Do I Need an EICR? Guide for Homeowners & Landlords

An EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report — is a formal safety check of a property's fixed wiring, carried out by a qualified electrician. It's the electrical equivalent of an MOT: a snapshot of how safe the installation is right now, with any problems graded by severity. But unlike an MOT, there isn't a blanket legal requirement for everyone every year. So the honest answer to "do I need an EICR?" is: it depends who you are and what you're doing with the property. This guide makes it clear.

Landlords: Yes — and It's the Law

If you let residential property in England, an EICR isn't optional. Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, private landlords must:

• Have the fixed electrical installation inspected and tested by a qualified person **at least every 5 years**.
• Obtain a report (the EICR) and **give a copy to tenants within 28 days**, and to the local authority within 7 days if requested.
• Provide a copy to **new tenants before they move in**, and to prospective tenants within 28 days of a request.
• Carry out any **C1, C2 or FI remedial work within 28 days** (or sooner if the report specifies), and obtain written confirmation it's been completed.

These rules have applied to all existing tenancies since 1 April 2021. Local authorities can issue financial penalties of up to £30,000 for non-compliance, so this is not an area to leave to chance. Our dedicated [landlord EICR page](/landlord-eicr/) covers the duties, timescales and what we provide in full.

If you're a landlord in or around Doncaster and your last report is approaching five years old — or you've never had one — booking now keeps you compliant and protects your tenants.

Homebuyers: Strongly Recommended

There's no legal requirement for a buyer to commission an EICR, but it's one of the smartest few hundred pounds you can spend before completing on a house.

A standard homebuyer's survey looks at the building, not the wiring. It will rarely tell you whether the consumer unit is safe, whether the earthing is adequate, or whether previous DIY work is dangerous. An EICR will. If the report flags significant problems — an old board with no RCD protection, deteriorated wiring, or [a need for a partial rewire](/house-rewire-cost/) — you have real numbers to negotiate with, or to budget for after you move in. Far better to know before exchange than to discover a £5,000 rewire after you've got the keys.

We'd particularly recommend an EICR before buying if the property is older, hasn't been rewired in decades, or shows any of the warning signs in the next section.

Sellers: A Useful Selling Point

If you're selling, a recent satisfactory EICR can smooth the sale. It reassures buyers, heads off last-minute renegotiation, and demonstrates the home has been looked after. It's not compulsory, but in a competitive market a clean electrical report removes one more reason for a buyer to hesitate or chip the price.

Older Homes & Warning Signs

For owner-occupiers, the general guidance is to have an EICR at least every 10 years, or sooner if you notice problems. You should bring that forward if your home:

• Hasn't been tested in over a decade.
• Still has a **rewireable fuse board** or no RCD protection.
• Has **rubber, lead or fabric-insulated cabling** — common in homes wired before the 1970s and now well past its safe life.
• Shows **scorch marks, a burning smell, buzzing sockets, or frequent tripping**.
• Has had a lot of undocumented DIY electrical work.

These aren't just cosmetic concerns — they're the warning signs that often turn into [an electrical fault that needs tracing](/electrical-fault-finding/) or, at worst, a fire risk. If you recognise any of them, don't wait for the 10-year mark.

What an EICR Actually Involves

An EICR is a hands-on inspection and a series of electrical tests carried out against BS 7671, the 18th Edition Wiring Regulations. A qualified electrician will:

• **Visually inspect** the consumer unit, accessible wiring, sockets, switches and connections for damage, overheating or non-compliant work.
• **Test the circuits** — measuring insulation resistance, earth continuity, polarity and earth-fault loop impedance, and checking that RCDs trip within their required times.
• **Sample circuits** as needed, isolating the supply for portions of the work, which is why some disruption is normal.
• **Record the results** and assign condition codes to anything that falls short.

For a typical home the inspection takes a few hours; larger or more complex properties take longer.

Understanding the Codes

Every observation in an EICR is graded so you know how urgently to act:

• **C1 — Danger present.** Risk of injury; immediate action required. The electrician should make it safe before leaving.
• **C2 — Potentially dangerous.** Urgent remedial work needed soon.
• **C3 — Improvement recommended.** Not dangerous, but bringing it up to current standards would improve safety. A C3 on its own doesn't fail the report.
• **FI — Further Investigation.** Something needs more inspection to determine its significance.

A report is marked 'unsatisfactory' if it contains any C1, C2 or FI codes — meaning remedial work is required. A report with only C3 items (or none) is 'satisfactory'. For landlords, remember that C1, C2 and FI items must be put right within 28 days.

What It Costs

EICR pricing depends on the size of the property and the number of circuits — more circuits mean more testing. As honest guide figures:

• **Domestic EICR:** typically **£120–£250**. A small flat sits at the lower end; a large house with many circuits at the higher end.
• **Remedial work** is quoted separately once the report identifies what's needed — that might be a minor repair, [a consumer unit upgrade](/consumer-unit-upgrades/) (typically £450–£900), or in older properties a partial rewire.

Our full [EICR cost guide](/eicr-cost/) breaks down what affects the price and what's included, so there are no surprises.

Make Sure It's Done by a Qualified Person

An EICR is only as reliable as the electrician carrying it out. The 2020 Regulations require a "qualified person", and in practice that means someone registered with a recognised competent person scheme. AMP Pro Electrical is NICEIC and NAPIT registered, so your report is carried out and certified to the proper standard — valid for compliance, mortgage and insurance purposes alike.

Book Your EICR in Doncaster

Whether you're a landlord staying on the right side of the law, a buyer protecting a big purchase, or a homeowner with an ageing fuse board, an EICR gives you a clear, honest picture of your wiring's safety. AMP Pro Electrical carries out domestic and landlord EICRs across Doncaster, Armthorpe and the surrounding area, with a free quote up front. Call 0333 577 5464 or [contact us here](/contact/) to book your inspection at a time that suits you.