An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a necessary document to show that, as a building owner, you have ensured that all electrical installations and systems within the property are correctly installed, safe and well maintained. It’s also known as a Homebuyers Test or Landlord Safety Test and needs to be be produced by a qualified electrician or electrical engineer.
In simple terms, if you’re asking what an electrical installation condition report is, it’s a formal inspection and assessment of the fixed electrical systems within a property. It evaluates whether those systems are safe for continued use and compliant with current regulations.
An EICR is often referred to as an electrical safety certificate or electrical safety check, although technically it’s a detailed report rather than a simple pass/fail certificate. However, the report’s outcome effectively serves as proof of compliance for landlords, business owners, and duty holders.
OCD-FM provide comprehensive Electrical Installation Condition Reporting (EICR) for properties of all sizes across commercial, domestic, and industrial settings. We also work closely with Landlords and building owners of houses of multiple occupation (HMOs). These properties require an electrical safety certificate under The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 to show that all electrical installations are in good working condition.
Beyond legal compliance, regular electrical installation condition reporting is essential for:
Protecting occupants from electric shock
Reducing the risk of electrical fires
Preventing costly system failures
Supporting insurance requirements
Demonstrating duty of care
For commercial and industrial premises, an EICR also plays a key role in wider health and safety management systems, particularly under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.
Electrical systems naturally deteriorate over time. Cables degrade, connections loosen, and outdated components or fuse boxes may no longer meet modern safety standards. The EICR will identify any damage or wear and tear that might make the electrics unsafe. Without regular inspection, these issues can go unnoticed until they result in:
Fire hazards
Electric shock risks
Equipment damage
Business disruption
An electrical installation condition report provides a structured way to identify these risks early. It ensures that any faults are documented, prioritised, and addressed before they escalate into serious incidents.
For landlords, it is also a legal requirement to ensure that electrical installations are inspected and tested at least every five years, or more frequently if recommended.
All clients will receive a comprehensive site survey and visual inspection to assess the property’s electrical systems and to discuss where shutting these systems down may cause disruption, so the report can be conducted thoroughly and effectively. We’ll also discuss sampling rates, where cables are present in walls and floors. Sampling sizes can be based on any failures detected during the report.
This early-stage survey is crucial in ensuring that the electrical installation condition reporting process is tailored to your building. Factors such as occupancy, layout, and operational requirements are all considered to minimise disruption while maintaining a high level of inspection accuracy.
To perform an EICR test, our electrician will disconnect all electrical installations from the property’s main power supply. They’ll then use specialist equipment to check the installation based on the standards set by the IET’s Wiring Regulations BS 7671.
The purpose of the testing process is to identify five key aspects of electrical safety:
All electrical installations are safe within the property
Identify any damage or wear and tear that could affect the safety of occupants
Identify components within your electrical systems that do not meet the IET Wiring Regulations
Highlight electrical appliances and electrical equipment that may cause fires or electric shocks
Record and document electrical installation conditions
During the inspection, engineers will carry out both visual checks and live/dead testing. This includes examining consumer units, wiring systems, earthing and bonding arrangements, and protective devices such as RCDs.
Any issues identified are categorised using standard coding:
C1 (Danger present) – immediate action required
C2 (Potentially dangerous) – urgent remedial work needed
C3 (Improvements recommended) – not unsafe, but upgrade advised
FI (Further investigation) – additional assessment required
These codes form a key part of the electrical installation certificate and determine whether the installation is deemed satisfactory or unsatisfactory. If a landlord fails to act on an unsatisfactory EICR, the local authority can enforce remedial work and recover costs from the landlord.
A typical Electrical Installation Condition Reporting inspection takes between one and six hours, depending on the size and complexity of the property being assessed.
