If you rent out property in London, Romford or the surrounding areas, an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is no longer a “nice to have”. It is a legal requirement, and councils are getting much stricter about enforcement.
In this guide, we will break down what an EICR actually is, how often you need one, what happens during the visit, what it typically costs in London, and how Volt East can help you stay compliant without drama.
An EICR or Electrical Installation Condition Report, is a formal document produced after a qualified electrician inspects and tests the fixed electrical installation in a property. That includes:
The purpose is simple: to confirm whether the installation is safe to use or whether remedial work is needed.
You will see codes on the report, such as:
If there is any C1, C2 or FI, your report will be unsatisfactory until the issues are fixed and verified.
Yes. In England, the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require landlords to have the electrical installation inspected and tested at least every five years by a qualified person and to keep the property free from electrical hazards.
The key points for London and Romford landlords:
Local boroughs like Wandsworth and Hounslow are explicit that this is a legal duty and that inspections must be carried out by a competent, qualified person.
Social housing is now being brought into line with the same five year standard, with new rules linked to Awaab’s Law and the Decent Homes Standard.
For rented homes in London and Romford:
A common misconception is that you must get a new EICR for every change of tenant. In fact, industry guidance confirms the certificate is valid for its stated period (usually five years) and can be given to multiple tenants during that time, unless the electrician specifies otherwise.
If your property is a HMO, periodic electrical inspection has been a legal requirement for years, and the new regulations effectively extend that standard to the wider private rented sector.
A typical EICR for a London or Romford rental might take anywhere from two to four hours, depending on the size and complexity of the property.
Your electrician will usually:
Where issues are found, the regulations give landlords up to 28 days (or shorter, if the report states) to complete remedial work and provide written confirmation to tenants and the council.
This is where it gets serious.
If a London or Romford landlord fails to carry out required EICR checks or ignores an unsatisfactory report:
When you stack that against the cost of a typical domestic EICR in London, the risk is simply not worth it.
Exact prices vary by property size, number of circuits and location, but recent London price guides suggest prices range from £100 up to £300, depending on property size, drop us an email to find out how much yours would cost.
Most London landlords are paying somewhere in the low to mid hundreds for a standard EICR. For comparison, fines can run into tens of thousands, so regular testing is one of the best value risk management steps you can take.
London and surrounding boroughs including Havering, Barking and Dagenham and Redbridge are tightening up on property standards. Councils have:
An up to date, satisfactory EICR is one of the quickest ways to demonstrate you take electrical safety seriously and that your property is fit for human habitation.
Align your EICR with:
That way you minimise disruption to tenants and keep all your compliance dates in one diary.
Book EICR tests early for:
These are often the places councils look at first.
For landlords, a good EICR is not just about ticking a box. You need:
Volt East works with landlords across London and Romford, providing EICR testing, remedial works and certification. You can learn more on our dedicated
EICR testing service page and combine inspections with upgrades via our
lighting and electrical installation services.
Contact Volt East for an EICR check and compliance review across London, Romford and surrounding areas.
We can assess your current certificates, schedule new inspections and plan any remedial works before they become a problem.
No. The regulations are based on time intervals, not tenant changes. An EICR is generally valid for up to five years, unless the electrician specifies a shorter period, and can be given to new tenants during that time.
It applies to virtually all private rented homes in England, including single lets and HMOs. HMOs already had their own rules but the 2020 regulations extended regular electrical safety checks to the wider private rented sector as well.
The EICR covers the fixed installation. Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) covers plug in items like fridges, washing machines and lamps you supply. Social landlords are now required to test their provided equipment regularly, and many private landlords choose PAT testing as best practice, especially in HMOs.
For a typical London flat or small house, expect a few hours on site, longer for larger or more complex properties. Older homes or those with multiple consumer units can take most of a day.
You must arrange remedial work for any C1, C2 or FI items within the period specified by the report, usually within 28 days or sooner. Once the work is complete, you need written confirmation that the installation is now safe, which you should keep with your records and provide to tenants or the council if asked.
If you are a landlord in London, Romford or the surrounding areas and you are not totally sure your electrical paperwork is up to date, now is the time to act.
Volt East can handle the full EICR process
From testing and reporting through to remedial work and certification, we make compliance straightforward for busy landlords.
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