What documents do landlords receive after an EICR?
After an EICR, you receive an Electrical Installation Condition Report detailing the inspection, test results, observations, fault codes and overall outcome. If remedial work is needed, we provide the relevant electrical certificate or completion record for the work carried out, so you can show what was corrected.
The paperwork depends on what the inspection finds. A satisfactory installation usually leaves you with the completed EICR and its inspection schedules. If the report identifies dangerous or potentially dangerous defects, you should also receive documents showing what remedial work was completed and, where needed, evidence that the installation was checked again.
The EICR and its schedules
The EICR is the main record of the inspection. It identifies the property, explains what parts of the installation we inspected, records any limitations, and names the person responsible for the inspection.
Its schedules contain the technical detail behind the result. This can include readings and observations relating to:
- the consumer unit and distribution boards;
- earthing and bonding;
- the condition and arrangement of circuits;
- polarity and continuity;
- insulation resistance;
- protective devices, including RCDs where fitted; and
- visible defects, damage or unsuitable alterations.
The report also lists the classification given to each problem. A C1 indicates danger that needs immediate action. A C2 indicates a potentially dangerous defect. A C3 records an improvement that is recommended but does not normally make the installation unsatisfactory. FI means that we need further investigation before the issue can be fully assessed.
The overall result is recorded as satisfactory or unsatisfactory. An unsatisfactory result does not mean that every part of the installation needs replacing. It means that the items identified in the report need attention or further investigation.
Documents after remedial work
If we correct a defect, the document depends on the work involved. A new circuit, consumer unit or substantial alteration will normally require an Electrical Installation Certificate. A smaller alteration or repair may be covered by a Minor Works Certificate.
These documents describe the work completed and the tests carried out on that work. They are not interchangeable with the EICR. An installation certificate proves what was installed or altered; the EICR records the condition of the wider existing installation at the time of inspection.
Where remedial work is needed to satisfy the electrical safety requirements, we also explain which reported items have been dealt with. If the original report needs updating, a further inspection can confirm the present condition and record the revised outcome. Keep the certificates with the EICR rather than treating them as separate evidence.
What is not normally part of an EICR pack
An EICR does not certify portable appliances such as kettles, lamps or washing machines. It covers the fixed electrical installation, including wiring and fixed equipment connected to it. Portable appliance testing is a separate matter.
The report also does not replace certificates for gas appliances, oil-fired heating, fire alarms or other safety checks. Those documents belong with the relevant inspection records for the property.
Keeping and sharing the documents
In England, the landlord must give the current EICR to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection and test. A prospective tenant should receive it before moving in. The report must also be provided to the local housing authority if requested within the required period.
Give tenants copies of relevant remedial records as well as the report when work has been carried out. That makes it clear which defect was found, what was done, and whether any further inspection was required.
Keep the EICR, certificates and remedial records together with the property’s other compliance paperwork. When the next inspection is due, the incoming electrician can see the previous findings and confirm whether earlier work has affected the installation.
Before we leave, we explain the result and identify anything that still needs action. If the report is satisfactory, the EICR is the central document. If it is unsatisfactory, the complete record should include the remedial certificate or confirmation and any follow-up inspection needed to demonstrate that the electrical installation is safe to use.
When you receive the report, check that it names the correct property and records the inspection date, the areas examined and the overall outcome. The schedules should match the installation inspected, rather than belonging to another address or an earlier visit.
If a finding is unclear, we can explain the classification and show where it appears in the report. That gives you a usable record for the property file, instead of paperwork that is difficult to interpret later.