An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) — sometimes called a periodic inspection report — is a formal assessment of the electrical installation in a property. It is carried out by a qualified electrician and documents the condition of all wiring, circuits, consumer unit, sockets, switches and fixed electrical equipment.
What Does an EICR Assess?
During an EICR, the electrician will:
- Inspect all accessible wiring and electrical accessories
- Test every circuit for insulation resistance, continuity and polarity
- Check that the consumer unit is safe and correctly rated
- Identify any defects, deterioration or non-compliance with current regulations (BS 7671)
- Classify findings using observation codes (C1, C2, C3 and FI)
The observation codes work as follows:
- C1 (Danger present) — immediate remedial action required
- C2 (Potentially dangerous) — urgent remedial action required
- C3 (Improvement recommended) — not dangerous but should be improved
- FI (Further investigation) — cannot be confirmed safe without further work
Who Needs an EICR?
Landlords — Since 2020, the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations require landlords to have an EICR carried out every 5 years and provide a copy to tenants. Failure to comply can result in a fine of up to £30,000.
Homeowners — There is no legal obligation for owner-occupiers, but the IET recommends an EICR every 10 years or at change of occupancy — whichever is sooner. If you are buying a home, an EICR is strongly recommended before exchange.
Mortgage applications — Some lenders and insurers now request an EICR as part of their underwriting process.
How Long Does an EICR Take?
For a typical 3-bedroom semi-detached house, an EICR takes around 3–4 hours. Larger properties or those with complex installations will take longer. We try to carry out EICRs with minimal disruption — power will need to be off at various points while we test circuits.
What Happens If My EICR Is Unsatisfactory?
If your report comes back as "Unsatisfactory" it means one or more C1 or C2 observations were found. You will need to have remedial work carried out and a new EICR issued. At Onyx Electrical Solutions, we can carry out any required remedial work and re-test to bring your installation up to a satisfactory standard.
Book an EICR in Greater Manchester
Onyx Electrical Solutions carries out EICRs for landlords and homeowners across Stockport and Greater Manchester. We provide a full written report digitally upon completion, with all observation codes clearly explained. Call us on 07000 000000 for a quote.