Should homeowners get an EICR?
Last updated
Homeowners are not legally required to have an EICR, but there are good reasons to get one. This guide explains when it makes sense, how often to test, and what happens during the inspection.
| Property size | Fixed price |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | £120 |
| 2 bedrooms | £150 |
| 3 bedrooms | £185 |
| 4 bedrooms | £240 |
| 5 bedrooms or larger | £310 |
Extra circuits above 12: £10 each
HMO per bedroom: £45 each
All prices include VAT.
When should a homeowner get an EICR?
Homeowners are not legally required to have one, but it is worth booking when buying or selling, before a renovation, if you notice warning signs like tripping breakers or scorched sockets, or if nobody knows when the wiring was last checked.
Common reasons homeowners book an inspection include:
- Buying a home, especially an older one, where you want to know the condition of the wiring before you move in.
- Selling, where a buyer or their surveyor has asked about the electrics.
- Planning a renovation, such as a new kitchen or extension, so you know whether the existing installation can take extra load.
- Signs of trouble, such as breakers that trip often, scorch marks on sockets, flickering lights or a burning smell.
- It has simply been a long time, and nobody can remember when the wiring was last checked.
How often should an owner-occupied home have an EICR?
IET guidance recommends an inspection roughly every 10 years for an owner-occupied home, or sooner if the previous report says so. A change of occupier, such as buying a house, is also a sensible time to test, especially in an older property.
The general recommendation in the IET guidance for owner-occupied homes is an inspection every 10 years, or sooner if the electrician recommends it on the previous report. A change of occupier is also a sensible time to test. Our guide on how often you need an EICR explains this in more detail.
What does an EICR check in a home?
It checks the fixed installation: consumer unit, wiring, sockets, switches, light fittings, earthing and bonding to gas and water pipes. The electrician tests circuits for insulation resistance, earth fault loop impedance and RCD operation. Plug-in appliances are not included; that is a separate PAT test.
The inspection covers the fixed electrical installation: the consumer unit, the wiring, sockets, switches, light fittings, earthing to the incoming supply and bonding to gas and water pipes. The electrician will test a sample of circuits for things like insulation resistance, earth fault loop impedance and RCD operation.
Plug-in appliances are not part of an EICR. If you want those checked, that is a separate PAT test.
What does the result of a homeowner's EICR mean?
The report is satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Each observation is coded C1 (danger present), C2 (potentially dangerous), C3 (improvement recommended) or FI (further investigation). Homeowners are not legally required to act, but C1 and C2 items are real safety risks and should be fixed promptly.
The report gives an overall result of satisfactory or unsatisfactory, and lists any observations with a code. C1 means danger is present, C2 means potentially dangerous, C3 means improvement recommended and FI means further investigation is needed. As a homeowner you are not legally required to act on these, but C1 and C2 items are real safety risks and should be dealt with promptly.
Are older Greater Manchester homes more likely to have wiring issues?
Older homes are more likely to have a mix of old and new wiring from repeated alterations. Many homes in the region were built before 1919 or between the wars. An EICR shows what you actually have, rather than relying on guesswork or a seller's description.
A large share of homes across the region were built before 1919 or between the wars. Many have been rewired since, sometimes more than once, and it is common to find a mix of old and new work. An EICR is a straightforward way to find out what you actually have, rather than relying on guesswork or a seller's description.
How long does a home EICR take?
A typical home takes 2 to 4 hours. The power is off for parts of the visit, so plan around freezers, home working and any medical equipment. Make sure the consumer unit is easy to reach and the electrician can get to sockets and switches in each room.
Expect the visit to take between 2 and 4 hours for a typical home. The power will be off for parts of it, so plan around freezers, home working and any medical equipment. Please make sure the consumer unit is easy to reach and that the electrician can get to a range of sockets and light switches in each room.
How do homeowners book an EICR?
Choose your number of bedrooms in the booking form and see the fixed price straight away. We will confirm by phone or WhatsApp within 2 hours (8am-8pm). An independent NICEIC registered electrician carries out the inspection, and your report is emailed to you after the visit.
CircuitCertify arranges bookings with independent NICEIC registered electricians across Greater Manchester. Prices are fixed by the number of bedrooms and shown before you book. We will confirm by phone or WhatsApp within 2 hours (8am-8pm), and your report is emailed to you after the visit.