HOW OFTENAN EICR?
The straightforward rules on Electrical Installation Condition Reports — how often you legally need one, how often you should get one, and how to spot a report that's been rushed.
The legal minimums
The requirements depend on how the property is used.
- Private rented homes — every 5 years, and at every change of tenancy (Housing Act 2018)
- HMOs — every 5 years, plus emergency lighting checks every 6 months
- Commercial premises — no fixed interval, but insurance and BS 7671 recommend every 5 years
- Owner-occupier homes — no legal minimum, but recommended every 10 years or at change of ownership
When you should get one earlier
There are a handful of triggers that mean don't wait for the calendar: any signs of scorching, buzzing sockets, tripping breakers you can't explain, or a home you've just bought that hasn't had one in the last decade.
Reading the certificate
Every EICR ends with an overall pass or unsatisfactory verdict plus a list of coded observations. C1 means immediate danger, C2 is potentially dangerous, C3 is improvement recommended. C1s and C2s must be fixed before the certificate is valid — a lot of 'passed' EICRs actually contain unresolved C2s, which is a red flag.
Next step
Ready for a real quote?
Written quotes, no drip pricing, NICEIC-standard workmanship.