Landlord electrical certificates in Cambridge
Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs) for rented homes, HMOs and student lets, carried out by an NICEIC approved contractor, with any remedial work done by the same team.
What the law asks of landlords
The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 apply to most private tenancies in England, including HMOs. If you let a property, you must:
- have the electrical installation inspected and tested by a qualified, competent person at least every five years, or sooner if the last report says so
- give a copy of the report to your existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection
- give new tenants a copy before they move in, and prospective tenants within 28 days if they ask for one
- give the council a copy within 7 days if it asks
- carry out any remedial work or further investigation the report calls for within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so, then confirm in writing to your tenants and the council within 28 days of finishing
Councils can fine landlords up to £30,000 for breaching the regulations. A current report on file, and a date in the diary for the next one, is the simplest protection.
What happens on the day
- Book a timeTell us about the property and we’ll arrange a time to inspect it.
- Inspection and testingWe test the circuits, check the consumer unit, earthing and bonding, and look for damage, wear and anything that doesn’t meet the current Wiring Regulations, BS 7671. The power will be off for parts of the visit.
- Your reportYou get an Electrical Installation Condition Report with the overall result, any observations and their codes, and the date the next inspection is due.
- Putting things rightIf anything needs fixing, we’ll quote for it and can carry out the work, then give you the written confirmation to pass on.
What the codes on an EICR mean
- C1, danger present. There is a risk of injury and it needs making safe straight away.
- C2, potentially dangerous. Urgent remedial work is needed.
- FI, further investigation required. Something needs a closer look before it can be coded.
- C3, improvement recommended. It doesn’t meet the current standard but isn’t unsafe.
Any C1, C2 or FI makes the report unsatisfactory, and the regulations then give you 28 days, or less if the report says so, to have the work done. A C3 on its own doesn’t.
At a glance
- Inspection at least every 5 years
- Copy to tenants within 28 days
- Remedial work within 28 days
- Covers HMOs and shared student houses
- NICEIC approved contractor
What customers say about our inspections
Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 24 reviews on Trustpilot
After a prompt quote, and effective communications to agree a date- an EICR (for our community building) was efficiently carried out by a team of three engineers in a day. Very happy with the service and competitive price.
Really informative about issues (and non-issues!) as well as being friendly – great customer service. Much more thorough than a separate EICR I had done at a flat in Leicester. Definitely worth paying that bit more for.
Very happy with service provided. Quotation competitive and prompt. Electrical inspection carried out in a professional and polite manner, subsequent further work (installation of new lighting) completed promptly and effectively.
Questions landlords ask
How often do I need a landlord EICR?
At least every five years, or sooner if your last report gives an earlier date. You don’t need a new report for each new tenancy while the current one is in date, but the new tenant must have a copy before they move in.
Does it apply to HMOs and student houses?
Yes. HMOs, including shared student houses, are covered by the same regulations. University halls of residence are one of the few exceptions.
What if the report is unsatisfactory?
You have 28 days, or less if the report says so, to have the remedial work or further investigation done, and then 28 days to confirm it in writing to your tenants and the council. We can quote for the work and carry it out.
Does the EICR cover appliances?
No. The regulations cover the fixed wiring, sockets, switches and consumer unit, not portable appliances. Testing appliances you supply with the property is good practice, and we can do that too.
How long does an inspection take?
It depends on the size of the property and how many circuits it has. We’ll give you an idea when we book it in.