How Often Should an EICR Be Carried Out?

The right gap between reports depends on who uses the property and what condition the wiring is in. As a general guide:

Rented homes: at least every five years, and sooner if the report says so.

Owner-occupied homes: about every ten years, and also when you buy or move into a property whose wiring history you do not know.

Commercial premises: often every five years, though some businesses need shorter gaps because of how heavily the building is used.

These are intervals for routine inspection and testing. They are a maximum, not a target, and the electrician who inspects your installation can recommend a shorter period.

If you let a property in England, you must have the electrical installation inspected and tested at intervals of no more than five years. The landlord must give tenants a copy of the report, and the installation must be kept in safe condition between inspections. Where the report lists faults that need fixing, remedial work has to be completed within the timescale the rules set out.

A new report is not automatically needed for every new tenant, as long as the existing one is still in date and satisfactory. If you are unsure whether your report is still valid, check the date on it and the next inspection date the inspector recorded. Landlords with properties in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland should check the rules that apply there.

There is no general legal requirement for an owner-occupier to have an EICR at set intervals, but regular testing is still good practice for electrical safety. Wiring wears, fittings get added, and DIY changes over the years can introduce faults nobody notices. An inspection before you buy, or soon after you move in, is a sensible point to get a clear picture of the installation.

For commercial premises, an employer has a duty to keep electrical systems safe, and an EICR is the usual way to show the installation condition has been checked. Insurers, landlords or lease terms may also ask for reports at set intervals, so read those documents as well as the general guidance.

Do not wait for the due date if you notice warning signs. These include flickering lights, tripping circuits, warm sockets or switches, a burning smell, scorch marks, or fuses that keep blowing. Other good reasons to book sooner:

Old wiring or an old consumer unit that has never been assessed.

A recent flood, fire or other damage to the property.

Major building work, an extension or a change of use.

A new tenant moving in where the last report is close to expiry.

Some installations, such as those serving swimming pools or caravans, are normally given shorter intervals. If a previous report recommended a shorter gap, follow that rather than the general five or ten year figure.

An EICR does not expire on a fixed date for every property. It is valid until the next inspection date written on the report, provided the installation is not altered or damaged in the meantime. If the result is unsatisfactory, the report will list observations with codes showing how urgent each one is, and the installation needs the necessary remedial work before it can be treated as satisfactory.

Keep every report. The next inspector can compare results over time, and you may need to show them to tenants, a buyer, a mortgage lender or an insurer.

Because prices vary, the sensible way to compare is to ask for a written quote that explains what is included. An electrician may price by a fixed amount for the inspection, by an hourly rate, or by a mix that includes a callout fee. The main factors are the size of the property, the number of circuits and consumer units, how easy it is to reach wiring and fittings, and how long testing takes. Time of day can matter too, as can whether the electricity must be switched off for long periods.

Remedial work is separate from the inspection. Parts and extra labour for any repairs depend on what the report finds, so ask whether the quote covers the inspection only.