EICR electrical safety reports in Birmingham
Electrical Installation Condition Reports for landlords, letting agents and homeowners, carried out by NICEIC approved electricians.
What an EICR is
An EICR is a formal inspection and test of a property's fixed wiring: the consumer unit (fuse box), circuits, sockets, switches, light fittings and earthing. The electrician records anything that is dangerous, potentially dangerous or below current standards, and gives the installation an overall result of satisfactory or unsatisfactory.
EICR jobs we do
These are the EICRs and follow-up work we do in Birmingham. We don't take on industrial sites.
- Landlord EICR: Needed at least every 5 years for a rented home. Your tenants must get a copy.
- HMO EICR: For shared houses let to several tenants. Like other rented homes, they need an EICR at least every 5 years.
- Homeowner EICR: A check of the wiring in your own home. It's most useful in older homes.
- EICR when buying a house: Find out what state the wiring is in before you move in.
- Commercial EICR: Also called fixed wire testing. We check the wiring in shops, offices and other business premises. Prices are on our commercial electrician page.
- Remedial work after an EICR: These are the repairs a report asks for. We quote first, fix the faults, then give you written confirmation.
Do landlords need one?
Yes. Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, privately rented homes in England need an EICR at least every five years. Tenants must get a copy, and the council can ask for one at any time.
EICR prices
From £160
The price depends on the size of the property and the number of circuits. Larger houses are quoted when you book. For shops, offices and other business premises, see our commercial EICR prices. Remedial work, if needed, is quoted separately before anything is done.
How it works
Book
Give us the address and we book a time for the visit.
Inspect
The electrician tests every circuit. Allow 2 to 4 hours.
Report
You get the full EICR report, with any faults explained in plain English.
Fix if needed
If anything fails, we quote and can fix it, then issue confirmation for your records.
Want to know what usually goes wrong? Read our guide to the 7 common reasons a home fails an EICR.
EICR questions
Is an EICR a certificate?
No, although lots of people call it an "EICR certificate". An EICR is a report. It records the condition of the electrics on the day of the inspection and lists anything that needs attention, with an overall result of satisfactory or unsatisfactory. It does not certify that new work was done correctly. That is a different document, the Electrical Installation Certificate, which you get when new electrical work is installed.
How often does a landlord need an EICR?
In England, at least every five years for privately rented homes, or sooner if the last report recommends it. You must give a copy to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection, and to new tenants before they move in.
What happens if the report is "unsatisfactory"?
Any C1, C2 or FI items must be put right within 28 days (or sooner if the report says so). We can quote for and carry out the remedial work, then issue written confirmation that it has been completed, which you send to the tenant and council.
What do the codes C1, C2, C3 and FI mean?
C1 means danger present, which needs immediate action. C2 means potentially dangerous, with urgent remedial work required. FI means further investigation is needed. C3 means improvement recommended: it does not fail the report on its own.
How much does an EICR cost in Birmingham?
Our EICRs start from £160. The final price depends on the size of the property and the number of circuits. Larger houses are quoted when you book. A commercial EICR costs £150 plus £25 per circuit.
How long does an EICR take?
Usually 2 to 4 hours for a typical house or flat. The power will be off for short periods while circuits are tested.
What is the fine for not having one?
The council can impose fines of up to £30,000 for breaches of the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020.
Getting ready for the visit
A little prep makes the inspection quicker and means nothing gets missed.
- Clear the area around the fuse box so the electrician can open it easily.
- Tell your tenants the power will go off for short spells during the test.
- Switch off and save anything on computers or games consoles before we start.
- Let us know about garages, sheds, outside lights or garden sockets, as they need testing too.
- Have your last EICR handy if you've got one. It helps us compare.
What happens during the test
First the electrician looks over everything you can see: sockets, switches, light fittings, the fuse box and the cables going into it. Then they test each circuit with the power off, and some with the power on, to check the wiring, the earthing and the safety switches all do their job.
Afterwards you get a written report listing anything that needs attention, with a code next to each item so you know how urgent it is.
Do homeowners need an EICR?
It isn't a legal must for people living in their own home, but it's a good idea. The usual advice is to have one about every 10 years, and whenever you buy a house. Older homes, homes with an old fuse box and homes where someone has done DIY electrics benefit most. It's also worth having one before you rent a property out or sell it, so there are no surprises later.
