Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICR)
You can’t see electricity, and you can’t usually see the wires hidden inside your walls. That is why damage, wear and tear, or DIY errors can go unnoticed until they cause a serious accident. An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is essentially an MOT for your property’s electrical system.
At Andrew Carling Electrics, we provide rigorous testing and inspection services for landlords, homeowners, and businesses in the North East. We don’t just tick boxes; we thoroughly inspect your system to ensure it is safe for continued use.
Who Needs an EICR?
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Landlords: Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, it is a legal requirement for landlords to have the electrical installations in their rented properties inspected and tested at least every 5 years. You must provide a copy of the report to your tenants.
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Homebuyers: When buying a home, your surveyor will look at the structure, but they won’t test the wiring. We recommend a pre-purchase EICR so you don’t inherit expensive electrical faults or dangerous wiring.
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Homeowners: It is recommended that owner-occupied homes are tested every 10 years to ensure safety.
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Business Owners: Employers have a duty of care under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 to ensure their electrical equipment is safe.
What Do We Test?
An EICR is an in-depth inspection. We will check:
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The Consumer Unit: Is it safe? Does the RCD protection work correctly?
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Earthing & Bonding: Are your gas and water pipes correctly earthed to prevent shocks?
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Wiring Condition: Is there deterioration, rodent damage, or DIY tampering?
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Accessories: We visually inspect and test a sample of sockets, switches, and lights for damage or loose connections.
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Circuit Testing: We use calibrated test equipment to inject voltage into the circuits (safely) to measure insulation resistance and earth fault loop impedance.
Understanding the Report Codes
Once the inspection is done, you will receive a report. If we find faults, they will be categorized by severity codes:
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Code C1 (Danger Present): Immediate risk of injury. The installation is unsatisfactory, and we must make it safe immediately.
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Code C2 (Potentially Dangerous): Urgent remedial action is required.
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Code C3 (Improvement Recommended): A non-compliance with current regulations, but not immediately dangerous.
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FI (Further Investigation): We found something that requires further testing to verify safety.
Why Choose Andrew Carling Electrics for Testing?
We are NAPIT registered inspectors, meaning our reports are recognized by insurance companies, estate agents, and local councils. If your property receives an “Unsatisfactory” rating, we can provide a clear, itemized quote for the remedial work required to get it up to standard.
Don’t leave safety to chance. Whether you are a landlord needing a certificate or a homeowner wanting peace of mind, contact Andrew Carling Electrics today to book your inspection.
