What Is an EICR? (and What It Does Not Cover)
Understand the fixed-installation report, its recorded limits and the checks or documents you may need alongside it.
By EICR Certificates London · Updated 31 October 2026
An EICR, or Electrical Installation Condition Report, records the condition of a property’s fixed electrical installation following inspection and testing, including its suitability for continued use within the recorded scope and limitations.
The inspection is the work undertaken; the report documents the findings. “EICR certificate” is a common name for that document. This explanation from EICR Certificates London applies legal guidance to England only.
What Do “EICR Test”, “Electrical Inspection” and “Fixed-Wire Testing” Mean?
An “EICR test” usually means the inspection and testing that produces the report; “fixed-wire testing” commonly describes this work in commercial premises.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| EICR test | Informal shorthand for periodic inspection and testing, with findings recorded in an EICR. |
| Electrical inspection | A broader description: a visual check alone does not provide the testing and reporting an EICR requires. |
| Fixed-wire testing | Assessment of a building’s permanent electrical installation, often used when discussing business premises. |
Confirm that the quoted scope includes the required tests, assessment and complete report; the wording on an advert is not enough.
What Does an EICR Cover—and What Needs a Separate Check?
An EICR assesses the fixed electrical installation within its recorded scope; it does not automatically provide every electrical safety check a property may need.
| Item | EICR scope | What to confirm separately |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed wiring, consumer unit and accessories | Condition of circuits, distribution equipment, sockets and switches within the inspection’s extent. | Which boards, outbuildings and installation areas are included. |
| Earthing, bonding and protective measures | Assessment of earthing, main protective bonding and protective devices, including RCDs where fitted. | Any corrective work or upgrades identified. |
| Connected appliances and equipment | Assessment of installation connections and relevant fixed equipment; checking a socket does not establish appliance safety. | PAT testing for appliances and equipment-specific inspection and test records. |
| Specialist systems | Relevant supply circuits, including mains-wired smoke alarm circuits, may form part of the installation assessed. | This is not an alarm-system inspection. Emergency-lighting operational and duration tests need a separate scope and report. |
| Repairs and upgrades | Observations identify defects, concerns and recommended improvements. | A separately agreed quotation defining remedial work and certification. |
What happens during an EICR? Read about the inspection process and preparation.
Are appliance checks included in your booking? Confirm their scope explicitly: permanently connected equipment is not automatically excluded, but an EICR does not replace all equipment checks.
Why the Report’s Extent and Limitations Matter
Extent identifies the installation covered, while limitations record restrictions on inspection and testing. The agreed boundaries differ from restrictions encountered during attendance, such as unavailable access. For example, a hypothetical report for a flat might cover its own circuits but exclude the separate communal landlord installation serving the stairs. That document would not establish the condition of both installations. Limitations must be justified and recorded; they do not excuse omitting necessary work or establish whether an inaccessible part is safe.
What Does an EICR Report Look Like?
An EICR contains property and inspection details, scope and limitations, an overall assessment, observations and supporting inspection and test schedules.
Layout and branding vary, including forms based on IET models. A familiar template alone does not establish authenticity. Keep the complete document, including its schedules, rather than only the page showing the outcome.
What Do Satisfactory, Unsatisfactory and the Observation Codes Mean?
C1 or C2 observations make an EICR unsatisfactory. On the current BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 model report, C3 and FI observations alone do not, although an FI still needs investigating. Reports on older forms may treat FI differently, so check the edition.
| Code | Meaning and action |
|---|---|
| C1 | Danger present: risk of injury; immediate remedial action required. |
| C2 | Potentially dangerous: urgent remedial action required. |
| C3 | Improvement recommended. |
| FI | Further investigation advised: something needs checking before it can be classified. |
What do C1, C2, C3 and FI mean? Explore how observations affect the assessment.
The outcome concerns continued use within the inspection boundaries, rather than predicting future safety; immediate danger requires immediate action and must not be left unresolved.
Is an “EICR Certificate” the Same as an Installation Certificate?
An EICR assesses an existing installation’s condition, while an Electrical Installation Certificate records certification of installation work.
