t risk the safety of your property or face potential fines for non-compliance. Whether you’re a landlord, homeowner, or business owner, securing an EICR Certificate is essential for maintaining electrical safety and ensuring your legal obligations are met.

Contact us today to book an EICR inspection or to learn more about our services. Our friendly team is here to answer any questions and help keep your property safe and compliant.

Useful links:

Electrical safety first

BS7671 regulation