EICR in Bromley BR1 for Homes, Landlords and Businesses

An EICR, or electrical installation condition report, is an inspection and test of the fixed wiring in a property, written up so you know where you stand. Use the enquiry form to tell us about the property and what you need.

An EICR is an electrical installation condition report. It records the result of inspecting and testing the electrical installation in a property: the consumer unit (fuse board), the circuits, the cables, sockets, switches and lighting, and the earthing and bonding that tie it together. The aim is to find out whether the installation is safe to keep using, and whether anything is damaged, worn, overloaded or below current standards.

It is not a pass in the way a driving test is. The report gives an overall outcome of satisfactory or unsatisfactory and lists any observations with a code. It is a snapshot of the installation on the day it was tested, which is why a report also carries a recommended date for the next inspection.

People often mix it up with PAT testing. PAT testing covers portable appliances, such as kettles and power tools. An EICR covers the fixed wiring in the building. They are separate checks, so if you need both, say so when you get in touch.

The inspection itself follows the same principles each time, but the reason for it changes what you should ask for.

Landlords: if you let out property, you have duties to keep the electrical installation safe. For private rented homes in England that includes having it inspected and tested at set intervals and giving tenants a copy of the report. The rules can change, so check GOV.UK for the current position before relying on any date or deadline. A Landlord EICR is the usual route for rental properties.

Buying or selling: a buyer may want to know the state of the wiring before committing, and a seller may want to find out about problems early rather than have them surface mid-sale. An EICR for Buying or Selling is not a replacement for a building survey, but it gives specific information about the electrics.

Commercial premises: shops, offices, units and other workplaces have their own duties to keep electrical systems safe. A Commercial EICR often involves more circuits and more distribution boards, so it helps to share the size and layout of the premises when you enquire.

Homeowners: there is generally no routine legal requirement for an owner-occupier to have a report, but it is sensible if you do not know when the wiring was last tested, if the property is older, or if you are planning building work.

Observations in an EICR are given codes. C1 means danger is present and urgent action is needed. C2 means something is potentially dangerous. C3 means an improvement is recommended but it is not considered dangerous. FI means further investigation is required. A report with a C1, C2 or FI is normally recorded as unsatisfactory.

An unsatisfactory result is not a reason to panic, but it is a reason to act. The next step is remedial work: fixing or replacing whatever has been flagged, then having the affected parts re-checked. Ask the electrician to explain each code in plain English and to put the details in writing, so you can plan the work or pass it to a managing agent or contractor.

Older fuse boards are a common talking point. If your consumer unit is flagged, a Consumer Unit Upgrade may be part of the answer, and you can ask about that through the enquiry form alongside the report.

Whoever you choose, ask sensible questions first. What will be tested and in how much of the property? Will the power need to be off, and for how long? Who will sign the report, and will you get a written copy? If it matters to you that the electrician belongs to a registration scheme such as NICEIC, ask them to show proof of it.

A little preparation makes the visit smoother. Make sure the consumer unit is easy to reach, move stored items away from it, and let everyone in the property know when the power may be switched off. Pass on any earlier reports or electrical work records you have, and mention anything you have noticed, such as flickering lights, warm sockets or tripping circuits. If the property is tenanted, arrange access with your tenants in advance.

Bromley Electrical Services covers Bromley, Beckenham, Orpington, Chislehurst and Petts Wood, across Greater London. If you are in or near one of those towns and need an EICR, the enquiry form is the way to start.

To help us understand the job, include the town, the type of property, roughly how big it is, whether it is occupied, and why you need the report: tenancy, sale, purchase, business use or peace of mind. If you also want something else, such as a consumer unit upgrade or other electrician work, mention it in the same message.