Last updated 7 October 2026
Short answer: before an EICR, clear a path to the consumer unit, the meter cupboard and the loft hatch, make sure every room can be opened, and dig out any previous electrical certificates. Tell the electrician about anything that cannot lose power, such as a freezer or home office equipment, because each circuit is switched off in turn during testing. Do not try to fix wiring yourself beforehand: switch off anything that looks damaged and point it out on the day.
An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is an inspection and test of the fixed wiring in a property. It takes about 2 to 3 hours for a one or two bed flat and 4 to 6 hours for a large house. A little preparation means the whole installation can be inspected in one visit, with fewer parts recorded as “not inspected”.
Your EICR preparation checklist
| Before the visit | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Clear the area in front of the consumer unit and meter cupboard | Testing starts and ends at the board, and the cover has to come off |
| Make every room reachable, including lofts, garages, sheds and outbuildings with power | A room that cannot be reached is recorded as a limitation of the inspection, and may need a second visit |
| Move furniture away from a sample of sockets, and clear under stairs cupboards | Accessories are opened and checked, not just looked at |
| Find previous EICRs, Electrical Installation Certificates and minor works certificates | The inspector can see what changed since the last check and which circuits are new |
| Note anything that must stay powered: freezers, medical equipment, home office kit, an aquarium | Circuits are switched off one at a time, so these can be planned around |
| Save your work and shut down computers | Each circuit loses power briefly while it is tested |
| Write down any symptoms: a breaker that trips, a warm socket, a light that flickers | It points the inspector to the circuit that needs the closest look |
| Arrange for an adult to be there, or keys through your agent | Someone over 18 needs to give access to every room |
What not to do before an EICR
Older guides suggest wrapping exposed wiring in insulating tape or tightening sockets yourself before the inspector arrives. Please do not. Tape over a bare conductor hides a danger without making it safe, and opening accessories with the power on is how people get hurt. If you find exposed wiring, scorch marks, a buzzing or warm consumer unit, or a burning smell, switch that circuit off at the board if you can do so safely, keep people away from it, and tell the electrician as soon as they arrive.
It is also not worth “tidying up” the installation to get a better result. The report records the condition of the installation as it really is, and that is what protects you, your tenants or your buyer.
What happens on the day
- Visual inspection. The board, sockets, switches, light fittings and any wiring you can see in lofts and cupboards are checked for heat damage, old cable and fittings that do not suit the room.
- Dead testing. With each circuit isolated in turn, the earth conductors, ring circuits, insulation resistance and polarity are tested. Power goes back on before the next circuit.
- Live testing. Earth fault loop impedance is measured and every RCD is trip tested.
- Findings. Anything dangerous is made safe where that is practical, and you are told what was found. The written report follows.
Extra steps for landlords in Scotland
Scottish private landlords must have the electrical installation inspected and tested, along with the appliances they supply, before a property is first let and then at least every five years, under the Repairing Standard statutory guidance, Annex D3. A few practical points from that guidance and the law behind it:
- Give your tenant notice. Section 184 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 requires at least a full day’s notice to the occupants before entry, unless the situation is urgent. In practice, agree a time with your tenant well ahead.
- Your tenant cannot be charged. Tenants cannot be required to pay for the electrical safety inspection unless the First-tier Tribunal orders it (Annex D3, D.58).
- If you cannot get in. A landlord who has taken reasonable steps to get access but cannot is not in breach for that reason (D.59). Keep a record of what you tried.
- Book PAT on the same visit. Appliances you supply need in service inspection and testing as well as the fixed wiring EICR. Appliances bought new less than a year before the test do not need testing yet, but they still go on the register (D.81).
- Copies. A new tenant must be given the most recent EICR before the tenancy starts, and a tenant must be given a copy of any inspection done during their tenancy (D.84).
We look after this for landlords as part of our landlord electrician service in Aberdeen, including coordinating access with tenants and agents.
Businesses and shops
In a workplace, the power interruptions need more planning: tills, servers, refrigeration and alarms all sit on circuits that will be switched off in turn. Agree the order of work in advance and do the inspection inside normal opening hours, Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm or Saturday 9am to 1pm. For how commercial inspections are scoped and priced, see our commercial EICR service.
After the inspection: reading the result
The report gives an overall result of satisfactory or unsatisfactory, with each finding coded. On a report written to BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, the current edition, only C1 and C2 make the result unsatisfactory:
- C1, danger present: needs action immediately.
- C2, potentially dangerous: needs urgent remedial work.
- C3, improvement recommended: advisory, and does not affect the result.
- FI, further investigation: advisory under Amendment 4, but arrange the investigation promptly. Annex D3 says an FI in a let property should be investigated as soon as practically possible, because it may reveal a dangerous condition (D.71).
A room that could not be reached is recorded as a limitation of the inspection, not automatically as an FI. That is the main way good preparation changes the report: fewer gaps in what was checked.
How much an EICR costs
We price an EICR on circuit count, because circuits are what take the time to test. It starts from £150 + VAT for the main board and the first five circuits, then £15 + VAT for each circuit above five. An extra board, such as a garage or outbuilding board, is £70 + VAT plus £15 + VAT per circuit on it. As a guide, a two bed home is up to about £255 + VAT, a three bed up to about £315 + VAT and a four bed up to about £375 + VAT. For the full detail by area, see our EICR service in Aberdeen and our EICR service across Aberdeenshire.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an EICR take?
About 2 to 3 hours for a one or two bed flat, 3 to 4 hours for a three bed house and 4 to 6 hours for a four bed or larger home. Older properties with undocumented alterations take longer.
Will the power be off for the whole visit?
No. The power goes off one circuit at a time during testing, not for the whole visit. Save your work and plan around freezers or equipment that cannot lose power.
Do I need to be at home during an EICR?
Someone over 18 needs to give access to every room, the consumer unit, the meter cupboard and the loft. Landlords can arrange keys through a letting agent.
Should I fix electrical faults before the EICR?
No. Do not attempt repairs to wiring yourself. Switch off anything that looks damaged if it is safe to do so, and point it out on the day. The inspection is there to find faults, and any repair should be done and certified by an electrician.
Does an EICR include PAT testing?
No. An EICR covers the fixed wiring. PAT testing covers appliances with a plug, and Scottish landlords need it for the appliances they supply. Both can be done on the same visit.
Can a normal electrician do an EICR?
The inspector needs to be competent in inspection and testing. Look for an inspection and testing qualification such as City and Guilds 2391-52 and registration with a scheme that audits the work, such as NICEIC or NAPIT. Scottish landlord guidance accepts an electrician employed by a business registered with such a scheme.
Book your EICR
Call 07304 027013 to agree a date, or send us your details through our contact page and we will come back with a fixed price.
