How long an EICR takes and what is involved

The time depends mainly on how many circuits there are and how easy they are to reach. A small flat with a single consumer unit can often be tested in a couple of hours. A three-bedroom house is typically a half-day job, and the written report usually follows after the on-site testing is finished.

Larger houses, properties with several consumer units, outbuildings, garages and commercial premises take longer because there is simply more to test. Treat any time you are given as an estimate, since the inspector cannot know exactly what is behind the walls until the testing starts.

An EICR has two parts: a visual inspection and testing. The inspector looks at the consumer unit, earthing and bonding, sockets, switches, light fittings and visible cable runs, checking for damage, wear, overheating and signs of unsafe DIY work.

They then test each circuit with specialist equipment. These checks measure things like insulation resistance, earth continuity and how quickly protective devices respond to a fault. To test safely, the power has to be switched off to individual circuits, and sometimes to the whole property, for periods during the visit. Plan for that: save your work on computers, and think about anything that needs constant power, such as a freezer, medical equipment or broadband and data equipment.

Access is the biggest factor. Furniture in front of sockets, locked rooms, loft hatches that are hard to reach and a consumer unit hidden behind stored items all add time. Older properties with no records of previous work, or with mixed wiring ages, take more effort to trace and test.

Any faults found can also extend the visit, because the inspector needs to find where a problem starts and record it properly. Time on site is a major driver of price, along with the size of the property, the number of circuits and any extra outbuildings. Rather than guessing, ask for a written quote that says what is included, and check whether it is a fixed price or based on time.

At the end you receive a report that gives an overall result of satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Any issues are given a code. C1 means danger is present and immediate action is needed. C2 means potentially dangerous. C3 means improvement is recommended. FI means further investigation is required.

A C1, C2 or FI code leads to an unsatisfactory result. That is what people mean by failing an EICR. It is not a pass or fail on the whole house in the way an MOT is, but a list of what needs attention. The usual next step is to have the remedial work quoted and carried out, then to get confirmation that the issues have been dealt with. C3 items on their own do not make a report unsatisfactory.

An EICR is a snapshot of the installation on the day it was tested, so it does not last forever. The report states a recommended date for the next inspection. As a general guide, owner-occupied homes are often retested about every ten years, rented homes more often, commonly around every five years or at a change of tenancy. You may also want one when buying a property or after major electrical work.

Landlords have legal duties around electrical safety in rented homes, and the rules can change, so check GOV.UK for the current position. If you are not sure whether your property or business premises needs a report, ask when you make your enquiry.

Whoever you choose, ask about their qualifications and whether they work to the recognised wiring standards, and ask to see proof.