What Does an EICR Inspection Involve? | Step-by-Step Guide
If you’ve been told you need an EICR or you’re arranging one for your property, you might be wondering what actually happens during the inspection. How long will it take? What will the electrician do? Do you need to prepare anything? And what happens if problems are found?
Understanding the EICR process helps you prepare properly and know what to expect. Whether you’re a Sittingbourne landlord ensuring legal compliance, a homeowner checking your property’s electrical safety, or a buyer investigating a potential purchase, this guide explains exactly what an EICR inspection involves from start to finish.
What Is an EICR?
An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a formal inspection and test of a property’s fixed electrical installation. It assesses whether the electrical system is safe, identifies any defects or deterioration, and confirms whether the installation meets current standards.
The inspection covers everything that’s permanently wired into your property—consumer unit, circuits, sockets, switches, light fittings, and fixed appliances like electric cookers and showers. It doesn’t cover portable appliances like kettles, televisions, or phone chargers—those require separate PAT testing.
EICRs are legally required for rental properties in England, where landlords must have a valid certificate before new tenancies begin and renew it at least every five years. For homeowners, EICRs are recommended every ten years, or more frequently for older properties.
Before the Inspection
Booking and Preparation
When you book your EICR, the electrician should ask about your property—its size, age, number of circuits, and any known issues. This helps them estimate how long the inspection will take and schedule adequate time.
Before the inspection date, there are several things you can do to help the process run smoothly:
Ensure access to the consumer unit: Your fuse board is the starting point for the inspection. Make sure it’s accessible—clear away any boxes, furniture, or obstructions that might block access.
Clear access to sockets and switches: The electrician needs to reach every socket and switch in the property. While you don’t need to empty rooms, ensure outlets aren’t completely blocked by heavy furniture.
Make loft spaces accessible: If your property has a loft, the electrician may need to inspect wiring there. Ensure loft hatches can be opened and there’s safe access.
Identify any known issues: If you’re aware of problems—flickering lights, sockets that don’t work, circuits that trip frequently—mention these when the electrician arrives. They’ll pay particular attention to these areas.
Inform tenants: For rental properties across Sittingbourne, give tenants advance notice of the inspection. They may need to be present or at least ensure the electrician can access all rooms.
During the Inspection: Step by Step
Step 1: Initial Assessment and Documentation
The electrician begins by gathering information about your installation. They’ll note:
- Property type and age
- Number of circuits
- Consumer unit type and condition
- Earthing arrangements
- Any previous inspection reports if available
They’ll also discuss any concerns you have and ask about the property’s electrical history—previous work, known problems, or recent additions.
Step 2: Visual Inspection
Before any testing begins, the electrician conducts a thorough visual inspection of the entire installation. This includes examining:
Consumer unit: Checking the board’s condition, labelling, protective devices, and whether it meets current standards. Older boards with rewirable fuses or missing RCD protection will be noted.
Cables and wiring: Looking for visible damage, deterioration, or incorrect installation. This includes checking cables in accessible areas like lofts, under floors where accessible, and at connection points.
Sockets and switches: Inspecting each outlet for damage, secure fixing, correct wiring, and signs of overheating such as discolouration or burning smells.
Light fittings: Checking fixtures are securely mounted, correctly wired, and appropriate for their locations—particularly in bathrooms where specific IP ratings are required.
Earthing and bonding: Examining main earthing connections and supplementary bonding in bathrooms and kitchens where required.
The visual inspection often reveals obvious issues—cracked sockets, damaged cables, outdated installations, and DIY work that doesn’t meet standards. Properties across Milton Regis, Murston, and Sittingbourne’s older neighbourhoods frequently show age-related deterioration during visual inspection.
Step 3: Dead Testing
With the power turned off, the electrician performs a series of tests on the installation. Dead testing includes:
Continuity testing: Confirming that protective conductors (earth wires) provide continuous paths throughout circuits. This ensures that if a fault occurs, current can flow safely to earth rather than through a person.
Insulation resistance testing: Checking that insulation around cables hasn’t deteriorated, preventing current from leaking where it shouldn’t. Poor insulation can cause electric shocks and fires.
Polarity testing: Confirming that live, neutral, and earth connections are correct throughout the installation. Reversed polarity is a serious safety hazard.
Dead testing requires the power to be off, so you’ll be without electricity during this phase. The electrician will warn you before switching off and will work as efficiently as possible.
Step 4: Live Testing
With the power restored, additional tests are performed on the energised installation:
Earth fault loop impedance: Measuring how quickly protective devices will operate if a fault occurs. This confirms that fuses and circuit breakers will trip fast enough to prevent harm.
RCD testing: If your installation has RCDs (residual current devices), the electrician tests that they trip within required timescales—typically 300 milliseconds or faster. RCDs are critical safety devices that prevent electrocution.
Functional testing: Checking that switches, dimmers, and controls operate correctly. Testing that circuits function as intended under normal conditions.
Live testing may cause brief interruptions as RCDs are tested and circuits are checked, but these are momentary rather than extended outages.
