EICR Certificate London from £100: What Landlords Need in 2026

If you let a flat or house in London, an EICR certificate is one document you cannot skip. This guide explains what an EICR is, how often landlords in England need one, what the codes mean and what an EICR costs in London in 2026.

What is an EICR?

An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a formal report produced by a qualified electrician after inspecting and testing the fixed electrical installation in a property: the consumer unit (fuseboard), the wiring, the circuits, sockets, switches and light fittings. It records whether the installation is safe to keep using and lists any defects with a code. It does not cover appliances you plug in; that is what PAT testing is for.

Do London landlords need an EICR?

Yes. In England, private landlords must have the electrical installation in each rented home inspected and tested by a qualified and competent person at least every five years. You must give a copy of the EICR to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection, to new tenants before they move in, and to the local council within seven days if they ask for it. If the report finds urgent defects, the work must be completed and confirmed in writing within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so.

What do the EICR codes mean?

• C1: danger present. Needs fixing immediately.
• C2: potentially dangerous. Needs fixing urgently.
• FI: further investigation required.
• C3: improvement recommended. Does not by itself make the report unsatisfactory.

A report with any C1, C2 or FI is unsatisfactory until the remedial work is done. The most common fixes in London rentals are a consumer unit upgrade for an old fuseboard with no RCD protection, and earthing or bonding to gas and water pipes.

What happens on the day?

The electrician checks the consumer unit, tests each circuit with the power isolated for short periods, checks earthing and bonding, looks for overheating or damage and tests RCD protection. A typical London flat takes two to four hours. Let tenants know the power will go off a few times.

How much does an EICR cost in London?

Prices depend on the size of the property and the number of circuits. Energy North, a London electrical contractor with City & Guilds certified electricians, carries out EICR inspections from £100 at a fixed price, with booking within 48 hours across North, East and West London and the certificate emailed the same day. If the report is unsatisfactory, the team quotes for the remedial work, including consumer unit upgrades and rewiring.

Landlord EICR checklist

1. Book the EICR before the old one expires (five years).
2. Give tenants a copy within 28 days.
3. Fix any C1, C2 or FI items within 28 days and keep the written confirmation.
4. Keep the EICR with your gas safety record, EPC and PAT testing records for the next tenancy.

Book an EICR in London: energynorth.uk/services/eicr. Other services: EV charger installation, PAT testing, fire alarm certificates, LED lighting and rewiring.