What Is An Electrical Inspection? EICR Process, Cost & Time
During an inspection, an engineer tests everything from your consumer unit and circuit protective devices to socket outlets, light fittings, and earthing arrangements. The result is a detailed report that flags any defects or non-compliances, graded by severity. For landlords in England, a valid EICR is a legal requirement, you must have one carried out at least every five years or face penalties of up to £30,000.
At Electrical Testing London, we carry out EICRs across London and the South East for domestic, commercial, and landlord properties. Below, we break down exactly how the inspection process works, what it costs, how long it takes, and what happens if your property fails.
Why an electrical inspection matters
Electrical faults cause around 20,000 house fires in the UK each year, according to government fire statistics. Many of these incidents trace back to deteriorating wiring or unsafe installations that went undetected simply because no one checked them. Understanding what is an electrical inspection helps you treat it not as a paperwork exercise but as a genuine safety measure that protects the people inside your property and the building itself.
Legal requirements for landlords
If you rent out a property in England, the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require you to hold a valid EICR before a new tenancy begins, and to renew it at least every five years. Failure to comply can result in a local authority issuing a remedial notice, and if you ignore that notice, you face a civil penalty of up to £30,000. You are also legally required to give your tenants a copy of the report within 28 days of the inspection being carried out. That is not an optional step you can skip.
Landlords who cannot produce a valid EICR also risk finding their property insurance invalidated if an electrical incident occurs.
Safety risks in older and commercial properties
London has a large stock of older properties where the original wiring has never been replaced, and electrical standards have shifted significantly over the decades. Without a periodic inspection, there is no reliable way of knowing whether your circuits are adequately protected, whether earthing arrangements are still sound, or whether any deterioration has taken place inside the walls. Worn insulation, overloaded circuits, and corroded connections are among the most common findings engineers uncover during an EICR. Commercial properties carry additional risk because higher electrical loads, frequent changes to office layouts, and the use of multiple appliances all put greater pressure on the fixed installation over time.
What an EICR checks and what it does not
Part of understanding what is an electrical inspection is being clear on its scope. An EICR covers the fixed electrical installation inside your property, meaning all the wiring, protective devices, and connection points that are permanently built in. It does not extend to individual appliances or anything that plugs into a socket, so it is important not to treat the two as interchangeable.
What the engineer tests
Your engineer will inspect and test all circuits within the fixed installation, working through each one methodically. The key areas covered include:
- The consumer unit (fuse board) and its protective devices
- Earthing and bonding arrangements
- Circuit wiring condition and insulation integrity
- Socket outlets, switches, and light fittings
- RCD (residual current device) protection
What falls outside the inspection
An EICR does not cover portable appliances such as kettles, computers, or televisions. Those fall under Portable Appliance Testing (PAT Testing), which is a completely separate process carried out on plugged-in equipment.
The inspection also does not assess your broadband or data cabling, gas pipework, or any equipment connected via a plug socket. If you manage multiple properties as a landlord, you will likely need both an EICR and PAT Testing to meet all your compliance obligations in full.
Combining an EICR with PAT Testing gives you a much more complete picture of electrical safety across your property.
How the EICR inspection works step by step
Understanding what is an electrical inspection in practice means knowing the exact sequence your engineer follows. The process moves through a clear, three-stage structure: a visual check, circuit testing, and a formal report compilation, so nothing gets missed.
Before the engineer arrives
Your engineer will need access to every room and electrical fitting in the property. Make sure the consumer unit is accessible and unobstructed, and confirm you can switch off individual circuits if required. Clearing the area around the fuse board before the appointment saves time on the day and helps the engineer work through the inspection efficiently.
During the inspection
The engineer starts with a thorough visual assessment of the consumer unit, visible wiring, and all fittings, noting anything damaged or non-compliant. They then move to dead testing with the power off to measure insulation resistance and verify continuity across each circuit, followed by live testing to confirm that protective devices like RCDs trip correctly when triggered.
The testing process is entirely non-destructive, so your walls, fittings, and finishes remain completely undisturbed throughout.
After the testing is complete
Once all circuits have been tested, the engineer compiles the findings into a formal EICR document with a classification code assigned to every observation. You receive the completed report directly, which clearly states whether the installation is satisfactory or unsatisfactory and sets out any remedial work required before the property can be signed off.
EICR results and fault codes explained
Once you understand what is an electrical inspection, the next step is knowing how to read the outcome. Every observation your engineer records in the report receives a classification code that tells you exactly how serious the finding is and what action you need to take.
The four classification codes
Your report will use one of four codes to grade each observation. Understanding these codes tells you at a glance whether your property has passed or failed and what work, if any, needs to happen next.
| Code | Meaning | Action required |
|---|---|---|
| C1 | Danger present | Immediate remedial work required |
| C2 | Potentially dangerous | Urgent remedial work required |
| C3 | Improvement recommended | No obligation, but advisable |
| FI | Further investigation needed | Must be investigated before a decision is made |
A C1 or C2 observation means your installation is classed as unsatisfactory, and you cannot issue a compliant EICR until the faults are rectified.
What a satisfactory result means
A satisfactory EICR means no C1 or C2 codes were recorded across any circuit. Your installation meets the current required standard and you receive a valid certificate to use for compliance purposes.
C3 codes do not cause a failure. Your engineer will note them as recommended improvements, but your installation still receives a satisfactory outcome. Acting on C3 observations is sensible, since they can prevent more serious faults from developing over time.
EICR time, cost, and how to prepare
Once you understand what is an electrical inspection and how it runs, the practical questions become relevant: how long does it take, what will it cost, and what should you do before the engineer arrives?
How long an inspection takes
A standard domestic EICR typically takes between 3 and 4 hours for a two or three-bedroom property. Larger homes, commercial premises, or properties with complex wiring and more circuits will take longer, sometimes a full working day.
The time varies depending on several factors:
- Number of circuits in the property
- Age and condition of the existing wiring
- Whether any observations require further investigation on the day
What an EICR costs
Pricing depends on the size and type of property and the total number of circuits your engineer needs to test. At Electrical Testing London, we offer transparent fixed pricing so you know the exact cost before anyone arrives. A domestic EICR for a small flat starts from around £150, while larger or commercial properties cost more based on the scope of work.
Avoid choosing a provider based purely on price. A thorough engineer will identify faults that a rushed inspection will miss.
How to prepare your property
Clear the area around your consumer unit before the appointment and make sure every room is accessible. Sharing any known electrical faults or recent changes to your wiring at the start of the visit helps the engineer work efficiently and flag anything that needs closer attention.
Next steps
Now you understand what is an electrical inspection, the next step is straightforward: book one if you do not already hold a valid EICR. Whether you are a landlord needing to meet your legal obligations, a homeowner who wants confidence in your wiring, or a business ensuring your commercial premises are safe, the process starts with a qualified engineer testing your fixed installation and giving you a clear, graded report.
If your report comes back with C1 or C2 observations, you will need remedial work carried out before your installation is signed off as satisfactory. Electrical Testing London handles both the EICR and any follow-up remedial works, so you deal with a single team from inspection through to completion.
Ready to book your inspection or find out the exact cost for your property? Request a quote from Electrical Testing London and one of our qualified engineers will come back to you with a fixed price.
