If you’ve been asked to get an EICR done, whether by your letting agent, your insurer, your mortgage lender or just because you’ve realised the wiring hasn’t been looked at since the 80s, it’s worth knowing what you’re actually paying for. People often picture it as a quick once-over with a screwdriver and a multimeter, but it’s a fair bit more involved than that.
We carry out EICR inspections across Birmingham every day of the week, from single-bedroom flats in the city centre to large rental properties out in Solihull and Sutton Coldfield. Here’s what’s actually involved when we turn up.
What An EICR Actually Is
EICR stands for Electrical Installation Condition Report.
It’s a formal inspection and test of the fixed electrical installation in a property, so the consumer unit (fuse board), all the wiring, sockets, switches, light fittings and anything else that’s hardwired in. It doesn’t cover portable appliances such as kettles or hairdryers; that’s PAT testing, which is a separate thing.
The point of it is to assess the condition of the installation against the current wiring regulations (BS 7671) and identify anything that’s unsafe, doesn’t comply, or is approaching the end of its working life. Once complete, you receive a report at the end with a clear pass or fail and a list of observations, classified by severity.
Before We Start
The first thing we do is have a quick chat with whoever’s at the property to understand a bit about the installation. When was the consumer unit last replaced? Has there been any recent electrical work? Any known issues, such as a socket that doesn’t work or a light that flickers? Any rooms that have been extended or altered?
This isn’t just small talk, it helps us know where to focus. A property that’s had a recent rewire is a different job from one where the wiring hasn’t been touched since the 1970s.
We also need to know where the consumer unit is, where the incoming supply enters the property, and that we can safely turn the power off for parts of the inspection. Most EICRs involve power going off for periods of time, which is worth flagging in advance if you’re working from home or have anything that needs to stay running.
Visual Inspection
Before any testing begins, we conduct a thorough visual inspection of the entire installation. This catches many issues on its own. We’re looking for things like:
- Damaged or worn accessories
- Signs of overheating
- Incorrect or amateur work
- The consumer unit itself
- Earthing and bonding
The Testing Side
This is where most of the time goes. Testing involves isolating circuits one at a time and running a series of electrical tests using calibrated test equipment. Each test checks something specific:
- Continuity testing
- Insulation resistance testing
- Polarity testing
- RCD testing
- Earth fault loop impedance testing
We also remove a sample of socket fronts and inspect the wiring inside, check fixed equipment such as electric showers and cooker outlets, and look at any outdoor or garden installations. The detail and time involved depend on the size of the property, but for a typical three-bedroom house, you’re looking at anywhere from two to four hours on site.
What The Results Mean
The report classifies any observations using codes. The main ones to know are:
- C1 means danger present, risk of injury. The installation isn’t safe, and immediate action is required. We’d usually isolate the relevant circuit before leaving the property.
- C2 means potentially dangerous. Not an immediate risk like a C1, but it needs to be sorted promptly. Both C1 and C2 indicate that the report comes back unsatisfactory and that remedial work is needed.
- C3 means improvement recommended. This is a code for things that don’t comply with current regulations but aren’t actually unsafe. The installation can still pass with C3 observations. Think of it as “could be better” rather than “must be fixed.”
- FI means further investigation required. This comes up if something can’t be fully assessed during the inspection, for example, a circuit we couldn’t trace properly or test fully.
For Birmingham landlords, current regulations require any C1 or C2 observations to be remedied within 28 days of the inspection. C3 items don’t legally have to be addressed, but it’s usually sensible to plan for them at some point.
After The Inspection
Once we’ve finished electrical testing, we go through the findings with whoever’s at the property in plain English. No jargon dump, no scare tactics, just a clear explanation of what we found, what needs sorting, and what the priority is.
You’ll also receive the full certified report, usually within a couple of working days. If remedial work is needed, we’ll provide a quote separately. There’s no obligation to use us for the electrical repairs; the report stands on its own, and you’re free to get other quotes if you’d prefer.
How Often Should You Have One Done
For privately owned homes, the recommendation is every 10 years or on change of occupancy. For rental properties in England, an EICR is legally required at least every 5 years under the 2020 regulations. Commercial premises vary depending on use, but typically every 5 years as well.
If you’ve never had one done and don’t know when the last inspection was, it’s overdue.
To book an EICR inspection anywhere in Birmingham or the wider West Midlands, give us a ring on 0121 820 0057 or request a free quote. We cover homeowners, landlords and commercial premises across, with appointments usually available within a few days.
