An Electrical Installation Condition Report checks the condition of the fixed wiring in your Cornwall home and explains what was found, in a report you can act on.
Tell us where the property is and why you need the report.
Find out the condition of the wiring in the home you live in. A sensible time to ask is when you have no recent report, the installation is older, or something has changed. We will talk through timing based on its condition, history and any previous report, rather than a one-size interval.
Understand the electrical installation in a property you are buying or have just bought, so you can plan any work with clear information.
Many private landlords in England must have the electrical installation inspected and tested for covered tenancies. See the landlord section below for the detail.
An EICR covers the fixed electrical installation, not plug-in appliances.
Consumer unit (fuse board) and protective devices
Fixed wiring and circuits
Sockets, switches and light fittings
Earthing and bonding arrangements
Fixed equipment wired into the installation
A competent electrician carries out visual inspection and electrical testing to assess the installation against BS 7671. We agree the extent with you first, and the report records any limitations, such as rooms we could not enter or fittings that could not be reached. It does not involve exposing every concealed cable.
Clear access to the consumer unit and electricity meter area.
Access to as many rooms, sockets and fittings as practical, including lofts or outbuildings where agreed.
Expect the power to be off for periods while circuits are tested. Save work and plan around fridges, freezers and devices that need resetting.
Tell us beforehand about any medical, care or other critical equipment that relies on electricity, so we can plan safely around it.
Share any previous EICR or certificates you have.
You receive a report with the inspection and test results, observations, any limitations and a recommended date for the next inspection. It gives an overall result of satisfactory or unsatisfactory. A C1, C2 or FI makes the report unsatisfactory.
Risk of injury. Immediate action is needed to make it safe.
Urgent remedial action is required.
Something needs investigating without delay before it can be fully assessed.
Would improve safety, but does not on its own make the report unsatisfactory.
After the report: any remedial work is quoted and agreed with you separately. Not every defect means rewiring; many issues are put right with targeted repairs. Read more in Electrical Safety First’s periodic inspection guide.
For covered tenancies in England, broadly where a tenant occupies the property as their only or main residence and pays rent, subject to listed exclusions, landlords must:
Have the installation inspected and tested at least every 5 years, or sooner if the report says so.
Complete required remedial or further investigation work within 28 days, or a shorter period if the report specifies it.
Act immediately on danger present (C1). The 28-day period is not permission to leave an immediate hazard in use.
Landlords also have duties to retain the report and provide copies to tenants and, when requested, the local council. The rules include covered private and social tenancies, with exclusions and transitional provisions. A holiday let should not automatically be treated as the same tenancy context.
Whether your tenancy is covered, and how the rules apply, depends on your circumstances. Please check the official GOV.UK guidance.
It depends on the size of the property, the number of circuits and how easy it is to access everything. Tell us about the property and we will explain the price before booking.
That varies with the property and what we find, so we cannot promise a fixed duration. We will give you a realistic idea when we arrange the visit.
No. An EICR covers the fixed installation. PAT testing is a separate check of portable plug-in appliances.
No. It records the condition found at the time, within the agreed extent and limitations. It is not a guarantee for the future.
There is no blanket legal duty for owner-occupiers to have a periodic EICR. Many people choose to, especially for older installations or when buying.
Not necessarily. Many issues can be fixed with targeted repairs. Any remedial work is quoted and agreed separately after the report.
Let us know your location and a little about the property, and we will take it from there.
Your local electrical team, serving homes and businesses across Cornwall.
