An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a mandatory safety report that was introduced by the UK government in 2019 and affects landlords and property managers in the UK private rental sector.
Undertaken by specialist electricians, an EICR should be arranged regularly - and landlords should be able to provide one for the perusal of tenants, local authorities or managing agents within 30 days of being asked.
So - why might you need an EICR and what is it for? In this article, the team at Michael White Electrical Services - specialist electricians serving Brighton and the surrounding region - explain a little more about this new legislation.
What Does an EICR Involve?
You should always use a trusted expert electrical contractor to undertake your Electrical Installation Condition Report.
Michael White Electrical Services’ electricians serving Hove, Worthing and other nearby locations are NICEIC accredited and have significant experience of handling checks of this kind.
Your properties’ electrical systems will be checked for:
● Wear and tear
● Earthing issues
● Bonding issues
● Issues with consumer units, fuse boxes and other control gear
● Fittings and equipment standards
● Wiring condition
● Outlet functionality and safety
● Adequacy of existing certifications and notices
● The effects of any change of premises use
The level of expertise of your chosen contractor is vital - after all, there are around 850 pieces of legislation involved in a report of this kind, and everything has to meet the national standards published in BS7671 – Requirements for Electrical Installations.
If any issues are flagged up during the inspection of any of your properties, you will need to arrange for those problems to be rectified as soon as possible and “signed off” by a qualified electrician.
Why Do I Need an EICR?
Private landlords are now required by law to arrange an Electrical Installation Condition Report every five years, although, under certain circumstances, you may need to request one sooner.
The purpose of an EICR is to ensure that landlords and the managers of private rental accommodation are keeping the electrical systems of their properties up to date.
If you fail to arrange one at the appropriate time, and an accident occurs, you could be severely prosecuted for neglecting your legal duties.
The team at Michael White Electrical Services provide their services as electricians in Worthing, Burgess Hill and the surrounding areas and are highly experienced in undertaking checks on a wide range of electrical and wiring systems in properties of all types and ages.
So, whether you’re a small-scale private landlord looking for an electrician in Shoreham or the owner of multiple HMOs seeking a report from an electrician in Burgess Hill, we can assist you.
Contact us today to request an EICR, and we’ll work with you to confirm the details and arrange a suitable date and time. You can get in touch with the team at Michael White Electrical Services using our handy online contact form.
We look forward to hearing from you and providing any assistance you may need.