What it is
A home survey usually only comments on the electrics visually. An EICR involves testing and gives you a coded, evidence-based picture of the installation's condition, which can help with negotiations or planning work. For commercial leases, a report at handover establishes the condition at the start and end of the term. We'll need the seller's or landlord's permission to access and isolate circuits.
What's included
- EICR inspection and testing
- Plain-English summary of significant findings
- Indicative remedial costs on request
Not included
- Remedial work
- Gas or structural surveys
Who needs it
- Buyers and sellers of homes
- Commercial tenants at the start or end of a lease
- Landlords between tenancies
What you'll receive
EICR in the BS 7671 model format.
How often
At purchase, sale or handover.
What the rules say
Each point is labelled so you can tell what's law, what's a British Standard, and what's good practice or comes from your lease, licence or insurer.
- Recommended practiceEngland
No legal requirement when buying or selling
There's no law requiring an EICR to sell a home in England. Buyers, surveyors and lenders sometimes ask for one, and it helps you budget for any work before you commit.
- Recommended practiceEngland
Owner-occupied homes: no legal requirement
No law requires an EICR for a home you live in. It's sensible before buying, after a long gap, when renovating, or if you notice warning signs. The inspector recommends when the next inspection should be on the report.
- Technical standardUK (BS 7671)
What makes a report unsatisfactory
C1 (danger present) and C2 (potentially dangerous) make the overall result unsatisfactory. On reports issued to BS 7671 Amendment 4 (2026), C3 (improvement recommended) and FI (further investigation advised) don't affect the overall result. Older reports used 'further investigation required without delay', and an FI made them unsatisfactory.
Sources: IET model EICR form (opens external site): BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 model Electrical Installation Condition Report form; IET Wiring Matters (opens external site): Further investigation (Wiring Matters, issue 110, July 2026); IET (current BS 7671) (opens external site): Ensure you are up to date with BS 7671
- Legal requirementEngland
Inspect at least every five years, and before a new tenancy starts
Private landlords, and since 2025 social landlords, must have the electrical installation inspected and tested by a qualified person at intervals of no more than five years, or sooner if the last report says so. GOV.UK says a fresh inspection isn't needed for a new tenancy if a report from the last five years exists and no work is outstanding.
Sources: 2020 Regulations (opens external site): Electrical Safety Standards in the Private and Social Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/312, as amended); 2025 amendment (opens external site): Electrical Safety Standards (Extension to the Social Rented Sector) Regulations 2025 (SI 2025/1043); GOV.UK guidance (opens external site): Electrical safety standards in the private and social rented sectors: guidance (published 1 November 2025)
Before your appointment
- Arrange access with the seller or agent, including the loft and any outbuildings.
- Ask the seller for any certificates for past electrical work.
If something's found
- Any C1 (danger present) is made safe before we leave if you agree. That may mean isolating a circuit until it's repaired.
- You get the report with every observation explained in plain English, and a separate itemised quote for anything that needs fixing. You're free to use any qualified contractor for the work.
- Once remedial work is done, you get an Electrical Installation Certificate or Minor Works Certificate for that work, or a new report, as written confirmation.
- Landlords: the 28-day clock for remedial work and further investigation starts from the inspection, so book any work promptly.
What affects the price
- Size of the property and number of circuits
- Access arranged through an agent
- Turnaround needed for your sale
Read more
- EICR codes explained: C1, C2, C3 and FI (updated for 2026)
What each code means, which ones fail a report under the 2026 rules, and what landlords must do about each.
- EICR questions answered: how long it takes, how long it lasts, and who needs one
Short, sourced answers to the questions we're asked most about Electrical Installation Condition Reports.