EICR Guide 2026: Cost, Codes, Rules & What to Expect | Dorset Electrician

By Tim, NICEIC registered electrician · Published 12 April 2026 · 12 min read

2026 is the first major EICR renewal year. If your rental property was first certified in 2020 or 2021 when the regulations came into force, your EICR expires this year. Penalties for non-compliance have increased to up to £30,000 per breach. Don’t leave it to the last minute — book your EICR now.

What is an EICR?

An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a formal document produced after a thorough assessment of the electrical installation in a property. Previously known as a periodic inspection report, an EICR checks the condition of wiring, circuits, earthing, bonding, and the consumer unit (fuse box) to identify any defects, damage, or wear that could present a safety risk.

The inspection is carried out by a qualified and registered electrician — such as an NICEIC registered contractor — who will test every circuit, visually inspect accessible parts of the installation, and produce a detailed report with coded observations.

Legal Requirements for Landlords

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 made EICRs a legal requirement for all rental properties in England. The key requirements are:

• An EICR must be carried out before a new tenancy begins
• The report must be renewed at least every 5 years
• A copy must be provided to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection
• A copy must be provided to new tenants before they occupy the property
• A copy must be given to the local authority within 7 days if requested
• Any remedial work identified must be completed within 28 days (or sooner for urgent issues)

The penalty for non-compliance is up to £30,000 per breach. Local authorities have the power to arrange remedial work themselves and bill the landlord if necessary.

The Cost of Getting It Wrong

The £30,000 fine is not theoretical — BCP Council (covering Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole) actively enforces these regulations, particularly in areas with high concentrations of rental properties. Boscombe, Winton, Charminster, and Springbourne all have significant HMO populations, and council enforcement teams conduct regular compliance checks. For a breakdown of the six specific mistakes that trigger BCP penalties, see our BCP Council EICR enforcement guide for Bournemouth landlords.

Beyond the fine itself, a missing or expired EICR can void your landlord insurance, delay tenant moves, and — if an electrical fault causes injury — expose you to personal liability. An EICR from £120 is one of the lowest-cost compliance items in a landlord’s budget, and one of the highest-risk to skip.

If you manage HMOs in the Bournemouth area, our HMO Electrical Compliance Guide covers the additional requirements specific to multi-occupancy properties.

What Does an EICR Involve?

An EICR is more than just a quick visual check. The inspection includes:

• Visual inspection of all accessible parts of the wiring, sockets, switches, and fittings
• Testing every circuit — checking insulation resistance, earth fault loop impedance, and polarity
• Checking earthing and bonding — ensuring the property is properly earthed for safety
• Consumer unit inspection — checking the condition, labelling, and suitability
• RCD testing — verifying that residual current devices operate within the required time
• Full written report with coded observations

Observations are classified using standard codes:

• C1 — Danger present: Risk of injury. Immediate remedial action required.
• C2 — Potentially dangerous: Remedial action required urgently.
• C3 — Improvement recommended: Not dangerous but could be improved.
• FI — Further investigation: Could not fully inspect; further investigation needed.

How Much Does an EICR Cost?

EICR pricing is based on the size of the property and the number of circuits:

• 1-bed flat: From £120
• 3-bed house: From £150
• 4–5 bed house: From £180
• Commercial premises: From £250

Factors that can affect the price include the age of the property, the number of additions or alterations, and whether the consumer unit is easily accessible. We always provide a fixed quote before the inspection.

Need an EICR for your rental? Message Tim on WhatsApp — he’ll give you a fixed price and can usually book within a week. Multi-property rates available.

What Happens if My Property Fails?

If C1 or C2 codes are found, the report will classify the installation as “unsatisfactory” and remedial work is required. For landlords:

• Remedial work must be completed within 28 days of the report
• C1 codes (danger present) should be addressed immediately — a responsible electrician will make the situation safe during the inspection
• Once remedial work is completed, the electrician will re-inspect and issue a satisfactory report
• The satisfactory report must be provided to tenants within 28 days

The most common remedial finding is an outdated consumer unit without RCD protection — a consumer unit upgrade from £450 resolves this in a single day and brings the property up to current standards.

At Lilliput Electrical, we can often carry out minor remedial work during the same visit, saving you time and a second callout. For larger items, we’ll provide a clear quote before proceeding.

EICR Codes Explained: C1, C2, C3 and FI

When you receive your EICR report, each observation is classified with a code. Here’s what they mean in plain English:

Code	Meaning	Action Required
C1	Danger present	Immediate action — your electrician should make it safe during the inspection
C2	Potentially dangerous	Urgent remedial work required within 28 days
C3	Improvement recommended	Not dangerous, but should be addressed at the next opportunity
FI	Further investigation	Could not fully inspect — needs investigation to determine the risk level

A report with any C1 or C2 codes is classified as unsatisfactory. For landlords, this means remedial work is legally required. A report with only C3 codes (or no codes at all) is classified as satisfactory.

The most common C2 finding we see across Dorset is an outdated consumer unit without RCD protection — a consumer unit upgrade from £450 resolves this in a single day.

Do I Need an EICR to Sell My House?

There’s no legal requirement for homeowners to have an EICR before selling. However, there are strong practical reasons to get one:

• Buyers’ solicitors increasingly request one — a satisfactory EICR removes a potential objection and speeds up the sale
• It can prevent price reductions — a buyer who discovers electrical issues during a survey may negotiate the price down or walk away. A pre-sale EICR shows you’ve nothing to hide
• Home insurance — some insurers now ask whether an EICR has been carried out in the last 10 years. Having one on file strengthens your position
• Peace of mind — if your wiring is fine, the EICR confirms it. If it’s not, you can address it on your terms rather than under pressure from a buyer

For homeowners not selling, we recommend an EICR every 10 years or when moving into a new property.

Who Pays for an EICR When Buying a House?

In most transactions, the buyer pays for any electrical inspections they want carried out. An EICR is not part of a standard building survey — it’s a separate specialist inspection. If the buyer requests one, they typically commission and pay for it directly.

That said, if you’re selling and want to provide an EICR proactively (to strengthen your position), you’ll pay for it yourself. At £120–£180 for a typical 3-bed house, it’s a small cost relative to the value of a smooth sale.

Portfolio Landlords

If you manage multiple rental properties across Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch, or Wimborne, we offer multi-property rates and can schedule inspections back-to-back to minimise cost and disruption. We keep records of all EICRs issued and can send renewal reminders when your 5-year cycle is approaching.

Many portfolio landlords in the Boscombe and Winton areas use us as their regular EICR provider — we understand the tenant coordination involved and work directly with letting agents to arrange access.

Why Landlords Choose Lilliput Electrical

• Fixed pricing from £120 — you know the cost before we arrive. No hourly rates, no surprises
• Same-week availability — we understand the 28-day compliance window. We don’t make you wait
• Remedial work in one visit — if minor issues are found, we can often fix them on the spot, saving you a second callout
• Multi-property rates — portfolio landlords get priority scheduling and bulk pricing
• NICEIC registered — all reports and certificates are independently verifiable and accepted by BCP Council
• Renewal reminders — we track your 5-year cycle and notify you before your EICR expires

Book Your EICR

Ready to book? Message Tim on WhatsApp or call 07809 680068. Fixed pricing, fast turnaround, and we handle remedial work if needed. We cover all of Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch, Wimborne, and East Dorset.