Step 5: Documentation and Reporting
Throughout the inspection, the electrician documents everything—test results, observations, and any defects found. This documentation forms the basis of your EICR report.
The electrician records:
- Every test performed and its result
- Any defects or deviations from current standards
- Observations about the installation’s condition
- Recommendations for remedial work
- Overall assessment of the installation
How Long Does an EICR Take?
Inspection duration depends on property size and installation complexity:
Small flat (1-2 bedrooms): 1.5-2 hours
Medium house (3 bedrooms): 2-3 hours
Large house (4+ bedrooms): 3-4 hours
Properties with outbuildings or complex installations: 4+ hours
Older properties typically take longer because they often have more circuits, outdated installations requiring careful assessment, and potentially more defects to document. Properties across Kemsley, Iwade, and Borden with extensions or additions may also require additional time.
Inspections that uncover significant problems take longer as the electrician documents issues thoroughly. A property in good condition with modern wiring completes faster than one with multiple defects requiring detailed recording.
After the Inspection: Your EICR Report
Understanding the Results
Following inspection, you’ll receive your EICR report—typically within a few days for complex assessments, or sometimes immediately for straightforward inspections.
The report includes:
Overall assessment: Either “satisfactory” or “unsatisfactory”
Observations: Any defects or issues found, coded by severity
Recommendations: What action is needed to address defects
Test results: Detailed measurements from all testing performed
EICR Observation Codes
Defects are categorised using standard codes:
Code C1 (Danger Present): Immediate risk requiring urgent action. The electrician may have already made this safe during inspection.
Code C2 (Potentially Dangerous): Serious defect requiring remedial action. C2 codes cause your EICR to fail.
Code C3 (Improvement Recommended): Not meeting current standards but not immediately dangerous. C3 codes don’t cause failure but indicate where improvements would enhance safety.
Code FI (Further Investigation): More investigation needed to determine whether a defect exists. Often used when access is restricted or testing couldn’t be completed.
A satisfactory EICR means no C1 or C2 codes were found. An unsatisfactory result means one or more C1 or C2 defects require remedial work before a satisfactory certificate can be issued.
What If Problems Are Found?
If your EICR returns unsatisfactory, don’t panic. The report tells you exactly what’s wrong and how serious each issue is.
For Landlords
Sittingbourne landlords receiving unsatisfactory results must arrange remedial work within specific timescales:
- C1 defects: Within 24 hours or as specified
- C2 defects: Within 28 days or as specified
You must provide written confirmation of completed repairs to tenants within 28 days of the original inspection. Failure to comply can result in fines up to £30,000.
For Homeowners
While homeowners aren’t legally required to complete repairs, addressing C1 and C2 defects is strongly recommended for your family’s safety. Your electrician can quote for remedial work based on the report findings.
Remedial Work and Retesting
After completing remedial work, the relevant parts of your installation are retested. If all C1 and C2 defects have been resolved, you’ll receive a satisfactory EICR certificate. This might be a new full inspection or a targeted retest depending on what work was completed.
Common Issues Found During EICR Inspections
Certain defects appear regularly during EICR inspections across Sittingbourne properties:
Outdated consumer units: Older fuse boards without RCD protection commonly fail inspections. Upgrading to modern consumer units addresses this efficiently.
Missing or inadequate earthing: Proper earthing protects against electric shock. Older installations often have inadequate earthing arrangements requiring improvement.
Deteriorated wiring: Cables deteriorate over time. Insulation becomes brittle, connections loosen, and protective sheaths crack—particularly in properties over 30 years old.
DIY work: Unqualified electrical work frequently fails to meet standards. Extensions, additional sockets, and modified circuits installed by previous owners often cause EICR failures.
Bathroom non-compliance: Electrical installations in bathrooms have specific requirements. Missing supplementary bonding, incorrect IP ratings, and unsafe zone violations are common findings.
Preparing for a Smooth Inspection
To ensure your EICR inspection runs smoothly:
- Book with an NICEIC registered electrician
- Ensure access to all areas including loft spaces
- Clear obstructions from consumer unit and sockets
- Inform tenants of the inspection date
- Have previous electrical certificates available if possible
- Note any known issues to discuss with the electrician
- Plan for brief power interruptions during testing
Booking Your EICR in Sittingbourne
Understanding what an EICR involves helps you prepare properly and approach the inspection with confidence. Whether you receive a satisfactory result or need remedial work, you’ll have clear information about your electrical installation’s condition.
We complete EICR inspections throughout Sittingbourne and surrounding areas including Milton Regis, Murston, Kemsley, Iwade, Newington, Borden, Tunstall, Teynham, Lynsted, Faversham, Sheerness, Queenborough, and the Isle of Sheppey. Our NICEIC registered electricians provide thorough inspections, clear reports, and honest advice on any remedial work required.
Ready to book your EICR inspection? Contact our Sittingbourne team to arrange a convenient appointment and ensure your property’s electrical safety.