However, larger commercial or industrial sites may require significantly longer, especially where:
Multiple distribution boards are present
Access is restricted
Operations limit shutdown times
High-risk environments require more detailed inspection
Regulations stipulate that an EICR should be completed at least every five years. But our engineers may advise more frequent reporting based on factors such as:
Environmental conditions (e.g. public swimming baths or industrial facilities)
Any recent or upcoming change of use
The electrical installation condition report cost can vary depending on several factors, including:
Size of the property
Number of circuits
Complexity of the installation
Accessibility of systems
Type of building (domestic vs commercial vs industrial)
For smaller residential properties, costs are typically lower due to fewer circuits and simpler layouts. In contrast, large commercial or industrial sites may require more extensive testing, increasing both time and cost.
While cost is an important consideration, it’s essential to view an EICR as an investment in safety and compliance rather than a simple expense. If business owners or landlords fail to carry out proper electrical installation condition reporting, it can result in far greater financial and legal consequences from local authorities.
If a landlord doesn’t complete necessary remedial work identified in an EICR within the specified timeframe, the local authority can arrange for the work to be done and recover the costs from the landlord.
We’ll provide the electrical safety certificate to all relevant parties on the completion of the testing process. The EICR document serves as proof that you’ve taken steps to meet safety standards in all electrical appliances and equipment. It includes:
Details of the installation
Inspection findings
Test results
Observations and recommendations
Overall assessment (satisfactory or unsatisfactory)
Depending on the building and its usage, you may be required to provide copies of your EICR to:
Local authorities
Health and safety inspectors
Our engineers can advise you on these requirements at the time.
We follow all relevant health and safety guidelines and regulations during the inspection process. The client must provide safe and unrestricted access to all areas being inspected and identify any potential hazards or risks associated with the area being tested.
Electrical installation condition reporting and all electrical work is itself a safety-critical activities, so cooperation between the client and inspection team is essential.
The client must provide any necessary keys or access codes to gain entry to the building or areas affected by the inspection process.
Restricted access can delay the inspection and may result in incomplete reporting, which could affect compliance and electrical safety.
The inspection may cause some disruption to your operations, as we’ll need to isolate all electrical systems to test them. We always aim to keep these disruptions to a minimum and work with the utmost professionalism. And we’ll agree on levels of disruption and timings before the test.
To that end, clients must work with us to cooperate with our inspectors and provide any necessary assistance to minimise disruption.
In many cases, inspections can be scheduled outside of normal working hours or phased across different areas to reduce operational impact.
We conduct the electrical safety report in compliance with all relevant regulations and standards, including:
The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020
The IET’s Wiring Regulations BS 7671
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
Compliance isn’t just about meeting legal requirements – it’s about ensuring that your building remains safe for occupants, employees, and visitors at all times.
We treat all information obtained during the electrical installation condition reporting process as confidential and will not disclose it to any third parties without the client’s written consent, except where required by law.
There are many reasons to choose OCD FM for your electrical installation condition report needs. As well as being fire protection specialists, here are five key reasons why you should consider OCD Fire Management:
Outstanding commitment to deliver
Technology-led solutions
Emphasis on customer satisfaction
Flexibility and adaptability
Experienced and professional team
At OCD FM, we’re confident that we can provide you with a fire management and electrical safety service that meets your needs and exceeds your expectations.
We provide electrical installation condition reporting in Hertfordshire and the following locations: Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Greater London, Suffolk, Kent, Surrey and Northamptonshire.
If your business or residential premises are outside these areas but within England, please get in contact, as our teams often operate outside our immediate location.
Whether you’re a landlord, facilities manager, or business owner, ensuring your property has a valid and up-to-date EICR report is essential.
If you’re unsure when your last periodic inspection took place, or whether your current electrical installation condition report certificate is still valid, now’s the time to act.
A professional EICR not only keeps you compliant, but more importantly, it helps protect lives, property, and your business continuity.
Supply, Installation, Maintenance & Risk Assessments of fully certified fire doors. FIRAS Certificated.
Concise and accurate site survey and reports. FIRAS Certificated.
Fire stopping and compartmentation protection systems. FIRAS Certificated.
OCD FM is fully qualified to conduct Electrical Installation Condition Reporting and a whole range of Fire Protection Services across a wide range of commercial and residential properties. Specialising in fire doors, risk assessments, dry lining and passive fire protection, we are FIRAS Certificated.
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