EICR Cost UK (2026): What Should You Pay?

Key Takeaways

• Average EICR cost in 2026: £150–£250 for a standard 2-bed property
• Prices depend on number of circuits, property size, age of the installation, and your location
• London and the South East carry a £30–£50 premium over the national average
• An EICR is valid for 5 years — that works out to roughly £40/year for a typical property
• Remedial work to fix C1 or C2 failures is charged separately and legally required within 28 days
• Beware "EICR from £90" adverts — loss-leading inspections often result in inflated repair quotes
• Always use a NICEIC, NAPIT, or ELECSA registered electrician

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Since June 2020, the Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) has been mandatory for all private rental properties in England. Unlike a quick visual check or a PAT test on portable appliances, an EICR is a comprehensive, circuit-by-circuit inspection of your property's entire fixed electrical installation — consumer unit, wiring, sockets, switches, lighting circuits, and earth bonding.

Naturally, it's more expensive than an annual Gas Safety check. But how much should you actually budget? What pushes the price up? And are cheap quotes a bargain — or a trap?

This guide breaks down the real costs of EICR compliance in 2026, including the remedial work charges that many landlords don't anticipate.

This guide is part of our complete Landlord Compliance hub.

Average EICR Cost by Property Size

EICR pricing is driven primarily by the number of circuits in the consumer unit (fuse box) and the time required to test each one. A studio flat with 4 circuits takes 1–2 hours. A 4-bed house with 12+ circuits takes 4+ hours. More circuits means more dead testing, more live testing, and more documentation.

HMOs cost substantially more because each lettable room typically has its own circuit or sub-circuit, and HMOs often have commercial-grade consumer units with multiple RCDs, dedicated smoke alarm circuits, and emergency lighting — all of which must be individually tested.

Regional Price Variations

These variations reflect both labour rates and travel times. London electricians charge more per hour, but they also have shorter travel distances between jobs in dense urban areas. In rural locations, travel time can add £20–£40 to the base price if the electrician has to drive 30+ minutes between appointments.

What's Included in the EICR Price?

A standard EICR quote should cover the full inspection and the written report. Here's what that involves:

1. Visual Inspection

The electrician walks through every room, checking:

• Socket and switch faceplates for damage, discolouration, or loose mounting
• Light fittings for secure installation and correct rating
• Consumer unit for correct labelling, appropriate MCBs, and signs of overheating or arcing
• Visible wiring for damage, incorrect routing, or non-compliant alterations
• Earth bonding connections to gas and water pipework

2. Dead Testing (Power Off)

With the electricity turned off at the consumer unit:

• Continuity testing: Confirming all earth wires provide a complete path back to the consumer unit
• Insulation resistance: Measuring whether cable insulation has degraded — low insulation resistance is a fire and shock risk that is invisible during normal use
• Polarity checks: Confirming live and neutral connections are correctly wired at every socket, switch, and light fitting

3. Live Testing (Power On)

With the electricity restored:

• Earth fault loop impedance: Measuring how quickly a fault would trip the circuit breaker — if impedance is too high, the MCB may not trip fast enough to prevent electrocution
• RCD testing: Each Residual Current Device is tested at multiple current levels to confirm it trips within the required time
• Prospective fault current: Measuring the maximum fault current that could flow during a dead short circuit

4. The Report

A formal EICR document (typically 7–10 pages) listing every circuit tested, the results, and any observations coded as C1, C2, C3, or FI. The report is provided within 2–5 working days, usually as a PDF.

Common Remedial Work Costs

If your EICR comes back Unsatisfactory (containing C1, C2, or FI observations), you have 28 days to arrange remedial work. Here are typical costs for the most common fixes:

Consumer unit replacement is the single most common remedial cost. Many properties built before 2016 have consumer units that don't meet current fire enclosure standards or lack RCD protection on circuits that now require it. While a consumer unit that was compliant when installed receives only a C3 observation (not a fail), one that has deteriorated or has evidence of arcing becomes a C2 or C1.

The "Cascade Effect"

Be aware that remedial work can trigger additional inspection costs. After significant electrical work (e.g., a new consumer unit or partial rewire), the electrician must issue a Minor Works Certificate or Electrical Installation Certificate confirming the work is safe. This documentation is part of the remedial contractor's quote and is not an extra charge. However, you do not need to pay for a completely new EICR — the original report plus the remedial certificates together constitute proof of compliance until the next 5-year inspection.

