A Landlord's Guide To EICR Certificates

It is in a landlord’s best interest to keep their property safe and hazard-free, both for the safety of their tenants and to protect the property itself. There are many regulations landlords must follow and certificates that must be obtained to legally let a property and the EICR is one of them. But what is an EICR certificate and how can you get one? Join me as I detail everything landlords need to know about EICR certificates.

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What is an EICR Certificate?

EICR, sometimes written as EICr, stands for Electrical Installation Condition Report. This report is the result of electrical testing of light fittings, plug sockets, fuse boxes, and wiring on a property. This certificate is sometimes known as a landlord’s electrical safety report or fixed wire testing. Commercial and industrial properties also need to have EICR certificates.

As of April 2021, privately rented properties need to have a valid EICR certificate according to The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. The certificate should be provided to the property’s tenants, and the local council if requested.

An EICR is proof that the landlord of a property has taken necessary measures to ensure all electrical installations and wiring are safe for use, reducing the risk of injury and damage. It is often a requirement of building and landlord insurance as well as a legal requirement. Not having a valid EICR certificate could result in a fine of up to £30,000. Landlords may be liable for negligence and face substantial repair costs if an accident occurs, and insurance will not cover the damages.

Who is Responsible for an EICR Certificate?

The landlord of a property is responsible for ensuring it has a valid EICR certificate. In the case of leasehold properties, it is usually the responsibility of the leaseholder, but always check to see who is specified in the leasehold contract.

Who Can Perform an EICR Inspection?

The EICR inspection must be completed by a ‘qualified and competent person’. This means someone qualified to perform the electrical testing required. Ideally, it should be someone with adequate electrical knowledge and proficiency. They should have the equipment needed for the inspection and know what to look for to identify faults and defects. For these reasons, I’d advise getting a qualified electrician with the 2391 accreditation to perform EICR inspections. Choosing an unqualified contractor may be cheaper but they may provide an inadequate report or overlook potentially hazardous problems.

How Often Should an EICR Inspection Take Place?

An EICR inspection should be done once every 5 years in residential properties, including HMOs. I would also recommend getting an EICR inspection for every change in tenants. If the property is a new build or the wiring or other electrical installations have just been updated, the installer should provide an EIC, or Electrical Installation Certificate. This will be sufficient for the next five years after which a new EICR is due. Note, if only part of a property’s wiring was updated, then an EIC will still be provided, but a full EICR inspection still needs to take place.

Other types of property require EICR inspections at different intervals depending on the property type and function. Some buildings like hospitals, swimming pools and cinemas need a new EICR every year, for industrial units, farms, theatres and others it’s every three years, and buildings like offices, shops and restaurants need one every 5 years. Check with your local authority to find the requirements for EICR certificates for a specific type of commercial building to make sure you are compliant with regulations.

How Much Does an EICR Certificate Cost?

The cost of an EICR certificate depends on the size of a building, how extensive the wiring is and the number of circuits, the age of the electrics, and other factors. It’s always wise to shop around to obtain a few quotes for this kind of job, but always make sure the contractor you go with can provide evidence of their qualifications and accreditations and that they have performed similar work in the past for the same kind of property.

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Can a Property Fail an EICR Inspection?

Like most kinds of safety inspections, a property can definitely fail the EICR inspection. This could be due to damaged or faulty wiring, inadequate installation of electrical components, or other issues. The EICR will detail what faults have been discovered and how serious they are. The report will include codes including:

C1 – Danger present. Risk of injury. Immediate remedial action required.

This means that there are major issues with the wiring or electrics that need to be addressed immediately.

C2 – Potentially dangerous – urgent remedial action required.

This indicates there are significant problems that must be rectified as soon as possible.

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

This means that another inspection needs to be done to investigate issues in more depth.

C3 – Improvement recommended.

This rating indicates there are some minor issues but fixing them is not urgent – think of it as like an advisory on a vehicle’s MOT.

Receiving a C1, C2 or FI code means the property has failed the EICR inspection and will require remedial work to fix the issues. This should be done within 28 days or within a timescale given on the report.

Are Any Properties Exempt From an EICR Inspection?

Some types of property are exempt from needing an EICR certificate, such as properties where the landlord or members of the landlord’s family also live. Other types of property exempt from EICRs include long lease tenancies (over 7 years), student halls of residence, social housing, care homes, hospices, and more. This is not to say that these types of property don’t need safe electric installations – they have their own set of regulations for electrical safety.

To remain compliant with regulations and keep your tenants safe, always keep your EICR certificates up to date and use a qualified and accredited electrician to perform your EICR inspections. Make sure you always have the latest information and news about property laws and regulations to avoid future problems.

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