EICR: what it is and how often you need one
What an EICR inspects, the C1 to C3 classification codes, typical intervals for rented and commercial premises, and what happens after a fail.
This is a plain-English explainer, not legal advice. The authority on this topic is the Health and Safety Executive and the relevant housing regulations. Rules change — check the current official guidance before relying on it.
An Electrical Installation Condition Report is a periodic inspection of a building's fixed electrical installation, the wiring, consumer unit, sockets and fixed equipment. It's carried out by a qualified electrician and produces a report classifying anything found.
It's not a certificate of work done. It's an assessment of condition at a point in time, which is why the interval matters as much as the report.
The classification codes
| Code | Meaning | What it implies |
|---|---|---|
| C1 | Danger present, risk of injury | Immediate action required |
| C2 | Potentially dangerous | Urgent remedial work |
| C3 | Improvement recommended | Not a fail on its own |
| FI | Further investigation required | Treated as a fail |
A report is unsatisfactory if it contains any C1, C2 or FI. C3 items alone still produce a satisfactory result, which surprises people: a C3 is advisory.
Typical intervals
Intervals depend on the type of premises and its use, and the electrician recommends the next inspection date on the report itself. As broad orientation:
- Domestic rented property in England: at least every five years, and at change of tenancy where the report has expired
- Commercial premises, commonly five years, shorter for higher-risk environments
- Premises with specific risks: swimming pools, industrial units and similar are inspected more frequently
Treat the date on the report as authoritative for that installation.
After an unsatisfactory report
Remedial work has to be carried out and evidenced. In the English private rented sector the requirement is to complete the work within a defined period and supply written confirmation to the tenant and, where requested, the local authority.
The part most often lost is the link between the finding and the fix. Six months later the report shows a C2 and nothing shows whether it was corrected, which is the position nobody wants to be in after an incident.
Keeping it tracked
An EICR is a textbook case for a schedule with no end date: it recurs on a long interval, applies per property, and is easy to lose track of across a portfolio. The pattern is described under property management and facilities.
Common questions
- How often is an EICR required?
- It depends on the premises and its use, and the inspecting electrician sets the next date on the report. Domestic rented property in England is generally at least every five years, and commercial premises are commonly five years, with shorter intervals where risk is higher. The date recommended on the report is the one to work to for that installation.
- What makes an EICR unsatisfactory?
- Any C1, C2 or FI finding. C1 means danger is present and needs immediate action, C2 means potentially dangerous and needs urgent remedial work, and FI means further investigation is required. C3 items are recommendations for improvement and do not by themselves make a report unsatisfactory.
- What happens after an unsatisfactory EICR?
- The remedial work has to be carried out and evidenced. In the English private rented sector there is a defined period to complete it and a requirement to supply written confirmation to the tenant. The practical failure is losing the link between the finding and the fix, so record the remedial work against the report that raised it.
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