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An EICR is a condition report
Quick answer
An Electrical Installation Condition Report assesses the fixed installation under an agreed inspection and testing scope. It differs from an installation certificate for new work and from appliance testing. Fault finding may be another scope where the main aim is to trace a particular symptom. Explain the purpose before booking: purchase, landlord duties, suspected deterioration or planning future work. Ask who is competent to undertake that assessment. The right document depends on the actual task, and a general phrase such as electrical certificate does not define what you will receive.
Useful next steps
Agree coverage and limitations
Identify the property, circuits and additional systems included, the access available and how any limitations will be recorded. Outbuildings, specialist systems and communal installations may need an explicit scope or another competent professional. Tell the inspector about prior records and known symptoms. Arrange practical access and discuss power interruptions. If a part is inaccessible, the report should explain the limitation rather than imply it was fully tested. Ask what further investigation might be necessary and how that will be authorised. Keep the scope with the resulting report.
Ask how you will receive the report and whether the inspector will explain the observations afterwards. A document full of codes is less useful if you cannot identify the affected circuit or the required next step. Clarify who can answer questions and whether a follow-up discussion is included. Do not treat an inspection booking as prior agreement to every suggested repair.
Understanding report codes
The report’s findings and recommended timescales need an explanation, not just a pass-or-fail headline. In the official rental guidance, C1 means danger present, C2 potentially dangerous, C3 an improvement recommendation and FI further investigation without delay. C1 and C2 require remedial action; FI needs investigation. C3 alone does not make the report unsatisfactory. Use the inspector’s actual observations and required urgency to plan the next step, rather than assuming every recommendation requires a rewire.
| Code | Meaning | Practical next step |
|---|---|---|
| C1 | Danger present | Urgent action explained by the inspector. |
| C2 | Potentially dangerous | Arrange the required remedy. |
| C3 | Improvement recommended | Discuss the recommendation and its benefit. |
| FI | Investigation needed without delay | Commission the specified investigation. |
Rental duties and homeowner checks
For rented homes within the England regulations, inspections are required at least every five years; the report may set an earlier date. Exceptions and social-sector transition dates matter, so use the current GOV.UK guidance for the actual tenancy. This is not a blanket five-year legal rule for every owner-occupied house. A homeowner’s assessment should fit condition, circumstances and professional advice. Tell the business the purpose and any genuine deadline before booking, rather than assuming all advertised landlord certificates meet the same need.
Inspection reports and the landlord’s route
Ask which premises and circuits the inspection covers, how inaccessible areas will be recorded and how findings will be explained. An inspection report and any later remedial work are separate deliverables. Share an earlier report where available so the business can understand the required review.
If you rent an Ipswich council home, use the landlord’s current route for an electrical safety concern and report safe observations. Private tenants should contact their own landlord or agent. Do not assume this enquiry service can authorise the inspection, enforce a tenancy obligation or certify that the installation is safe.
Sources: Council tenant handbook May 2025
Inspection fees and remedial work
Ask before commissioning
Ask for the defined property and circuit scope, report, limitations, VAT and any revisit charge. Remedial work should be explained and priced separately unless explicitly included. A low inspection headline is not the cost of every correction that might follow. Request findings in a form you can discuss with the inspector and, where appropriate, another business quoting for work. Ask what document records the remedy and whether further investigation remains before treating the matter as complete.
- What installation and systems will the inspection cover?
- What report, access limits and next inspection date are recorded?
- How are remedies, further investigation and records priced?
Using and keeping the records
Read the observations and ask about urgency, limitations and the work actually required. Retain the report alongside subsequent repair records and relevant certificates. A report describes the inspection at that time; later damage or changes still need attention. Do not use an old satisfactory result to dismiss a new burning smell or recurring trip. For an enquiry, provide the postcode, reason for testing and any key findings in plain language. The form is for suitable local help, not document certification or automatic reporting to a landlord.