Why Do EICR Quotes Vary From £79 to £300? What's Actually Included

Ring three electricians for an electrical safety report and you might hear £79, £150 and £280 — for the same three-bed semi. That spread confuses a lot of homeowners, and it's the most common question behind our EICR cost guide. The honest answer is that the quotes aren't for the same job. Here's what actually sits behind the numbers in 2026.

What a proper EICR involves

An Electrical Installation Condition Report is an inspection and test of every circuit in the property against BS 7671 — insulation resistance, earth continuity, disconnection times, the condition of the consumer unit and a sample of accessories. The electrician grades what they find with C1 (danger present), C2 (potentially dangerous), C3 (improvement recommended) and FI (further investigation), and the report is only 'satisfactory' if there are no C1s, C2s or FIs outstanding. On a typical 3-bed with 8-10 circuits, done properly, that's a half-day's work — which is why a realistic domestic price sits at £120-£250 in South Yorkshire, with the national range running roughly £120-£300 depending on region and property size.

So what is the £79 quote?

Usually one of three things. It assumes a tiny property with very few circuits, and the price climbs once the electrician arrives. It excludes the certificate or charges separately for it. Or it's priced as a loss-leader that makes its money on the remedial work — which creates an obvious incentive to grade findings harshly. None of these is illegal, but none of them is the like-for-like comparison it looks like on the phone. If a quote is dramatically below the local market, ask what property size it assumes, whether the certificate is included, and whether the firm also bids for its own remedials.

The questions that make quotes comparable

Ask every firm the same four things: how many circuits does the price cover? Is the certificate included? What happens if you find a C2 — do I get a priced list of remedials I can take anywhere? And are you NICEIC or NAPIT registered? A firm that answers all four plainly is quoting the same job you're asking about. (We answer them on the EICR cost page, including our remedial price bands, so you can hold us to the same standard.)

Landlords: the five-year clock

If you let the property, an EICR isn't optional: rented homes in England need a satisfactory report at least every five years and at the start of a new tenancy. Our landlord EICR service handles the report, clearly coded findings and the remedial work if any is needed — and if you're anywhere in the Doncaster 30-mile patch, from Rotherham to the Five Towns, we'll give you a fixed written price on the phone: 0333 577 5464.

Need other electrical work done at the same time? Our electrician Doncaster page covers rewires, fuse boards and fault finding, with the same fixed written quotes.