EICR for rented property in London
An EICR is a recorded inspection and test of the fixed electrical installation: the consumer unit, the circuits, the fixed wiring, the sockets and the switches. A registered electrician tests every circuit, codes anything that falls short and issues a report that says satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Rented homes in England need one at least every five years.
SPECIMEN RECORD
EICR
- REFERENCE
- HV-EICR-000000
- ISSUE DATE
- 2026-08-21
- EXPIRY DATE
- 2031-08-20
- ENGINEER REG.
- ENR 000000
PLACEHOLDER RECORD · NUMBERS ILLUSTRATIVE
QUICK ANSWERS
What is an EICR?
A recorded inspection and test of the fixed wiring in a property, carried out by a registered electrician and reported against BS 7671. It states whether the installation is satisfactory for continued use.
How often does a rented home need one?
At least every five years, and at the start of a new tenancy if the existing report has expired. The report may specify a shorter interval.
How much does an EICR cost?
From £72.99 for a studio. Larger properties are priced by bedroom count, and every tier shows its unit of sale.
How long does it take?
Two to four hours for a typical flat. The power is off for parts of the test, so tenants need to know in advance.
What an EICR actually records.
An EICR is not a visual walk round. The electrician isolates the installation, tests each circuit for continuity, insulation resistance, polarity, earth fault loop impedance and RCD operation, then records the readings circuit by circuit on a schedule of test results.
The report ends with one word that matters: satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Anything coded C1, C2 or FI makes it unsatisfactory, and the clock on remedial work starts the day you receive it.
LEGAL BASIS
Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020
Fixed electrical installations in rented homes must be inspected and tested at least every five years. The report goes to tenants, and to the local authority within seven days of a request.
Who this is for, and the properties it applies to.
SUITABLE PROPERTY TYPES
- Residential property
CATEGORY
Electrical
TYPICAL ATTENDANCE
2 to 4 hours for a typical flat
The inspection, in the order it happens.
Typical attendance: 2 to 4 hours for a typical flat.
Visual inspection
The consumer unit, protective devices, bonding, accessible cabling and accessories checked for damage, wear, overheating and unsafe DIY work.
Dead testing
Supply isolated. Continuity of protective conductors, ring final circuit continuity, insulation resistance and polarity tested on every circuit.
Live testing
Supply restored. Earth fault loop impedance, prospective fault current and RCD trip times measured against the limits in BS 7671.
Results recorded per circuit
Every reading written to the schedule of test results, with each circuit identified, so the next inspection has a baseline to work from.
Report issued
Observations coded, an overall assessment given, and the signed report issued to you with the certificate reference and expiry date already set.
EICR tiers, with the unit of sale on every line.
Tiers are priced by what is actually being inspected. Every line can be booked directly.
| TIER | UNIT OF SALE | PRICE | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | Studio | £72.99 | Book EICR, Studio |
| 1–3 bedrooms | 1–3 bedrooms | £92.99 | Book EICR, 1–3 bedrooms |
| 4 bedrooms | 4 bedrooms | £102.99 | Book EICR, 4 bedrooms |
| 5 bedrooms | 5 bedrooms | £135.99 | Book EICR, 5 bedrooms |
| 6 bedrooms | 6 bedrooms | £155.99 | Book EICR, 6 bedrooms |
| 7 bedrooms | 7 bedrooms | £175.99 | Book EICR, 7 bedrooms |
| 8 bedrooms | 8 bedrooms | £195.99 | Book EICR, 8 bedrooms |
No travel charge. Parking is free where it is available; where it is not, the actual paid-parking cost is added to your invoice. The congestion charge is added to your invoice where it applies. There is no call-out fee and no evening or weekend surcharge.
How to read your EICR
Observations carry a classification code. The code, not the wording, decides whether the report is satisfactory and how fast you have to act.
Danger present
Risk of injury is present. The engineer makes it safe before leaving, and remedial work follows immediately.
Potentially dangerous
No immediate danger, but the fault could become dangerous. Urgent remedial action required.
Further investigation
Something could not be assessed and needs investigation without delay to establish whether it is a C1 or C2.
Improvement recommended
Not a breach and not a danger. Worth doing at the next opportunity, and it does not make the report unsatisfactory.
A single C1, C2 or FI makes the whole report unsatisfactory. C3 does not.
If the report is unsatisfactory
28 days, or sooner
Remedial work must be completed within 28 days of receiving the report, or sooner if the report specifies a shorter period.
Made safe on the day
Anything presenting immediate danger is isolated or made safe before the engineer leaves the property.
An itemised quote
You get the remedial work priced line by line against the coded observations, not a single lump sum.
Your choice of contractor
You are free to instruct anyone qualified to do the work. We will re-test and reissue either way.
Written confirmation
Once the work is signed off, you get written confirmation to send to your tenants and, on request, the local authority.
Asked about EICR.
Yes, in England. The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require the fixed installation to be inspected and tested at least every five years, with the report given to tenants and to the local authority within seven days of a request.
For parts of the test, yes. Dead testing needs the installation isolated, usually in stages of an hour or so. Tenants should be told in advance so nothing important is running.
An EICR covers the fixed installation: the wiring, the consumer unit and the accessories. PAT testing covers the portable appliances you supply with the property. A furnished let usually needs both.
No. The report runs for its stated period, up to five years. You need a new one when it expires, when the report requires an earlier re-inspection, or after work that changes the installation.
Yes, priced line by line against the coded observations. You are also free to use another contractor. Either way we re-test the affected circuits and reissue the report.
Residential EICR across London.
Haven covers every London borough with one engineer network and one renewal calendar. Where the qualifications overlap, several services can be covered in a single visit.
Usually booked in the same visit.
Gas Safety Certificate
Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998
Energy Performance Certificate
Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012, with the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015
PAT Testing
Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016, with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006
Book an EICR anywhere in London.
Same day, evening and weekend slots at no surcharge. The record is issued within 24 hours of the visit.