How Often Should You Get an EICR in the UK? (2025 Guide)
- Benson
- Nov 21
- 7 min read
Updated: Nov 22
Updated for UK homeowners, landlords and business owners in 2025
Contents:
Introduction
If you’ve heard people talk about an EICR and thought, “Do I actually need one, and how often?”, you’re not alone.
An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is essentially a full service check for your fixed electrical wiring – it tells you if your electrics are safe and whether anything needs fixing.
In this 2025 guide, I’ll break everything down in plain English so you know:
- How often you should get an EICR
- The difference between legal requirements and best-practice recommendations
- What actually happens during an EICR
- Typical costs in 2025
- When to book one sooner than the usual timescale
What Is an EICR?
An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a formal inspection and test of your fixed wiring – things like:
- Consumer unit / fuse board
- Sockets and switches
- Lighting circuits
- Fixed wiring to equipment such as showers, cookers, boilers, EV chargers etc.
The electrician visually inspects, functional checks and tests the installation and then issues a written report that:
- Confirms if your installation is satisfactory for continued use
- Lists any defects or safety issues
- Recommends when your next inspection should be
Think of it as a health check for your electrical system, based on BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations) - "The Electricians Bible" - and related guidance.
How Often Should You Get an EICR in 2025?
Quick Answer:
"Homeowners (you live in the property): about every 10 years or when you move home"
"Landlords: at least every 5 years by law – or at change of tenancy"
"Most commercial premises: typically every 3–5 years, depending on use"
Here’s the simple overview you can refer back to.
1. Owner-Occupied Homes (You Live There)
For a typical UK home where you are the owner and occupant:
- Recommended: Every 10 years
- Also strongly recommended: When you buy or sell a property, or if the wiring is older / unknown
This 10-year interval is a recommendation, not a legal requirement, but it’s widely used by insurers, surveyors and professional bodies.
You should consider having an EICR earlier if:
- Your home is 25+ years old and hasn’t been tested in a long time
- You’ve had a lot of DIY electrics done in the past
- You’re adding big loads – e.g. EV charger, electric heating, hot tub, sauna, home office
- You’ve had issues like frequent tripping, buzzing sockets, burning smells, or discoloured outlets
2. Landlords & Rental Properties (Legal Requirements)
For landlords in England, the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector Regulations 2020 require that you:
- Have the electrical installation inspected and tested at least every 5 years
- Or at change of tenancy, if that comes sooner (best practice that’s now widely adopted)
- Use a qualified and competent person
- Provide a copy of the EICR to your tenants and the local authority if requested
- Complete any remedial work, usually within 28 days (or sooner if specified)
This applies to:
- Most private rented homes
- HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation)
- Many social and housing association properties (check your specific provider’s rules)
If the EICR is unsatisfactory, you still haven’t complied with the law until remedial work is completed and documented – so it’s important to use someone who will explain everything clearly.
3. Commercial & Business Premises
For commercial and industrial properties, there isn’t a single “one size fits all” law that states a fixed interval, but widely used guidance and industry practice suggest:
- Offices, shops, restaurants, most commercial buildings: Typically every 3–5 years
- Industrial premises (factories, workshops, warehouses): Typically every 5 years
- Public venues (theatres, leisure centres, places with public access): Often more frequent depending on risk
The actual interval should be based on factors such as:
- Type of business and level of risk
- Environmental conditions (heat, damp, chemicals, outdoor equipment)
- Quality of maintenance and any history of electrical issues
If you’re responsible for a business premises, your EICR schedule usually ties into your health & safety, fire risk assessment, and insurance requirements.
4. Other Times You Should Consider an EICR
Even if you’re not “due” according to the timelines above, it’s wise to arrange an EICR when:
- Buying or selling a property – gives you a clear picture before you commit
- After flood, fire, significant water damage or major building work
- If you’ve had repeated nuisance tripping or unexplained electrical issues
- When installing EV chargers, heat pumps or major new loads on an older system
- If you discover very old wiring (e.g. rubber, fabric or lead-sheathed cables) or an ancient fuse board
What Actually Happens During an EICR?
A good EICR isn’t just a quick look and turning a few light switches on and off! A typical visit includes:
1. Preliminary checks & questions
- Asking how the installation is used (e.g. heavy loads, any known issues)
- Looking at previous reports or certificates if available
2. Visual inspection
- DNO (Distribution Network Operators) cut-out, and suppliers metering equipment
- Condition of consumer unit
- Signs of overheating, damage, DIY work
- Earthing and bonding connections - To the property's gas and water (or metallic structures coming into the building).
