An Electrical Installation Condition Report or EICR in short is an official document that contains information and important details regarding the concerned building/structure’s electrical lines and installations. This report is created by a qualified electrical inspector, after conducting all their electrical safety testing procedures.
Do All Landlords Need to Arrange for Electrical Testing?
If your tenant pays rent and the rented property is their only or primary place of residence, then you as a landlord must arrange for electrical safety testing by a qualified electrician. This means most landlords who own residential properties in England have a legal obligation to arrange for EICR testing. There are certain exceptions though, and you can find out about them on the UK government’s official website.
When Should Landlords Arrange for EICR Testing?
Prior to June 1st, 2020, mandatory electrical safety testing for rented properties only had to be conducted every 10 years. Since June 1st, 2020, landlords must arrange for mandatory electrical testing every 5 years or sooner.
Landlords must always maintain access to a valid EICR testing report that meets all the electrical safety test requirements, ready to be produced on demand by a new or existing tenant. Landlords may also need to produce a valid EICR on official demand.
In case your EICR testing report has expired or it’s about to expire under the new, shorter maximum limit of 5 years, arrange to get the property tested for electrical safety as soon as possible. Contact a firm like Hexo Electrical Testing and get your EICR testing completed by an experienced, fully licenced electrical inspector.
What are the Standards that a Valid EICR is Expected to Meet?
As per current regulations, an EICR only becomes valid on meeting the following electrical safety testing requirements.
- The EICR must confirm that the rental property meets all wiring regulation standards (18th).
- The EICR must confirm that the rental property meets all national standards for electrical safety.
If the report does not meet all electrical safety standards as specified above, then the Electrical Installation Condition Report will have one of the following Classification codes:
- Code 1 or C1: Dangerous, risky, and injurious to occupant’s wellbeing.
- Code 2 or C2: Risky and potentially injurious to human health.
- Code 3 or C3: Electrical safety could be improved but is not a necessity.
- Further Investigation or FI: More detailed, advanced investigation must be carried out immediately.
An EICR report can only be considered valid for the landlord to allow occupancy at the concerned property, if:
- The report only has Code 3 work.
- None of the tested items have any code assigned to them.
- The report is no older than 5 years.
If any of the other codes are present in one or more instances, then the landlord will have 28 days to take the advised action. As proof of their remedial action(s) against the electrical safety hazard(s), the landlord will need to get a letter of confirmation within 28 days from the electrical inspector. This letter must be presented with the EICR, as and when needed.