Certificates, reports, standards, tests. The world of energy and electricals is a complex one, especially if you have limited experience. And even with experience, rules and regulations can change so often that it's sometimes hard to keep up. Fortunately, we understand this, and want to help you understand it too. In the following guide, we have tried to outline all the key information about Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICR) in one handy article.
From what they are to who needs one, how you get one, who can issue one and importantly, what happens if you don’t get one – we’ve got you covered.
We’ve been in the energy performance certificate and EICR world for over a decade, and have worked with hundreds of clients and visited thousands of buildings. Be assured that our staff are fully qualified and know exactly what they are doing when it comes to producing these reports.
First and foremost, it would be appropriate to explain exactly what we mean when we talk about an Electrical Installation Condition Report. Or, EICR for short.
An EICR is a formal document that is provided to homeowners or landlords by a qualified electrician or electrical engineer. Prior to issuing such a report, the competent person will have conducted a thorough and detailed inspection of the electrical systems within a building or property.
The key thing inspectors are looking for during these checks is that the electrical installations and systems within a building or home are correctly installed and well maintained. They will carry out a range of tests and visual inspections, looking at things such as light fittings, consumer units, fuse boxes, power supplies, switches and sockets.
These reports are recommended on all buildings but are mandatory for private landlords, as outlined in the latest private rental sector regulations, which require landlords to provide them. By providing a report to tenants, the landlord is offering a guarantee around the safety of their property.
One of the leading causes of fire across the UK is faulty electrics and this alone is a key driver for the production and provision of condition reports. There are no limits to the damage and convenience a fire can cause, so it is vital to ensure that electrics are in good working order to reduce this risk.
There are several things that an EICR certificate does, but nothing is more important than their key purpose, which is to ensure that all electrical installations in a property are safe. Faulty electrical installations are a leading cause of fire country-wide and, as such, this part is really important.
In carrying out and producing an EICR, a qualified electrician will inspect all installations across a property, ensuring that they have been properly installed. Indeed, it is not uncommon for badly installed electrical items to start fires. So, as you can appreciate, reducing fire risk is a huge part of EICR inspections.
Beyond this, an EICR check will also seek to identify more general wear and tear on electrical items. Wear and tear, much like dodgy installation, can also bring people to harm – be that through fires or electrical shocks.
Finally, these checks also act as a useful recording system. The EICR will outline the condition of electrical installations across a building so that, in future, should anything ever occur, you are able to look back for reassurance around the safety of your electrics.
What Happens Without One?
As a building owner or landlord, it is a legal requirement that you take steps to ensure the safety of your tenants. This is covered in a wide range of health and safety legislation, such as The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020.
Should you not put necessary measures in place, such as an EICR certificate, you could be held liable and find yourself in hot water if somebody is injured, or worse, due to an accident involving faulty electrics. Do you really want that on your conscience?
And if that doesn’t motivate you, how about a £30,000 fine? That’s the potential financial damage that you could be hit with for failing to provide a relevant certificate. You could also be denied any support from your insurers, if they found out that an electrical issue occurred at your property without you having an EICR in place.
During the inspection, the electrician will look at several things, including:
Electricians should also use the IET’s Wiring Regulations to support their inspections.
What’s The Cost?
The average cost of an EICR for a two-bed flat is up to £150 – however, this can change based on several factors. These factors include location, age of the property, size of the property, type of property and accessibility of systems for testing.
So, for example, an older property may require a lengthier and more detailed inspection, due to the wear and tear on equipment. Meanwhile, a larger property will of course require a longer inspection, which may increase the price.
The cost may also increase if you have electrical systems that are harder and more complex to access, or they have deteriorated over time and need a more detailed inspection.
What We Offer
Here at Energy Performance Certificates, we proudly offer low-cost, high-quality EICR assessments from our highly qualified and professional inspectors.
Here are just a few reasons we are the contractor of choice for such inspections, for hundreds of clients, right across the country:
Energy Performance Certificates was formed in 2010, with our core aim being to offer display energy certificates, energy performance certificates and, importantly, EICR certificates, to homeowners, landlords and businesses throughout the country.
We have a team full of highly qualified, experienced energy assessors who have a wealth of knowledge to share on topics like this. Furthermore, we are able to carry out EICR checks for you and your business. Take a look at the ‘Get In Touch’ section for more information on how to get in touch with us.
Get In Touch
So, there you have it – everything you need to know about Electrical Installation Condition Reports. Now you just need to ensure you have one! For a good value, nationwide service, by approved and accredited assessors, get in touch with us today.
We visit around 5,000 properties every month, so you can be sure that we know what we're doing. We also have around 150 businesses that use our services regularly. They are given access to our bespoke order management system, and of course, we offer a discount for orders in bulk. So, if you're needing multiple EICR certificates producing, we can help with that.
You can get an instant quote at https://energyperformancecertificates.co.uk. Give us a call on 0203 397 8220 for more information or email us at hello@energyperformancecertificates.co.uk.
