Billericay Electrical ServicesGuide
How to get an EICR
To get an EICR, book a qualified electrician to inspect and test your electrical installation. Here is how the process works and what affects the cost.
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- EICR and related services
To get an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report), book a qualified electrician to carry out inspection and testing of your fixed electrical installation, then receive a written condition report with the findings. Arrange access to the property, ask for a written quote, and keep the report safe once it is issued. Billericay Electrical Services covers Billericay and the surrounding parts of Essex for EICR work.
What an EICR is and who needs one
An EICR is a report on the electrical installation condition of a property. It covers the fixed wiring, consumer unit (fuse box), sockets, switches, lighting circuits and earthing and bonding. It does not cover your plug-in appliances.
Landlords usually need one for rented homes. Homeowners often get one before selling, after buying an older property, or when they want reassurance that the installation is safe. Rules can change, so check GOV.UK for the current position on your property type.
The steps to getting one
First, decide what the report is for: a rental, a sale, or your own peace of mind. This helps the electrician plan the visit.
Second, contact an electrician who carries out inspection and testing and give them the basics: property type, roughly how many circuits or rooms, whether it is occupied, and the age of the consumer unit if you know it. Photos of the fuse box help.
Third, agree a date and arrange access. Power will need to be switched off for short periods, so plan around computers, fridges and anything that cannot be interrupted.
Finally, receive the report and act on anything it flags.
Can you book an EICR online?
You can usually arrange the booking online, through an enquiry form or by email. The inspection itself cannot be done remotely. An electrician has to visit, open up accessories and test the circuits. Be cautious of any service offering a certificate without visiting the property.
Choosing the right electrician
Not every electrician is suited to this job. An EICR needs someone experienced in periodic inspection and testing, who knows the current wiring regulations and can judge whether an installation is safe. Ask about their qualifications in inspection and testing, and whether they work under a recognised competent person scheme. Ask to see proof, and check it with the scheme if you are unsure.
It also helps to ask who will do remedial work if the report finds faults. Some people prefer the same electrician to quote for repairs, while others get a second quote. Either is fine.
Reading the results
The report gives an overall outcome of satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Observations carry codes. 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.
An unsatisfactory result is not unusual on older installations. It means remedial work is needed before the installation can be treated as satisfactory. Ask the electrician to explain each code in plain language, and keep the report together with any later certificate for the repairs.
How pricing works
EICR pricing depends on the job, so ask for a written quote rather than relying on general figures. Some electricians quote a fixed price for the inspection, others charge by time, and some add a callout fee. Ask which applies.
The things that move the cost include the size of the property, the number of circuits and consumer units, how easy it is to reach accessories and the consumer unit, and how long the testing takes. Occupied homes full of furniture can take longer. Any remedial work found is separate from the inspection, and parts and extra time for repairs are usually quoted on top. Make sure the quote says exactly what is included.
Common questions
Can you do your own EICR?
No, not in any meaningful way. The report needs specialist test equipment and the competence to interpret results against the wiring regulations. For a landlord or a sale, it should come from a suitably qualified electrician.
Can a landlord be fined for no EICR?
Landlords who do not meet their electrical safety duties can face enforcement action from the local authority, including financial penalties. The rules can change, so check GOV.UK for the current requirements, how often a report is needed (commonly at intervals of up to five years, or sooner if the report says so) and what applies to your tenancy.
Can any electrician do an EICR?
Not every electrician is the right choice. Look for someone experienced in inspection and testing, with relevant qualifications and, ideally, membership of a competent person scheme. Ask to see proof before booking.
What is an EICR check?
It is the visual inspection and testing of a property's fixed electrical installation, carried out to find damage, wear, overloaded circuits and defects that could be a shock or fire risk. The findings are written up in the condition report.