Do I need an EICR? A guide for Kent landlords, homeowners and businesses

An Electrical Installation Condition Report, or EICR, is an inspection and test of the fixed wiring in a property. It records the condition of the installation against BS 7671 and lists anything that is unsafe or needs improving. Here is who needs one and when.

Landlords: it is a legal requirement

Since 2020, every private rented property in England must hold a satisfactory EICR carried out at least every five years, or sooner if the report specifies it. A copy must be given to existing tenants within 28 days, to new tenants before they occupy, and to the local authority within seven days of a request. Where remedial work is required it must be completed within 28 days.

Businesses and commercial premises

There is no single fixed interval in law, but the Electricity at Work Regulations require electrical systems to be maintained to prevent danger. In practice, insurers and risk assessors expect periodic inspection every five years for offices and retail, more frequently for industrial, construction and higher risk environments. Landlords of commercial premises are usually bound by the lease as well.

Homeowners

Not a legal requirement, but recommended every ten years, at change of ownership, before a renovation, and any time you inherit an installation you know nothing about. Insurers increasingly ask, and a report is far cheaper than discovering the problem after a claim.

What the codes mean

• C1: danger present, immediate action required, made safe before we leave
• C2: potentially dangerous, must be remedied for a satisfactory report
• C3: improvement recommended, does not on its own make a report unsatisfactory
• FI: further investigation required, the report cannot be satisfactory until resolved

What happens if it fails

An unsatisfactory report is not a disaster, it is a work list. We price the C1 and C2 items line by line so you can approve them without a second visit, complete the works and issue written confirmation. Common remedials include upgrading a consumer unit, adding RCD protection, replacing damaged accessories and correcting undersized or unsupported cabling.

How long it takes and what it costs

A typical two or three bedroom home takes two to three hours. Larger properties and commercial sites are priced on circuit count and access. Portfolio landlords get better value by grouping renewal dates so the whole programme is priced together rather than property by property.

Choosing who carries it out

The person testing should hold an appropriate current inspection and testing qualification and work for a registered competent person scheme member. Ask to see their credentials. A cheap report from someone unqualified is worth nothing when it is scrutinised.

Bulldog Electrical carries out domestic and commercial EICRs across Medway, Kent and the South East, with digital certificates issued within 48 hours. Call 01634 944 145 to book.