Electrical installation condition reports

Each property is different but the electrician needs to check each area thoroughly, so you should expect them to be there for a significant period of time. A visual check alone can take up to an hour, and it can take another hour to fill out the certificate.

It is recommended that private properties get an EICR every 10 years and it is now mandatory that landlords have an installation inspected and tested at least every five years – and more often if the most recent safety report requires it.

1. Be aware that your electrician will need to turn the power off before working on the wiring. You will not have access to any electrical gadgets, so it may not be the best day to work from home. It might be easier to let them in and leave them to get on with it for a few hours. It is possible to put circuits back on once they’ve been tested, but it will slow down the process.
2. Ensure your electrician has free access to all lights, sockets and light switches. This means clearing areas where they will need to work before they arrive (children’s bedrooms, lofts and offices can be tricky).
3. Don’t expect your electrician to issue you with a quote for remedial works immediately. It will take approximately 48 hours to process the data from the check itself before they can do this. It can take longer, particularly if you need extensive remedial works, which require a further visit from your electrician to discuss options before they can issue a quote.
4. Expect the report to uncover some ‘failures’ in your wiring system. Just because your lights switch on, it doesn’t mean the underlying system is safe.
5. Remember the problems uncovered in an initial check are likely to be the most expensive. Once major faults are corrected, subsequent checks are likely to find fewer problem areas.

The electrician will make a visual assessment before carrying out a series of checks on your electrical systems. Any ‘code one’ problems, i.e. problems that are immediately dangerous, will need to be fixed immediately, or at least made safe. Any ‘code two’ problems, which are potentially dangerous, will be noted and a quote provided for a fix provided at the end of the process. Any ‘code threes” (issues not deemed unsafe) will again be noted and quoted for.

The electrician will complete a seven-page report during the visit. At Pimlico, we will provide you with a copy of this report and a quote for any further remedial works recommended in order to bring your system up to standard. It can take a couple of days to process the paperwork.

The electrician will check that your fuse board is safe and compliant with the current regulations. This means whether it has the necessary circuit breakers and RCD protection. Other checks designed to prevent fatal electric shocks include ensuring that everything is correctly earthed. Your electrician will check this on your gas-meter pipework, water pipework, radiators, and all the metal in the building. They will also check your sockets, lights, switches, and accessories to see that the wiring is installed correctly. Portable appliances are not included in an EICR. This involves a separate test.

Some companies will only test a sample (10%), whilst Pimlico will test 85 – 100% of your electrics.

An NICEIC accredited electrician at approved contractor level, or approved by another electrical regulatory body at a similar or higher level – you can check this on the Electrical Safety Register.