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If you’ve been told you need an “EICR” and you’re not sure what that means or how much it costs, this is the short version.
What an EICR actually is
EICR stands for Electrical Installation Condition Report. It’s a formal inspection of a property’s fixed electrical wiring — sockets, switches, fuse board, lighting circuits, earthing, and bonding. A registered electrician tests every circuit, identifies any faults or safety concerns, and issues a written report.
The report rates the property either Satisfactory (no urgent issues) or Unsatisfactory (issues that need remedial work). Specific defects are coded:
- C1 — Danger present, immediate action required (e.g. exposed live wiring).
- C2 — Potentially dangerous, remedial action required.
- C3 — Improvement recommended (advisory only).
- FI — Further investigation required.
A report with any C1, C2, or FI code is “Unsatisfactory” — you have 28 days to get the work done and re-tested.
Who legally needs one
Landlords (England, Scotland, Wales): Yes. Since June 2020 in England, similar dates in Scotland and Wales, all private rented residential properties must hold a valid EICR. You must give a copy to tenants within 28 days and to the local authority on request. Failing to have one is a fineable offence (up to £30,000 in some cases).
Homeowners: No legal requirement, but expected on sale. Conveyancing solicitors and surveyors increasingly ask for evidence of a recent EICR (usually less than 5 years old) when a property changes hands. Insurers may also require one when issuing or renewing buildings insurance on older properties.
Commercial property owners: Yes, for HSE Workplace Regulations compliance — frequency varies (1-5 years) depending on building type and use.
What it costs in 2026
Typical UK pricing as of May 2026:
| Property | Price range |
|---|---|
| 1-bed flat | £125-£160 |
| 2-bed flat / small terrace | £150-£200 |
| 3-bed semi or terrace | £180-£260 |
| 4-bed detached | £240-£340 |
| 5+ bed or large old property | £320-£450+ |
Older properties with more circuits, fuse boxes that need replacing, or pre-1970s wiring tend to sit at the high end. Properties with more recent rewires tend to sit lower because there’s less to test and fewer issues to flag.
If the report comes back unsatisfactory, you’ll be quoted separately for the remedial work. Common remedial items and rough 2026 prices:
- Replace fuse box / consumer unit: £550-£900
- Replace damaged socket: £60-£90 each
- Replace damaged light switch: £40-£70 each
- Re-bond gas/water pipework: £90-£160
- Address a missing RCD (residual current device): £200-£420
If you’re an electrician quoting EICRs, our free quote generator for electricians and invoice generator for electricians handle this work in 2 minutes — including remedial line items at typical UK rates.
How to find an electrician for an EICR
EICRs must be done by a competent person — in practice, this means an electrician registered with one of the recognised schemes:
- NICEIC (most common)
- NAPIT
- ELECSA
- Stroma
You can verify any electrician’s registration on each scheme’s website. An EICR signed by anyone outside these schemes won’t be accepted by most local authorities or insurers, so verify before booking — especially with deal-of-the-week prices that look unusually low.
Most electricians will turn an EICR around in 1-3 working days from booking, including the inspection itself (usually 2-4 hours on site for a 3-bed property). Test certificates are emailed afterwards.
For more on how electricians manage their schedule and respond to enquiries, we’ve written about why electricians lose leads they never knew they had — useful background if you’ve been struggling to get callbacks for an EICR booking.
