How much does an EICR cost?

An EICR is an electrical installation condition report. An electrician inspects and tests the fixed wiring and then records the findings in a written condition report. Because the work is mostly testing and paperwork, firms tend to price it in one of a few ways.

Some give a fixed price for the whole inspection once they know the property. Others charge by the hour or by the day, and some add a separate callout or attendance fee. None of these is automatically better. What matters is that you know which one you are being offered and what it covers.

Be cautious about any eicr cost you are given before anyone has asked about your property. A sensible quote needs a few details first.

The biggest factor is the size of the electrical installation. A small flat with one consumer unit and a handful of circuits needs less testing than a large house with several consumer units, outbuildings or an electric vehicle charger.

The main things that affect the price are:

1. Number of circuits. Each circuit has to be tested, so more circuits means more time. 2. Property size. More rooms, sockets, lights and fittings to inspect. 3. Age and condition. Larger or older properties often have mixed wiring, hidden alterations or poor records, which can slow the inspection. 4. Access. Locked rooms, furniture, loft hatches, meters in awkward places or tenants who are not home can add time. 5. Timing. Evening, weekend or short notice visits may be priced differently from a normal weekday booking.

If you can tell the electrician these details when you ask for a quote, the price will be much more accurate.

Time is the main driver of cost, so it helps to understand what happens on the day. The electrician will usually check the consumer unit, earthing and bonding, then test circuits one at a time, which means the power will be switched off in sections. Sockets, switches, lights and visible cables are inspected as well.

A smaller home may take a few hours, while a larger or older property can take longer, sometimes spreading over more than one visit. Ask how long the electrician expects to be on site and whether the quote changes if the job runs over. That tells you whether you are being offered a fixed price or an open-ended one.

The price of the EICR itself covers the inspection, testing and the written report. It does not normally include fixing anything the report finds. If the electrician records items as potentially dangerous or in need of improvement, that is remedial work, and it should be quoted separately so you can decide what to do.

When you ask for a quote, check whether the electrician is willing to carry out remedial work afterwards and how that would be priced. You are free to compare quotes for any repairs, but it can save time if the same electrician already knows the installation.

Ask for the quote in writing and check that it states what is included: the inspection, the testing, the condition report and any attendance or callout charge. Also ask whether parts, additional visits or retesting after repairs are charged separately.

It is sensible to ask whether the person doing the inspection is registered with a recognised electrical competent person scheme, and to ask to see proof. EICR results depend on the inspector's competence, so it is worth checking.

For rented homes there is a legal requirement for landlords to have the electrics inspected at intervals, commonly at least every five years, and the rules can change. Check GOV.UK for the current position. The report itself will also recommend when the next inspection is due.