How much does an EICR cost? [June 2024]

What is an EICR?

EICR stands for Electrical Installation Condition Report. When people talk about getting an EICR - they're generally referring to the inspection that's carried out by a qualified electrician. This inspection results in the actual EICR report being issued.

The report essentially states that the electrics within a property (or a representative subset of the electrics) have been tested rigorously and any immediate dangers flagged.

EICRs use a grading system for faults - and the recommendations to resolve - that are identified during the inspection:
 

• Code 1 (C1): Danger present. Must be fixed to pass EICR.
• Code 2 (C2): Potentially dangerous. Must be fixed to pass EICR.
• Code 3 (C3): Recommended improvement. 
• Further Investigation (FI): Further investigation required without delay.

C1s require immediate attention - the inspector may make these areas safe before leaving, or alternatively provide a timeframe for this work to be completed. These must be addressed in order to pass an EICR.

C2s - which have the potential to become dangerous - must be fixed within 28 days & then EICR can be passed.

C3s are issued where the inspector believes an improvement should be implemented – but it's not yet potentially dangerous or required to pass your EICR - so it's up to the landlord/homeowner to decide if and when to address these.

FIs are issues which the inspector believes would benefit from some further investigation. This then falls on the landlord (or the homeowner) to organise the follow-up inspection/remedial work.
 

Which other factors impact the cost of an EICR?

Where you live, when you book and who you book with are the three biggest factors in determining the cost of your EICR.
 

1. Where you live

Whether you live inside or outside of London is likely to affect the cost of your EICR. There are some other smaller regional differences in pricing (for example, the north of England is likely to be cheaper than the south). But the starkest difference is whether or not you're booking an electrician in London - where you can expect to pay 20% more at least - with a 1 bed EICR starting around the £100 mark.
 

2. When you book

As with most tradesperson services when you book during the day/week also affects the price you pay. You'll pay more for an "out of hours" slot – like early mornings, evenings and weekends or bank holidays. You'll also usually pay a premium if you book a same/next day appointment.
 

3. Who you choose to book with

It's likely that independent, self-employed electricians will charge slightly lower rates than larger, more established electrician firms. If you book with a sole trader, they may even be under the VAT threshold - which means you won't need to pay 20% VAT on top of their services.

While larger electrician firms will generally charge more - booking with them comes with its perks. For example - it's usually easier to book, as you can often do this online, and they also have customer support, more availability and generally greater accountability. So there's a peace of mind that's attached to the slightly higher fee.

If you're a landlord - and your tenancy is managed through an estate agent - they'll either recommend an approved supplier, or  maybe even organise for the EICR themselves. Again, this'll come with a small premium to cover the admin on their side. But given they'll organise access to the property and vetting of the inspector, it's usually a small price to pay to know it's all taken care of.

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How often do I need an EICR?

You should get an EICR at least once every five years. Getting the electrics checked at this cadence should ensure that any major issues are identified before they can lead to any damage/harm to property and residents.
 

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Do I need to get an EICR?

If you're a landlord, then it's a legal requirement to get your electrics checked once every 5 years. This is set out in the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020.^[1]

Failure to comply can result in a fine of up-to £30,000 for the landlord.^[2]

Not only do landlords need to ensure that an EICR is completed, but they'll also need to provide a copy of the report to new or prospective tenants (within 28 days of request) and to existing tenants (within 28 days of the report being issued).^[3]

If you're a homeowner, then it is not a legal requirement to get your electrics checked – but there are still plenty of reasons that you should consider investing in an EICR.

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Why should a homeowner get an EICR?

While it's not a legal requirement - and there's no £30,000 fine should a homeowner opt not to get an EICR - there are still plenty of compelling reasons to get one.
 

1. Safety first

An EICR is a safety check, after all. So getting a report will help you to identify any potential risks in your home. Doing this reduces the risk of electric shocks, electrical fires and other dangerous consequences of poor electrics.
 

2. Reduce electrical downtime

Having an EICR done will bring up underlying issues with your electrics that could cause future issues. Being left without electrics is highly inconvenient and potentially dangerous if you're vulnerable in any way (for example, if you're elderly and reliant on electric heating and hot water). 
 

3. Save money in the long term

Catching issues with your electrics early gives you time to shop around and plan out repairs and improvements efficiently. Being stuck without electrics suddenly often means that remedial work has to be organised quickly – which can come at a significant premium. 
 

4. Electrical efficiency

EICRs include recommendations on improving the electrical efficiency of homes - which could contribute to lower utility bills and is, of course, better for the planet.
 

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What’s included in an EICR inspection?

The purpose of an EICR is to check "the ‘fixed’ electrical parts of the property, like the wiring, the socket-outlets (plug sockets), the light fittings and the consumer unit (or fuse box) will be inspected. This will include permanently connected equipment such as showers and extractors." An EICR would not typically include checking non fixed appliances - such as fridge/freezers.

In practice, this includes:

• Visual inspection of the electrics
• Checking for any defective
• Confirm no electrical installations are overloaded
• Dead testing
• Live testing
• RCD testing
• Checking fixed electrics are earthed & bonded correctly

Once complete, your inspector will issue the actual EICR report, outlining necessary and/or recommended remedial work.

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Where can I find an electrician to complete my EICR?

Online, through a recommendation from friends and family, or via your estate agent (if you're a landlord with a managed or semi-managed tenancy) are the most popular ways to find an electrician for your EICR.

Remember that an EICR must be carried out by a "qualified & competent person" - which in almost all situations means a qualified electrician. So if you're following a recommendation or have found an independent electrician - make sure you're checking their credentials.

A couple of easy ways to find qualified and competent persons for an EICR is through a trade body, such as the NICEIC or the Electrical Competent Person Scheme.

Even if you're booking through an established service - like Housekeep's electrician service - it's still worth double-checking that anyone who'll be booked with you has gone through an appropriate vetting process to ensure they're qualified.
 

Written by Henry Paterson

With years of experience in the industry, Henry is one of Housekeep’s home services specialists. He’s delivered talks at industry events including the Ideal Home Show and regularly features as an industry expert for publications including the Sun, Mail Online, Martha Stewart and many more.