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What changes the cost of an EICR?
The cost of an EICR, or Electrical Installation Condition Report, depends mainly on the number of circuits, the size and age of the property, how easy the wiring is to reach and whether repairs are quoted separately. This page does not print a price, because we could not find two dated public sources that agree on one.
Last reviewed:What an EICR is
An Electrical Installation Condition Report, usually shortened to EICR, is a written record of the condition of the fixed wiring in a building. An electrician inspects the fuse board, the circuits, and a sample or all of the sockets, switches and fittings, tests them with instruments, and writes up what they find. It is an inspection, not a repair visit, although some electricians will fix small faults on the day if you agree.
QuoteZila is starting in Cheshire, with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach among the first towns, and anyone in the UK can post a job. We have not printed a price on this page. We could not find two dated public sources that agree on what an EICR costs, and a number we cannot stand behind would only get in the way of comparing real quotes. The rest of this guide explains what the electrician is pricing.
Who needs one
Private landlords in England. GOV.UK guidance for landlords says the electrical installation must be inspected and tested at least every five years by a qualified and competent person, and that the landlord must obtain a report giving the results and setting a date for the next inspection [S1]. The guidance also says copies go to tenants, and to the local council if it asks [S1]. If the report calls for further investigation or remedial work, the guidance says it must be done within the time the report sets [S1].
Homeowners. There is no five-year rule for an owner-occupied home in that guidance. This page does not set an interval for owner-occupied homes. Ask the electrician what they recommend for your home. Common reasons to ask for a report are:
- buying a house, or moving into one with no recent paperwork
- planning a kitchen, bathroom, extension or loft conversion
- finding old red and black cables, or an old fuse board
- tripping, flickering lights or warm sockets
- a report that is old, or one you were never given
What changes the price of an EICR
| What changes | Why it matters | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Number of circuits | Each circuit is tested, so more circuits means more time | How many circuits have you allowed for? |
| Size of the property | More rooms mean more points to inspect | Is the price for this number of bedrooms? |
| Age and condition | Older installations can take longer to test and write up | Will an older board or wiring change the price? |
| Access | Furniture, locked rooms, a boarded loft or a fuse board in a cupboard slow the work | What access do you need on the day? |
| Sample size | Some inspections check a sample of points, others check every one | How many points will you inspect, and how chosen? |
| Occupied or empty | Testing means turning circuits off; tenants or home working may need planning around | Will you need the power off, and for how long? |
| Small repairs on the day | Some electricians fix minor faults during the visit | Are any repairs included, or quoted separately? |
| Report format | You need a report you can keep and share | When and how will I receive the report? |
| Multiple units | A block or a house split into flats has several installations | Is the price per flat, or for the whole building? |
| VAT | Some electricians are VAT registered [S6] | Does the total include VAT? |
The single most useful number you can give is how many circuits your fuse board has. If you are not sure, a clear photo of the board with the cover closed lets the electrician count them.
What happens during the inspection
On the day, the electrician will usually:
- Look at the fuse board, its protective devices and its labelling.
- Turn circuits off one at a time to test them, so some or all power will be off for parts of the visit.
- Inspect sockets, switches, light fittings and visible cables for damage, wear and signs of overheating.
- Test the earthing and bonding, and check that protection works as it should.
- Note anything that does not meet the current wiring standard, and how urgent it is.
Clear access to the fuse board and to as many sockets as possible. Tell the electrician about anything that must stay on, such as medical equipment, a freezer you cannot empty, or a home office.
There are no DIY steps on this page. Do not remove covers, open the fuse board or try to test circuits yourself.
Electrical Safety First: find a registered electrician; NICEIC; NAPIT. QuoteZila is not affiliated with this organisation.
You can look up a registered electrician through Electrical Safety First, the NICEIC or NAPIT.
Reading the results
An EICR ends with an overall verdict on whether the installation is in a fit condition for continued use, and a list of observations. Each observation is given a code that shows how urgent it is. Ask the electrician to walk you through anything they have flagged, in plain words, before they leave.
The report should also state:
- which parts of the installation were inspected and tested, and which were not
- any limits on the inspection, such as rooms that could not be reached
- the recommended date for the next inspection
If the report is unsatisfactory, it does not mean the house must be rewired. It means the items listed need attention. Some may be quick fixes; others, such as replacing a fuse board, are larger jobs.
When repairs are needed
Repairs found by an EICR are a separate job from the inspection. Ask for them to be quoted separately and in writing, so you can compare that quote with other electricians. You do not have to use the same electrician who did the report, although many people do.
Some repair work is notifiable under building regulations. The Planning Portal says that in England a new or replacement consumer unit and a complete new circuit are notifiable, and that a registered installer can self-certify them [S2]. Smaller work that is not notifiable must still meet the wiring standard, and the Planning Portal says a qualified electrician should issue a Minor Works Certificate for it [S3]. GOV.UK says that if work needs approval, you can use a tradesperson registered with a competent person scheme instead of applying yourself [S4].
For landlords, GOV.UK guidance says remedial work must be completed within 28 days, or any shorter period the report specifies, and that written confirmation that the work is done goes to the tenant and the council [S1].