3. Testing
- Continuity of protective conductors - In summary, a test to ensure the connection of the property's gas, water and metallic structures coming into the building is adequate.
- Insulation resistance (to check cable condition)
- Polarity (line/neutral/earth are in the right place)
- RCD tests (do safety devices trip within the required time?)
4. Coding of issues
Defects are usually coded like this (wording can vary slightly):
- C1 – Danger present (e.g. exposed live parts) – needs immediate action
- C2 – Potentially dangerous – urgent remedial work required
- C3 – Improvement recommended – not unsafe, but could be better
- FI – Further investigation required
5. Written report & recommendations
- Overall outcome: Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory
- List of issues with codes and recommended remedial work
- Recommended date for the next inspection
How Long Does an EICR Take?
For a typical 2–3 bedroom home, expect around:
- 1.5 – 2.5 hours, depending on:
- Size and layout of the property
- Access to sockets, consumer unit and circuits
- Number of operatives inspecting and testing the property
- Available previous records and labelling of installation
- Age and condition of the wiring
Larger or more complex homes, HMOs and commercial sites can take most of a day or more.
How Much Does an EICR Cost in 2025?
Prices vary by area, size and complexity of the property, but current UK guides and trade sources suggest that in 2025:
- Standard domestic property: roughly £100–£250+
- 3-bedroom house: often around £150–£250, sometimes a bit more in high-cost areas
- Larger homes / complex installations: can be £200–£300+
- Commercial properties: often priced per circuit (e.g. £30–£50 per circuit)
If a quote looks too cheap to be true, it usually is. Very low prices can mean:
- Not enough time spent on proper testing
- Corners cut on documentation
- Higher risk of problems being missed
A good EICR is an investment in safety, not just a piece of paper.
How to Choose the Right Electrician for Your EICR (2025)
To build confidence that your property is in safe hands, look for:
- Proper qualifications & registration
- NICEIC, NAPIT or other recognised CPS membership
- Experience with your type of property
- Domestic, HMO, commercial, industrial etc.
- Clear, written quotes
- What’s included, how long it will take, any limits on circuits or rooms
- Sample reports
- Some contractors can show you a redacted example EICR so you know what to expect
- Good communication
- Will they talk you through any issues and options, rather than just handing you a fail sheet?
If you have properties that require an Electrical Installation Condition Report in Ashford, Kent or the surrounding areas, Kennington, Charing, Tenterden, Canterbury and Maidstone SIQA Group can help you!
Common FAQs About EICRs in the UK (2025)
1. Is an EICR a legal requirement for homeowners?
For owner-occupiers, an EICR is not currently a legal requirement, but it is strongly recommended every 10 years or when buying/selling a home.
2. Is an EICR legally required for landlords?
Yes. In England, landlords must have the electrical installation inspected and tested at least every 5 years by a qualified person and provide the report to tenants. Similar requirements apply in Scotland and Wales – always check current local regulations.
3. Do I need a new EICR every time I get a tenant?
The law says at least every 5 years, but many professionals (and some local authorities) expect an EICR at change of tenancy, especially if the last report is older or if the property has been heavily used.
4. What happens if my EICR is “unsatisfactory”?
You’ll still receive a full report, but with C1, C2 or FI codes that need remedial work. For rented properties, you must have the issues rectified within the specified timeframe (often 28 days or sooner) and provide written confirmation.
5. Will an EICR damage my home?
There will be some switching off of power and removal of socket/front plates for testing, but a careful electrician will:
- Use dust sheets where needed
- Refit accessories properly
- Minimise disruption as much as possible
6. Should I get an EICR before rewiring or changing the consumer unit?
Absolutely. A proper EICR can:
- Highlight any underlying issues before you spend money
- Help design the new installation correctly
- Avoid surprises once the work starts
Final Thoughts – How Often You Should Book an EICR
To recap:
- You live in the home:
→ Aim for an EICR every 10 years, or sooner if the property is older, you’ve had issues, or you’re buying/selling.
- You’re a landlord:
→ Legally at least every 5 years, and best practice is also at change of tenancy, using a qualified, competent electrician.
- You run a business or manage commercial premises:
→ Typically every 3–5 years, depending on risk and usage – check your H&S policy, insurance and relevant guidance.
If you’re unsure where your property stands right now, the easiest next step is to speak to a qualified electrician, share:
- When your last EICR was done (if ever)
- Any past electrical issues you’ve noticed
…and they’ll advise a sensible, tailored inspection interval for you.
You can now use this guide as a reference point – and as reassurance that when you do book an EICR, you’ll know exactly what to expect and why it matters.
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