What Affects the Cost of an EICR?

"How much is an EICR?" is one of the first questions landlords and homeowners ask. The honest answer is that it depends, and the reasons are worth knowing, because they explain why a price that sounds too good may not cover a proper inspection. Here are the main factors. For what the report itself involves, see our page on landlord and homeowner EICRs.

1. The size of the property

More rooms means more sockets, switches and fittings to inspect, and more ground to cover. A one-bedroom flat and a five-bedroom house with a garage and garden office are very different jobs, even though both get an "EICR".

2. The number of circuits

Testing is done circuit by circuit, so the number of circuits on the consumer unit is often a better guide to the time involved than the number of bedrooms. A modern house may have a separate circuit for the shower, cooker, each floor's lights and sockets, an outdoor supply and an EV charger. Some properties also have more than one consumer unit, each needing inspection.

3. Access

We need to reach the consumer unit and a representative sample of accessories in every room. Furniture against sockets, a boarded-over loft, a locked outbuilding or tenants who aren't home all slow things down. In a rented property, coordinating access with tenants can be a real part of the job.

4. The age and condition of the installation

A tidy, well-labelled installation with previous certificates is quicker to inspect than one that has been altered many times with no records. Older installations often have untraced circuits, mixed cable types and missing earthing, all of which take time to investigate and record properly.

5. Landlord or homeowner

The inspection standard is the same, but the purpose differs. A landlord's report needs to cover the installation fully enough to meet their legal duty and give tenants a copy. A homeowner might want a report before buying or renovating. That affects how the inspection is planned and how limitations are agreed.

6. Remedial work

The report is one cost. Putting right anything it finds is another, and it's the bigger unknown. It might be nothing, a replaced socket, added RCD protection, or a new consumer unit. Remedial work is quoted after the report, once we know what's needed, so you can see exactly what you're paying for.

Comparing quotes

When comparing prices, ask each electrician:

• How many circuits will be tested, and what percentage of accessories inspected?
• Is the written report included, and how soon will it arrive?
• If they find a C1 (danger present), will they make it safe on the day?
• How will remedial work be priced?

Want to know more first? Our testing and certification page explains how an EICR differs from other certificates. For a fixed quote, call 01235 430442.