Keeping and sharing the report
Treat the report like any other important house document. Keep the full report, not only the front page, because the observations and the list of what was and was not inspected are what a later electrician, buyer or letting agent will want to see.
Ask the electrician to send it in a format you can store and forward, and keep a note of the recommended date for the next inspection. If you are a landlord, GOV.UK guidance says copies must go to tenants and to the local council if it asks [S1]. If you are selling, your conveyancer may ask whether you have one.
When repairs are done after the report, keep the certificates for that work with the report. Together they show what was found and what was put right.
How to compare EICR quotes
Citizens Advice suggests getting quotes in writing from more than one trader, and says a quote is a fixed price where an estimate is only a guess [S5]. It also suggests asking to see a trader's insurance [S5]. For an EICR, ask each electrician to state:
- The number of circuits and points the price covers.
- Whether every point is tested, or a sample.
- Whether small repairs found on the day are included, and up to what limit.
- How and when you will receive the report.
- Whether the price covers one flat or the whole building.
- Whether VAT is included. A business must register for VAT when taxable turnover goes over £90,000 [S6].
- Which register they belong to, so you can check it yourself.
If one price is much lower than the others, ask what it leaves out. A short visit that tests only a handful of points is not the same job as a full inspection.
Jobs you might post
These are examples, not taken from real job posts.
- "Landlord of a two-bedroom flat. Current report runs out next month. Tenant is home most days and can let you in."
- "Buying a 1930s semi. Would like an EICR before we exchange. Fuse board looks old."
- "Planning a kitchen extension. Want the existing wiring checked first so we know what we are connecting to."
Say whether the property is let or lived in, how many bedrooms it has, where the fuse board is, and when you need the report.
Get quotes for an EICR
Describe the property and your postcode. Up to five matched local businesses can send you a quote [QZ2]. QuoteZila is free for customers and local businesses [QZ1].
Honest status: QuoteZila is new. We're starting in Cheshire, beginning with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach, and growing area by area. Anyone in the UK can still post a job or register a business. How fast you get quotes depends on how many local businesses have joined near you. Businesses can register and receive jobs straight away. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire.
Posting a job is not open yet
See our electricians page and the electrician cost guide for how electricians usually set out a price. If you have found red and black cables, see what the old wiring colours mean.
Questions about EICR prices
How much does an EICR cost?
This page does not print a figure. The number of circuits, the size and age of the property, access to the fuse board and wiring, and whether the price includes any repairs all change the total. Ask electricians for written quotes that say what is included and how results are reported.
How often do landlords need an EICR?
GOV.UK guidance says private landlords in England must have the electrical installation inspected and tested at least every five years by a qualified and competent person, and must get a report that gives the results and sets a date for the next inspection. The report can set an earlier date.
Do homeowners need an EICR?
This page does not set an interval for owner-occupied homes. Ask the electrician what they recommend for your home. Many people ask for a report when buying a house, before a renovation or when the wiring looks old.
What happens if the EICR finds problems?
The report lists what needs attention and how urgent it is. For landlords, GOV.UK says further investigation or remedial work must be completed within 28 days, or any shorter period the report specifies. For any home, ask for a separate written quote for the repairs so you can compare it with other electricians.
Is an EICR the same as a PAT test?
No. An EICR covers the fixed wiring: the fuse board, circuits, sockets, switches and fixed fittings. Portable appliance testing looks at plug-in equipment. Some landlords ask for both, so say clearly which you want when you request quotes.
Who can carry out an EICR?
For a rented home in England, GOV.UK says the inspection must be done by a qualified and competent person. For any home, a registered electrician is the sensible choice. You can look one up on the Electrical Safety First, NICEIC or NAPIT registers.
Does QuoteZila check the businesses?
No. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire. You can report a quote or a business from your job page.
This page is general information, not professional or legal advice. QuoteZila does not check Gas Safe, WaterSafe, NFRC, NICEIC or other registrations against the register on your behalf: look them up yourself.
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Sources
- QZ1: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila home and jobs-for-tradesmen copy.
- QZ2: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila FAQ and app README.
- S1: Electrical safety standards in the private and social rented sectors: guidance, GOV.UK (MHCLG). Accessed 2026-10-27. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electrical-safety-standards-in-the-private-and-social-rented-sectors-guidance/electrical-safety-standards-in-the-private-and-social-rented-sectors-guidance
- S2: Electrics: building regulations general information, Planning Portal. Accessed 2026-10-27. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/electrics/building-regulations-general-information
- S3: Electrics: building regulations minor works, Planning Portal. Accessed 2026-10-27. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/electrics/building-regulations-minor-works
- S4: Building regulations approval, GOV.UK. Accessed 2026-10-27. https://www.gov.uk/building-regulations-approval
- S5: Before you get work done on your home, Citizens Advice. Accessed 2026-10-27. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/getting-home-improvements-done/before-you-get-building-work-done/
- S6: Register for VAT, GOV.UK. Accessed 2026-10-27. https://www.gov.uk/register-for-vat