Electrical Safety Certificates are formally known as Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICR).
Since all electrical installations (electrical wiring, sockets, switches, electrical appliances and accessories) deteriorate with use and age they should be tested and inspected regularly to check their condition and safety for use.
To do this you can commission an Electrical Installation Condition Report or EICR for short. (Previously known as a Periodic Inspection and Testing Report (PIR)).
An EICR tests the condition of the electrical installations in your home or business and provides you with an electrical report on their safety and highlights any defects or deviations from the current revision of the current electrical regulations, which you can then remedy.
Who needs an Electrical Inspection and Report?
It is recommended that your electrics should be inspected and tested every:
- 10 years for an owner-occupied home
- 5 years for a rented home
- 3 years for a caravan
- 1 year for a swimming pool
- When a property is being prepared for letting – See Landlord Electrical Certificate below
- Before selling a property
- Before buying a previously-occupied property
Landlords Electrical Certificate/Report
It is the Landlord’s responsibility to ensure that the electrical installation and appliances provided by the landlord in the property are safe at the start of the tenancy and are in proper working order throughout the tenancy.
The Electrical Safety Council now recommends in their latest Guidance (see link below) for rented accommodation that period inspections/tests are carried out by a qualified electrician at least every 5 years or on a change of tenancy.
If the property is a house of multiple occupation (HMO) of any kind (which will include shared houses) there is a statutory requirement to carry out such inspection/test every 5 years.
You could be at risk of invalidating your insurance and be at risk of large fines or electrical fires without regular electrical inspections. The local authority can require a certificate to be produced in seven days if they ask.
How much does an Electrical Safety Certificate cost?
The cost of an electrical inspection certificate is dependent on the size of the property. Please call James for a free quote at 078 2544 7057 or 020 3662 3589 or email hello@electricjames.com.
Useful resources
- The Landlords’ Guide to Electrical Safety from the Electrical Safety First website
Landlord Electrical Safety Certificates & Inspections frequency on the Residential Landlord Association - Also, see PAT Testing under Electric James services
For all your local electrical needs, call now on 078 2544 7057 or 020 3662 3589 or email hello@electricjames.com
NB: Electric James is a fully qualified Part P registered Electrician. He works to the UK national safety standard (BS 7671) and will give you a safety certificate to confirm that the work has been designed, inspected and tested in line with that standard.
