What is an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)?

By admin | April 14, 2023

Commonly known as the ‘Landlord Safety Test’ or the ‘Homebuyer’s Test’, an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a legal requirement that guarantees the electrical safety of a property. Carried out by qualified electricians, the EICR report summary will be determined through visual inspection and testing of electrical installations to verify that all electrical systems are functioning correctly and safely. 

It is recommended that you schedule an EICR for your residence every 10 years, whereas for rental properties in England and Scotland, full electrical inspections are legally required every 5 years.

What is the purpose of the Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)?

With time, electrical installations can begin to deteriorate causing insulation problems, and damaged switches and sockets. It is the purpose of the EICR to identify such electrical hazards, which may compromise the safety of the residential property being evaluated.

What happens during an EICR?

During the EICR, electricians will carry out the following actions to formulate their report:

  • Record the results of their inspection and tests to make sure the electrics are safe to be used until the next inspection (following any necessary works)
  • Find and report any damage or wear and tear that might make the electrics unsafe
  • Report any electrics that do not meet the IET wiring regulations
  • Report any electrics that may cause electric shocks and high temperatures
  • Provide a record of the installation at the time of inspection

What will the report show?

  • Code 1 (C1): Danger present. Risk of injury

If there is an electrical issue that presents a risk to those present in the residence, the electrical inspector may take action to ensure any C1 hazards are made safe before leaving the property. Until the issue is resolved, the electrical inspector will deem the installation unsafe for further use until it is repaired.

  • Code 2 (C2): Potentially dangerous

If you receive a Code 2 (C2) on your EICR, the electrics on your property have been found to be unsatisfactory as they do not meet the required safety standards. Until further repair, the electrics are deemed potentially dangerous and must be repaired as soon as possible for compliance purposes.

  • Further Investigation (FI): Further investigation required without delay

If you’ve been found to have an electrical installation that needs Further Investigation (FI), you will receive this code on your report. Although less severe than C1 and C2, the property owner must carry out the recommended improvements.

  • Code 3 (C3): Improvement recommended

This covers improvements noted on the report which are recommended but not required by the landlord or resident to deem the electrical work on the property satisfactory.

What will be inspected and tested?

During the inspection, only the ‘fixed’ electrical parts of the property, such as the wiring, the socket outlets (plug sockets), the light fittings and the consumer unit (or fuse box) will be evaluated and included in the report. Permanently connected equipment such as showers and extractors are also included.

Who is responsible for EICR?

It is a landlord’s legal responsibility to ensure that occupied rental properties have an electrical safety certificate, demonstrating that the property complies electrical safety standards, and is therefore safe to use by its tenants.

Note: Tenants, managing agents and local authorities can request a valid EICR which has to then be provided by the landlord within 7-28 days depending upon who has made the request.

How Arundel Fire, Security & Electrical can help you remain compliant with our Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) service

As a leading electrical safety company in West Sussex, Arundel Fire, Security and Electrical has 15 years’ experience in commercial electrical services. Our experienced team offers comprehensive EICR services to ensure your rental property remains compliant with existing government electrical safety legislation so you avoid fines or prosecution.

If you require assistance with an EICR for a property in West Sussex, contact our friendly team today via our contact form or alternatively call us today on 01903 716445.

Posted in Uncategorized