An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is an inspection and test of a property's fixed wiring, consumer unit and accessories. Private landlords in England need one at least every five years, with a copy to tenants within 28 days. Any C1, C2 or FI code makes the report unsatisfactory; a C3 does not. EliteShires Property Services carries out EICRs in Harrow from £120, with the report within 48 hours.
Most people calling about an EICR are in one of two positions: the five years are up and a letting agent is chasing, or a report has come back unsatisfactory and there is now a 28-day clock running on remedial work that somebody wants to charge a great deal of money for.
Since April 2021 every private rented property in England has needed its fixed electrical installation inspected and tested at least every five years, with any remedial work the report calls for completed within 28 days. It is the certificate landlords most often get wrong, because an unsatisfactory report starts that 28-day clock, and because a cheap inspection that codes everything as a fault is a very effective way of selling you rewiring you do not need.
EICR at a glance
| Who needs one | Private landlords in England (some exclusions, such as lodgers and leases of 7+ years) |
|---|---|
| How often | At least every 5 years, or sooner if the report says |
| Copy to tenants | Within 28 days of the inspection; new tenants before they move in |
| If unsatisfactory | Remedial work within 28 days |
| Maximum penalty | £40,000 per breach |
| What fails a report | C1, C2 or FI codes, not C3 |
| Visit length | 2–4 hours for a typical flat or house |
| Price | From £120, report within 48 hours |
What EICR with us includes
- Inspection and testing of the fixed electrical installation
- Consumer unit, earthing and bonding assessed
- Dead and live testing of every circuit
- Every observation coded C1, C2, C3 or FI with an explanation
- A clear satisfactory or unsatisfactory outcome
- A written quote for any remedial work, itemised against the codes
What does the law require?
The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, amended in 2025 to cover social housing as well, require the fixed electrical installation in a rented property to be inspected and tested at least every five years by a qualified and competent person. The requirement applied to new tenancies from July 2020 and to all existing tenancies from April 2021. You must give a copy of the report to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection, to a new tenant before they occupy, to a prospective tenant within 28 days of them asking, and to the local authority within seven days if it asks. A few arrangements are outside the rules, including lodgers who share with the landlord and leases of seven years or more.
What do C1, C2, C3 and FI mean?
This is where landlords are most often misled. A C1 means danger is present and there is a risk of injury. That needs making safe immediately. A C2 means potentially dangerous. An FI means further investigation is required. Any C1, C2 or FI makes the report unsatisfactory, and remedial work has to be completed within 28 days or sooner if the report specifies. A C3, by contrast, is only an improvement recommendation. It does not make the installation unsatisfactory and it does not require work. If an inspector tells you a report full of C3s means you need a rewire, get a second opinion.