What is an EICR?

When it comes to the safety of your home or rental property, few things are as important as ensuring your electrical systems are in proper working order. Yet electricity remains invisible to the naked eye, with cables hidden within walls and consumer units tucked away in cupboards. This is precisely why Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs) are so crucial for property owners and landlords across the UK.

‍

Understanding EICRs: The Basics

An Electrical Installation Condition Report, commonly known as an EICR, is a comprehensive safety check of your property's electrical systems. Think of it as an MOT for your electrics – a thorough examination that identifies potential hazards, deterioration, and any installations that don't comply with current safety standards.

At Blue Fox Energy and Electrical Services Ltd, we've been conducting EICRs as accredited NAPIT and TrustMark professionals, and our extensive experience since 2013 as energy assessors, combined with a decade in estate agency, gives us unique insight into what property owners truly need.

‍

Why You Cannot Afford to Ignore Your Electrical Installation

You cannot see electricity. Cables are usually hidden inside our walls, and consumer units are often hidden in cupboards, so it is not surprising that we forget to check the condition of our electrical installation for damage or wear and tear.

Faulty and old wiring is one of the main causes of electrical fires in the home. The statistics are sobering – electrical faults cause thousands of house fires annually in the UK. You can reduce the risk of a fire by checking the condition of your cables, switches, sockets and other accessories regularly, but a professional EICR goes far beyond what the untrained eye can detect.

‍

How to Tell if Your Electrical Installation Needs Attention

Clear signs that can help you tell the age of equipment in the electrical installation in your home include:

• Fixed cables coated in black rubber (stopped being used in the 1960s)
• Fixed cables coated in lead or fabric (used before the 1960s)
• A fuse box with a wooden back, cast iron switches, or a mixture of fuse boxes (used before the 1960s)
• Older round pin sockets (or light switches), braided flex hanging from ceiling roses, brown (or black) switches, or sockets mounted in or no skirting boards (used before the 1960s)
• Light switches on the walls within bathrooms (used before the 1960s)

However old your electrical installation is, it may get damaged and will suffer from wear and tear. So you should get an electrician to check its condition at least every 10 years or when you move into a new property.

‍

The Five Key Aims of an EICR

The five main aims of an electrical installation condition report are:

1. Record the results of the inspection and testing to make sure the electrical installation is safe to be used until the next inspection (following any work needed to make it safe)
2. Find any damage and wear and tear that might affect safety, and report it
3. Find any parts of the electrical installation that do not meet the IET Wiring Regulations
4. Help find anything that may cause electric shocks and high temperatures
5. Provide an important record of the installation at the time of the inspection, and for inspection testing in the future

‍

Types of Electrical Condition Reports

In general, there are two types of domestic electrical installation condition report:

Visual condition report - this does not include testing and is only suitable if the installation has been tested recently.

Periodic inspection reports - this is what we would normally recommend, as it tests the installation and would find any hidden damage.

At Blue Fox Energy and Electrical Services Ltd, we typically recommend the comprehensive periodic inspection report, as this involves actual testing of circuits and can uncover hidden problems that a visual inspection alone might miss.

‍

Legal Requirements for Landlords

Since April 2021, it's been a legal requirement for landlords in England to have a valid EICR for their rental properties. The certificate must be renewed every five years, and a copy must be provided to tenants. Failure to comply can result in significant fines and legal complications.

‍

When Should You Book an EICR?

We recommend booking an EICR:

• Every 10 years for residential properties
• Every 5 years for rental properties (legal requirement)
• When purchasing a new property
• After significant electrical work has been completed
• If you notice any signs of electrical problems

‍

Why Choose Blue Fox Energy and Electrical Services Ltd?

Our decade of experience in estate agency gives us a unique understanding of property requirements that many competitors lack. We're fully accredited with NAPIT and TrustMark, ensuring you receive certificates that are recognised and trusted throughout the industry.

Our booking calendar tool on our website makes it simple to schedule your EICR at a time that suits you, and our comprehensive approach means you'll receive a thorough report with clear recommendations for any necessary work.

‍

Keeping Your Property Safe

An EICR isn't just about compliance – it's about peace of mind. Whether you're a homeowner wanting to ensure your family's safety or a landlord with legal obligations to meet, a professional electrical inspection is an investment in safety that could potentially save lives and property.

Don't wait until it's too late. If your property hasn't had an electrical inspection in the last few years, or if you've noticed any warning signs, contact Blue Fox Energy and Electrical Services Ltd today to book your EICR and ensure your electrical installation is safe, compliant, and fit for purpose.