Landlord Electrical Safety Certificates

If you rent out property in England you are required to have the fixed wiring inspected and tested at least every five years, and to give your tenants a copy of the report. That report is an EICR, and it is what most people mean when they say landlord electrical safety certificate. We produce them for landlords and letting agents across Somerset, we turn them around quickly and we write them so you can actually tell what needs doing. We are NAPIT registered with over eighteen years of testing behind us.

What the Rules Actually Require

The requirement is straightforward once you strip the jargon out. Every rented home needs a satisfactory EICR carried out at intervals of no more than five years. A new tenant must be given a copy before they occupy the property, and existing tenants within twenty eight days of the inspection. If the report identifies anything coded C1 or C2, or marks anything for further investigation, the work has to be carried out within twenty eight days, or sooner if the report specifies a shorter period. You then need written confirmation that it has been done.

The Inspection Itself

We test the fixed wiring throughout the property rather than simply looking at it. That means the consumer unit, every circuit, the sockets and switches, and the earthing and bonding arrangements. Testing is the part that finds the problems that matter, because deterioration inside a cable or a loose connection at a terminal gives no outward sign at all. The result is a report listing every observation with a code against it, and a clear overall verdict of satisfactory or unsatisfactory.

Understanding the Codes

C1 means danger is present and there is a risk of injury, so it needs immediate action. C2 means potentially dangerous, and it also has to be put right. C3 is a recommendation for improvement and does not make a report unsatisfactory on its own. FI means further investigation is required. A report only fails on C1, C2 or FI. Plenty of landlords are told they have failed when the report is actually full of C3 recommendations, which is why we go through it with you.

Remedial Work

If work is needed we will quote for it separately, and you are under no obligation whatsoever to use us for it. We would rather give you an honest report and lose the remedial work than write a report designed to generate it. If you want to compare prices or use your own electrician, that is entirely reasonable and we will provide whatever the next person needs.

The Benefits of Getting This Right

Staying Within the Law

The penalties for not having a valid report are significant, and enforcement sits with the local authority rather than being a paper exercise.

Protecting Your Tenants

The rules exist because faulty wiring in rented homes hurt people. Testing is how you make sure your property is not one of them.

Keeping Tenancies Moving

A new tenancy cannot start without a current report. Having one ready stops the paperwork holding up a move-in date.

Supporting an Insurance Claim

If something ever does go wrong, a current report is evidence that the installation was inspected and maintained properly.

Why Landlords Use Us

Quick Turnaround

We know the gap between tenancies is short. We book quickly and get the report to you promptly rather than days later.

We Work With Tenants

Most of our rental testing happens with people living in the property. We arrange access, keep outages short and leave it tidy.

Portfolios on One Schedule

If you hold several properties we can put them on a single schedule so certificates do not expire one at a time without warning.

No Pressure on Remedials

We separate the report from the repair work deliberately, so you can trust that what is in the report is genuinely what we found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a landlord EICR cost?

It depends on the number of circuits, so a one bedroom flat is cheaper than a four bedroom house, and a house in multiple occupation is priced on its size. Tell us the property type and the number of bedrooms and we will give you a price before we come out. The report is included whatever the outcome.

What happens if the report is unsatisfactory?

You have twenty eight days from the report to have the C1, C2 or further investigation items dealt with, or less if the report says so. We will quote for that work separately. Once it is done you get written confirmation to keep with the report and to give to your tenants.

Do I need a new report for every tenant?

No. The report lasts up to five years, or less if the inspector recommends a shorter interval. Each new tenant needs a copy of the current report before they move in, but you do not need a fresh inspection for each tenancy.

Book a Landlord Certificate

If your report is coming up for renewal, you have a new tenancy starting or you have taken on a property you have never had tested, get in touch. Tell us the address, the property type and the number of bedrooms and we will give you a price and a date. Every inspection is carried out and signed off by a NAPIT registered electrician, and you get the full report rather than a one line verdict.