We recently completed a landlord Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) at a rental property in Winterbourne, South Gloucestershire. The inspection was required to meet the landlord’s legal obligations under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020.
Our engineer carried out a thorough inspection and testing of the fixed wiring throughout the property, checking everything from the consumer unit and earthing arrangements to the individual circuits serving the lighting, sockets and any fixed appliances. A condition report was issued on the same day.
Landlord EICR Requirements
Since 1 April 2021, all landlords letting private residential properties in England have been legally required to have a valid EICR in place. The regulations require an inspection at least every five years, or sooner if the previous report specifies a shorter interval. A copy of the report must be provided to existing tenants within 28 days and to new tenants before they move in.
The EICR assesses the condition of the electrical installation against the current edition of BS 7671 (the IET Wiring Regulations). The inspector records any observations and grades them as C1 (danger present), C2 (potentially dangerous) or C3 (improvement recommended). Any C1 or C2 observations must be remedied within 28 days — or sooner if specified — and evidence of the remedial work returned to the local authority if requested.
What the Inspection Covered
- Visual inspection of the consumer unit, including the main switch, RCDs and circuit breakers
- Check of the earthing and bonding arrangements throughout the property
- Inspection of accessible wiring, accessories and fixed equipment
- Continuity testing of protective conductors and ring final circuits
- Insulation resistance testing on all circuits
- Polarity checks at the consumer unit and a sample of accessories
- RCD operation testing to verify disconnection times
- Schedule of circuits and condition report issued on completion
What Happens If the EICR Has Observations?
Not every EICR results in a clean bill of health, and that’s entirely normal in older properties. A C3 observation — the mildest category — means an improvement is recommended but not urgent, and the report can still be issued as Satisfactory. C1 and C2 observations are a different matter: they indicate a danger or potential danger that must be addressed before the report can be considered satisfactory.
Where remedial work is needed, we can usually carry it out at the same visit or return promptly to complete it. Common remedial jobs include upgrading an older fuse board to a modern consumer unit with RCD protection, replacing damaged accessories, improving earthing or bonding arrangements, or re-routing unsafe wiring. Once the work is done, we re-test the affected circuits and issue an updated report.
EICRs in Winterbourne & South Gloucestershire
We carry out landlord and commercial EICRs across Winterbourne and the surrounding areas of South Gloucestershire. Whether you manage a single rental property or a portfolio, we can work around tenancy changeovers and provide reports promptly. Nearby areas we regularly cover include Frampton Cotterell, Bradley Stoke, Yate, Filton and Thornbury. If you need a general electrician in the area, we also cover Frampton Cotterell, Bradley Stoke and Yate.
Need an EICR?
If you’re a landlord in Winterbourne or South Gloucestershire and your EICR is due — or overdue — get in touch and we’ll arrange a convenient time to carry out the inspection. We aim to turn reports around quickly so you’re not left waiting.
Contact us via laelectrical.com to book your EICR or to ask any questions about your legal obligations as a landlord.
