An electrical installation condition report is an inspection and test of a fixed installation, producing a record of its condition with coded observations. The price depends almost entirely on the number of circuits, the accessibility of the installation and the amount of investigation needed. Understanding that makes it much easier to see why quotes differ and which ones are realistic.
What the fee actually covers
An EICR is not a visual walk round. It involves isolating the installation, testing each circuit for continuity, insulation resistance, polarity, earth fault loop impedance and residual current device operation, sample inspection of accessories, and recording the results circuit by circuit.
That work takes time in proportion to the number of circuits. A one bedroom flat with six circuits is a fraction of the work of a four bedroom house with eighteen, which is why a single flat rate for all properties should prompt a question.
The main cost drivers
Beyond circuit count, cost is driven by how easy the installation is to reach and how much detective work is needed.
- Number of circuits at the consumer unit
- Property size and number of accessories to sample
- Access: boarded lofts, blocked boards, furniture against sockets
- Missing documentation, so circuits must be identified from scratch
- Multiple boards or outbuildings on submains
Why very cheap reports are a risk
A report that takes an hour on a whole house has not tested everything it claims to have tested. The commercial risk to you is twofold: an unsafe condition goes unrecorded, and the report is later challenged by a letting agent, insurer or buyer's solicitor.
The other pattern to be aware of is a very low inspection fee followed by a long list of remedial work that only the inspecting firm can carry out. A reputable report should be usable by any electrician, and you are entitled to obtain quotes elsewhere for the remedials.
Understanding the codes
Observations are coded. C1 means danger present and requires immediate action. C2 means potentially dangerous and requires urgent remedial action. C3 is an improvement recommendation and does not make the report unsatisfactory. FI means further investigation is required.
A report is unsatisfactory if it contains any C1, C2 or FI. C3 items alone leave the report satisfactory. Knowing that prevents unnecessary spending on items that were only ever recommendations.
Remedial work and re inspection
If remedial work is needed, you can normally have the C1 and C2 items rectified and receive confirmation that the installation is now satisfactory, rather than paying for a whole new report. Agree that in advance so you are not charged twice for the same inspection.
Ask for remedials to be quoted itemised against the report's numbered observations. That makes it possible to compare with another electrician's price for the same list.
How often you need one
For owner occupied homes, ten years is the commonly cited maximum interval, or at change of occupancy. For privately rented property in England the requirement is at least every five years, with a copy provided to tenants and to the local authority on request.
Interval recommendations also appear on the report itself, and a shorter interval may be recommended where the installation is older or in a demanding environment.
Getting value from the report
Read it, do not just file it. The schedule of circuits tells you what feeds what, the test results give you a baseline for future comparison, and the observations give you a prioritised maintenance list. Used properly it is a planning document, not just a compliance tick.
Booking the inspection
Give the electrician the property size, number of circuits if you know it, and whether the loft is boarded when you request a price. Clear access to the consumer unit and move furniture away from sockets beforehand. If you hold previous certificates, have them ready, because they save time identifying circuits. Expect the power to be off intermittently through the inspection, and plan around that if anyone is working from home.
Common questions
- Why do EICR quotes vary so much?
- Circuit count and access drive the time required. A flat rate for all property sizes is a warning sign.
- Does a C3 mean I have to spend money?
- No. C3 is an improvement recommendation and the report remains satisfactory.
- Do I need a new report after remedial work?
- Usually not. Confirmation that the coded items have been rectified is normally sufficient.
- How long does an EICR take?
- From around two hours for a small flat to most of a day for a large house with many circuits.
- Can I use a different electrician for the remedials?
- Yes. The report should be usable by any competent electrician.
- Will you need to turn the power off?
- Yes, for parts of the inspection. Testing requires the installation to be isolated, so expect intermittent outages through the visit rather than one continuous one.
We quote EICRs on circuit count and access, and we explain every coded observation in plain terms.
Related guides
- EICR Codes C1, C2, C3 and FI ExplainedFour codes decide whether your report is satisfactory and what you must do next.
- What Happens During an EICRAn EICR is a structured assessment, not a look around — and knowing the routine makes the day easier.
- Landlord Electrical Duties and the Five-Year EICRRented property has a defined inspection cycle and a defined deadline for remedial work.