EICR testing in Ruislip — for landlords, homeowners and buyers
An Electrical Installation Condition Report is a proper health check of a property’s fixed electrics, finished with a written report that says exactly where you stand. We test across Ruislip and everywhere within about seven miles.
- NICEIC Approved Contractor
- Landlord certificates
- Pre-purchase reports
- Remedials quoted plainly
Who needs one
Landlords: if you let property in England, an EICR is a legal requirement — renewed at least every five years, with copies to your tenants and to the council if they ask. Fines for non-compliance can reach £30,000. We test, we report, and if remedial work is needed we quote it plainly so you can be compliant in one move.
Homeowners: no law compels you, but the guidance is roughly every ten years. If the wiring predates your ownership and has never been inspected, a report is the honest way to find out what's fine and what isn't — before it tells you itself.
Buyers: a survey barely touches the electrics. A pre-purchase EICR tells you whether you're buying a sound installation or a rewire with a house attached — worth knowing before exchange, not after.
What the inspection covers
- The consumer unit — condition, protection, and whether it meets current standards.
- Wiring and circuits — visual inspection plus dead and live testing: earth continuity, insulation resistance, polarity.
- RCD protection — tested for real trip times, not just the test button.
- Accessories — a sample of sockets, switches and fittings, opened and checked.
- Earthing and bonding — the part nobody sees and everything depends on.
- A written report with every observation coded and explained in plain English.
How the codes work: C1 means danger present — you'll hear about it on the spot, not in the post. C2 means potentially dangerous — fix it promptly. C3 is a recommendation, not a fail. FI means further investigation needed.
C1s, C2s and FIs make a report “unsatisfactory”. C3s alone don't — a house can pass with a list of sensible suggestions attached.
How it goes
Inspect
Covers off where needed: we check the installation visually for damage, DIY surprises and age.
Test
Dead and live testing, circuit by circuit. Two to four hours for a typical three-bed. Some circuits are off briefly.
Report
Every observation coded and explained, plus a clear quote for any remedial work. No scare tactics — the report says what we found, not what sells.
When to book one
EICRs are the “find out before it finds you” service. These are the usual triggers:
- You let the property and the last report is near five years old — or doesn’t exist
- You’re buying, and the survey says “electrics not tested” (it will)
- The wiring is decades old and has never been formally inspected
- Sockets crackle, switches feel warm, or the board trips without an obvious cause
EICR questions, answered straight
How often does a rental property need an EICR?
At least every five years in England — sooner if the last report says so. For a new tenancy you must hold a valid report and give the incoming tenants a copy before they move in; existing tenants get one within 28 days of the inspection. It’s the landlord’s legal duty, and councils can fine up to £30,000 for getting it wrong.
What happens if the report is unsatisfactory?
It means C1 or C2 faults (or something needing further investigation) were found. For rentals, remedial work must be done within 28 days — less if the report says so — and confirmed in writing. We quote the remedials alongside the report, so you can go from “unsatisfactory” to compliant in one move. For homeowners it’s your call, but C1s and C2s aren’t the ones to sit on.
How long does an EICR take?
Two to four hours for a typical three-bed house. More circuits, bigger property or a hard-to-reach board adds time. Empty properties are quickest, which is why landlords often book between tenancies.
Will the power go off during the test?
Briefly and circuit by circuit, yes — part of the test is done with circuits dead. Tell us up front about anything critical (medical equipment, aquariums, a work call you can’t drop) and we’ll plan the sequence around it.
Do I really need one when buying a house?
Legally, no. Sensibly — if the house is more than a couple of decades old, or the survey said “electrical installation not tested” (they nearly all do) — yes. It’s a small cost against discovering after completion that the place needs rewiring.
What does an EICR cost?
It depends on the size of the property and the number of circuits, so we won’t pretend there’s one price. Tell us the property type and how many bedrooms and you’ll get a fixed figure before you book — no extras invented on the day.
Need a report — or just the truth about your wiring?
Tell us the property type and bedrooms. You’ll get a fixed price and a date.