Preparing for an EICR means giving the engineer full access to every room and to the consumer unit, providing the previous report and any installation certificates, giving tenants written notice of a temporary power interruption, clearing obstructions from sockets and boards, and agreeing in advance how minor remedials will be authorised.
How to prepare for an EICR inspection
Six preparation steps that allow an Electrical Installation Condition Report to be completed in one visit without a return charge.
- 1
Arrange full access
Confirm access to every room, including locked bedrooms, loft spaces, cupboards and any outbuilding on the same supply. An inaccessible room means limitations recorded on the report or a return visit.
- 2
Gather previous paperwork
Find the previous EICR, any electrical installation certificates or minor works certificates, and records of rewiring or consumer unit replacement. Prior documentation shortens the inspection and explains existing installation choices.
- 3
Give tenants written notice
Testing requires the supply to be switched off for periods. Give tenants at least 24 hours' written notice, warn them about freezers, medical equipment and home working, and confirm someone can provide access.
- 4
Clear access to the consumer unit and sockets
Move furniture, boxes and stored items away from the consumer unit, meter and accessible sockets. Inspection includes opening the board and sample-testing accessories throughout the property.
- 5
Decide on appliances and fixed equipment
Identify landlord-supplied appliances that also need PAT testing, and flag fixed equipment such as electric showers, immersion heaters and outdoor supplies so they are included in the scope from the start.
- 6
Agree a remedial authorisation limit
Set a value below which the engineer can correct minor faults on the day. C1 and C2 items must be remedied for the report to be satisfactory, so authorising small fixes in advance often avoids a second mobilisation.
What the engineer is actually assessing
An EICR is an inspection and test of the fixed electrical installation against BS 7671, the IET Wiring Regulations. It covers the consumer unit, protective devices, earthing and bonding, circuit continuity, insulation resistance, polarity, earth fault loop impedance and RCD operation, plus a visual inspection of accessories and any signs of damage, overheating or unsafe DIY work.
The outcome is either satisfactory or unsatisfactory, supported by observation codes.
- C1: danger present, immediate action required. Always makes the report unsatisfactory.
- C2: potentially dangerous, urgent remedial action required. Also makes the report unsatisfactory.
- C3: improvement recommended. Does not make the report unsatisfactory.
- FI: further investigation required without delay. Makes the report unsatisfactory.
Turning an unsatisfactory report around
An unsatisfactory outcome is not a disaster, it is a work list. C1 items are made safe on the spot; C2 and FI items need remedial work and re-verification before the installation can be recorded as satisfactory. Once the work is complete you should hold both the original report and the evidence of remediation, because a licensing officer or letting agent will normally want to see the pair together.
How EICRs fit with the rest of your compliance
For HMO landlords the EICR sits alongside the fire alarm servicing certificate, the emergency lighting test records and the fire risk assessment. Booking them as a single coordinated visit reduces tenant disruption to one appointment rather than four, and keeps every renewal date on the same cycle so nothing quietly lapses.
Frequently asked questions
- How often does a rented property need an EICR?
- The recognised interval for rented residential property is at least every five years, or at change of tenancy where the previous report is not current. Commercial premises are usually inspected every three to five years depending on the environment and use.
- How long does an EICR take?
- A typical two or three bedroom property takes around three to four hours. A larger HMO with multiple circuits, outbuildings and additional consumer units can take a full day, and access delays are the most common reason a visit overruns.
- Does the power have to be switched off?
- Yes, for parts of the testing. The supply is interrupted circuit by circuit rather than for the whole visit, but tenants should be warned so they can plan around it.