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| EICR | Records findings from periodic inspection of an existing installation. |
| Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) | Certifies installation work, such as a new circuit, consumer unit replacement or rewire. |
| Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate | Documents suitable additions or alterations to an existing circuit where a full EIC is not required. |
What is the difference between an EICR, an EIC and a Minor Works certificate?
“Electrical safety certificate” is an informal umbrella phrase: clarify which document is requested. An EICR does not retrospectively certify earlier design or construction. Building Regulations compliance paperwork concerns notification and compliance for relevant work and is distinct from these electrical documents.
Who Needs an EICR in England?
Landlords of covered private and social rented homes must arrange periodic electrical inspection and testing, while homeowners and businesses have different reasons and requirements.
| Audience | Requirement or reason |
|---|---|
| Covered rented homes | The rental baseline is at least every five years, or sooner where required. How long does an EICR last? The 2025 amendment extended the framework to social renting; exclusions still need checking against the applicable rules. |
| Owner-occupied homes | There is no general legal EICR requirement for homeowners. Inspection can help establish wiring condition and inform maintenance or proposed alterations. |
| Commercial premises | Workplace duty holders must maintain electrical systems to prevent danger. Inspection intervals should reflect risk, use and condition, rather than automatically follow the residential rental cycle. |
GOV.UK rented-sector guidance explains landlord duties; HSE guidance addresses workplace electrical maintenance. HMO licence conditions also need checking for the particular property.
Once you have identified the relevant premises and inspection scope, you can book an EICR in London.
Arrange an EICR in London
EICR Certificates London arranges inspection and testing of fixed electrical installations across Greater London. Your EICR is carried out by a NICEIC-registered engineer.
A fixed price for your EICR, confirmed before we attend. Your report emailed as a PDF. Remedial work is separately quoted. Open 8am to 10pm, seven days a week.
Have the postcode, property type, bedroom count where relevant, access arrangements and any existing report ready. To discuss your requirements, contact EICR Certificates London.
EICR Questions Before You Book
Inspector competence, paperwork and the agreed inspection scope are worth checking before booking. These answers address practical points to confirm.
Can Any Electrician Carry Out an EICR?
The person must be qualified and competent for the commissioned inspection; an electrician’s job title alone does not establish this. Check relevant inspection qualifications and experience, then verify registration details. City & Guilds 2391 is a recognised inspection-and-testing qualification, not the sole legal route. Learn how to check an electrician’s registration and your EICR.
How Can I Get a Copy of an Existing Electrical Certificate or Report?
Ask the issuing contractor or, if you are a tenant, the landlord or managing agent holding the records. Provide the property address, approximate inspection or work date and document required. Request the complete report with all schedules, including test results. Specify whether you need an EIC for installation work or an EICR recording condition: they serve different purposes.
How Much Should an EICR Check Cost?
Our residential inspection prices depend on bedroom count and are confirmed before attendance: one bedroom £125 plus VAT; two £160 plus VAT; three £200 plus VAT; four £250 plus VAT; five £300 plus VAT. HMOs, commercial premises and larger properties are quoted. These figures cover inspection and testing; remedial work is quoted separately. Read more about EICR costs in London.
Does an Old Fuse Box Automatically Mean an Unsatisfactory EICR?
No. Age alone does not determine the outcome; the inspector assesses condition and the safety implications of the arrangements, including missing RCD protection. Assessment against BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 does not automatically require replacement of everything installed under an earlier edition, but an older consumer unit’s safety cannot be established from its age or appearance alone.
Does an EICR Check Every Socket?
Socket circuits are included, but do not assume every socket is dismantled or receives identical tests. Inspecting accessories differs from testing a ring final circuit. Read the extent, justified sampling, limitations and test schedules together. Before booking, ask: “How will you assess socket circuits and record any sampling or access restrictions?” The inspector should explain what those boundaries mean.
My EICR Is Unsatisfactory—What Happens Next?
The observations identify necessary repairs or investigation; immediate danger needs action straight away. Obtain a defined work scope and retain written confirmation of completion. Landlords covered by England’s regulations must complete required work within 28 days or any shorter period specified in the report. That deadline does not permit leaving danger present. See what to do after an unsatisfactory EICR.