Avoiding the "Cheap EICR" Trap

You might see advertisements offering "EICR from £90" or "Full electrical certificate — £75." Be extremely cautious.

How the Scam Works

Some firms operate a loss-leading model:

1. Advertise a suspiciously cheap EICR (£75–£90)
2. Arrive at the property and conduct a rushed inspection (30–45 minutes for a 3-bed house — an impossible timeframe for a genuine EICR)
3. Issue an Unsatisfactory report with multiple C2 observations — some legitimate, some borderline
4. Immediately offer to do the remedial work: "We can fix everything today for £1,500–£3,000"
5. The landlord, under pressure from the 28-day legal deadline, agrees without getting a second quote

The cheap inspection is the bait. The overpriced remedial work is the profit.

Red Flags

• Price below £100 for a house: A genuine EICR on a 2+ bed property cannot be done competently for under £120. The electrician needs 2–4 hours of skilled work plus report preparation.
• Duration under 90 minutes: If the electrician finishes a house inspection in under an hour, circuits were not properly tested. A dead test alone (power off, continuity, insulation resistance, polarity at every point) takes longer than that.
• Immediate repair quote: A reputable electrician will give you the report and let you get a second opinion on the remedial work. An electrician who pressures you to commit to repairs on the same day is prioritising upselling.
• No registration check: Ask for the electrician's NICEIC, NAPIT, or ELECSA registration number before booking. Verify it on the relevant scheme's website. An unregistered electrician's EICR may not be accepted by your local authority.

The Protection Strategy

Always separate the inspection from the repair. If your property fails, take the EICR report to a different registered electrician for a second quote on the remedial work. A reputable electrician will not object to this — in fact, they expect it. The 28-day remediation window gives you time to compare quotes.

How to Reduce Your EICR Costs

1. Group Your Bookings

If you own multiple properties (see our portfolio management guide), booking EICRs for 2–3 properties in the same area on the same day can reduce travel charges. Most electricians will offer 10–15% off per property for bulk bookings.

2. Use the Same Electrician Consistently

An electrician who has inspected your property before already understands the installation — the consumer unit layout, the number of circuits, any previous observations. Repeat inspections are faster and often attract a repeat client discount of £20–£30.

3. Clear Access Before the Visit

Ensure the consumer unit is fully accessible (no storage stacked in front of it), all sockets and switches can be reached without moving heavy furniture, and every room is accessible. If the electrician has to spend 30 minutes clearing access, they may charge extra time — or code blocked areas as "FI" (Further Investigation), requiring a return visit at additional cost.

4. Fix Cheap Visual Issues Beforehand

Before the electrician arrives, walk through the property and check for:

• Broken socket or switch faceplates — a cracked faceplate exposing the wiring behind it is an automatic C2. Replacement faceplates cost £2–£5 from any DIY store, though you should have a competent person fit them.
• Missing light bulbs — the electrician needs to verify that each lighting circuit functions end-to-end. A dead bulb makes this test impossible.
• Blocked access to the meter or consumer unit — move anything within 1 metre of the fuse box before the visit

5. Schedule During Void Periods

If your property is between tenants, schedule the EICR during the void. This eliminates the need to coordinate with a tenant for access, removes the 24-hour notice requirement, and allows any remedial work to happen without disrupting an occupied property.

EICR Cost vs Other Landlord Compliance Costs

To put EICR costs in context, here's how they compare to other mandatory compliance expenses:

On an annualised basis, the EICR is actually cheaper than the annual Gas Safety check — it just feels more expensive because you pay it as a lump sum every 5 years instead of annually. Budget £40–£60/year per property to smooth the cost.

When Should You Get an EICR?

Conclusion

Budget £150–£250 every 5 years for a standard property's EICR — that's just £30–£50/year. It's one of the cheapest compliance costs a landlord faces when spread across its validity period, and one of the most consequential if ignored (up to £30,000 in penalties).

Book a reputable, independently registered electrician. Separate the inspection from any repairs. And if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is — a cheap EICR that generates an expensive repair bill is no bargain at all.