What Is an EICR and Does Your Property Need One?
An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is one of the most important documents you can have for your property. Whether you're a landlord, a homeowner, or a business operator, understanding what an EICR is — and whether you need one — could protect lives and save significant expense.
What Is an EICR?
An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is a formal document produced after a thorough inspection and testing of the electrical installation within a property. It assesses the safety and condition of the fixed wiring — including the consumer unit (fuse box), sockets, switches, and light fittings — against the current edition of the IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671).
The report will identify any deficiencies, deterioration, or non-compliance with current standards and assign each observation a code indicating its urgency.
Understanding the Observation Codes
Danger Present
Risk of injury — requires immediate remedial action. The report cannot be passed as satisfactory.
Potentially Dangerous
Urgent remedial action required. The installation should not be used until the issue is rectified.
Improvement Recommended
Not dangerous, but the installation would benefit from improvement to meet current standards.
Further Investigation Required
Cannot determine the severity without further investigation.
Who Needs an EICR?
Landlords — Legal Requirement
Since July 2020, all private landlords in England are legally required to have an EICR carried out at least every 5 years and provide a copy to tenants. Failure to comply can result in fines of up to £30,000.
- New tenancies from June 2020
- Existing tenancies from April 2021
- Must be carried out by a qualified person
- Copy must be given to tenants within 28 days
Homeowners — Strongly Recommended
While not legally required for owner-occupiers, an EICR is highly recommended if:
- You're buying a property
- The installation is more than 10 years old
- You're planning major renovation work
- You've experienced electrical faults
- You're adding a significant new load (EV charger, hot tub)
EICRs and Swindon's Rental Market
Swindon has a sizeable private rental sector, with a large proportion of tenants in areas such as the town centre, Old Town, and Gorse Hill. With Swindon Borough Council actively enforcing the EICR regulations for landlords, we've seen increased demand from local landlords needing compliant reports — particularly those with older terraced properties built in the 1960s and 70s where the original wiring may still be in place. If you own a rental property anywhere in Swindon, Chippenham, or the surrounding Wiltshire area and haven't had an EICR in the last five years, you are likely non-compliant. Get in touch with us for a prompt, professionally issued report.
What Happens During the Inspection?
A qualified electrician will visit your property and carry out a series of visual inspections and electrical tests. The duration depends on the size of the property — typically 3–4 hours for a standard house, or 1–2 hours for a flat.
You should be aware that the electricity supply will need to be switched off for periods during the testing. It's best to plan for this and avoid scheduling the inspection when you need power for time-sensitive work.
Only use a qualified electrician
An EICR must be carried out by a competent person, such as an electrician registered with NICEIC, ELECSA, or NAPIT. An unqualified inspection has no legal standing and could be dangerous.
Book Your EICR Today
Our NICEIC-approved electricians carry out EICRs for landlords, homeowners, and businesses across Swindon and Wiltshire. Get in touch for a competitive, fixed-price quote.
Book an EICRRelated services: Landlord safety checks · EICR & inspection · Consumer unit upgrades