Landlord Electrical Safety Certificate London — EICR From £85 | NICEIC-Approved Engineers
At Liviosiv, we carry out EICR inspections across every London borough, with fixed transparent pricing, NICEIC-approved engineers, and digital reports delivered within 24 to 48 hours. Whether you manage one flat or a portfolio of HMOs, your legal obligation is the same — and we make meeting it straightforward.
What Is a Landlord Electrical Safety Certificate and Why Does It Matter?
A landlord electrical safety certificate is the official document that proves the fixed electrical installation in your rental property has been inspected and tested by a qualified engineer. Its formal name is an Electrical Installation Condition Report — EICR for short. The report does not simply confirm whether the electrics “work.” It assesses whether the wiring, circuits, consumer unit, sockets, and protective devices meet the safety standard required by law, and it identifies any faults that need attention.
For London landlords, the EICR is not optional. It sits at the centre of your compliance obligations alongside your gas safety certificate and fire risk assessment. Failing to hold a valid one exposes you to a financial penalty of up to £30,000 per property — and that is before any consideration of the civil liability risk if an electrical fault harms a tenant in a property where no inspection was ever carried out.
Electrical Services
Residential EICR
Commercial EICR
Electrical Diagnostic
Fuse Box Installation
PAT Testing
Emergency Lighting Certificate
Domestic EICR Cost
Studio
£85
1 Bedroom
£119
2 Bedroom
£119
3 Bedroom
£129
4 Bedroom
£139
5 Bedroom
£149
Landlords
Property Agents
Letting Agents
Property Owner
The Formal Name — Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
The EICR replaced older inspection formats and is now the only document that satisfies the requirement set by the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. It is not the same as an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC), which is issued when new wiring is installed. The EICR assesses existing installations. If someone offers you an “electrical check” or “wiring check” without producing a formal EICR document, it will not satisfy your legal obligation.
What the Report Actually Tells You
The EICR gives you a complete picture of the electrical installation’s condition at the time of inspection. Every identified issue is assigned one of four classification codes — C1 for immediate danger, C2 for potential danger requiring action within 28 days, C3 for a recommended improvement, and FI where further investigation is needed. The report concludes with an overall assessment of satisfactory or unsatisfactory. A satisfactory report is valid for up to five years. An unsatisfactory report triggers the requirement for remedial works before the property can be lawfully let.
Geographical Breakdown of London’s Districts
Is an EICR a Legal Requirement for London Landlords?
Yes — without exception. The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 make it a statutory obligation for every private landlord in England to have the electrical installation in each rental property inspected and tested at least every five years by a qualified person. The regulations apply to every London borough. There are no exemptions based on property age, borough, or the length of the tenancy — with the narrow exceptions set out in Schedule 1 of the regulations (social housing, certain student accommodation, and long leases over seven years).
When the Law Changed — and Why Some Landlords Are Still Non-Compliant
The regulations came into force in two stages. From 1 July 2020, all new and renewed tenancies required a valid EICR. From 1 April 2021, the requirement extended to every existing private tenancy — including long-running tenancies that had been in place for years. That second stage is where compliance gaps persist across London. If you have never commissioned an EICR for a property you have been letting since before 2020, you are currently in breach of the regulations regardless of how long your tenant has been in place.
Your Three Core Obligations Under the Regulations
The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 place three specific obligations on landlords. First, you must arrange an EICR at least every five years and before the start of each new tenancy if the existing certificate has expired. Second, you must supply a copy of the EICR to each existing tenant within 28 days of the inspection, and to any new tenant before they move in. Third, if the report is unsatisfactory, you must arrange and complete remedial works within 28 days and provide written confirmation of completion to your tenant. Each of these is a separate legal obligation. Failing any one of them is a breach.
Enforcement in London — Who Acts and How
Enforcement of the EICR regulations is handled by local authority Environmental Health and Housing teams. London boroughs with active private rented sector enforcement programmes — including Newham, Tower Hamlets, Camden, Hackney, and Southwark — carry out proactive compliance checks and respond to tenant complaints. An authority can serve a remedial notice requiring you to obtain an EICR within a specified time. If you fail to comply, they can commission the inspection themselves and recover the cost from you, in addition to imposing a financial penalty. The government’s landlord guidance on electrical safety standards sets out the enforcement framework in full.
Our Complete Landlord Safety Certificate Services in London
Gas Safety Certificate
Certified EICR inspections to ensure your property’s wiring is safe, compliant, and legally approved.
Fire Safety Services
Complete fire safety inspections, alarms, and compliance solutions to protect your property and occupants.
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
Fast and accurate EPC assessments to rate your property’s energy efficiency and meet legal requirements.
Asbestos Survey
Professional asbestos surveys to identify risks and ensure full compliance with UK safety regulations.
Inventory Services
Detailed property inventory reports with photos to protect landlords, agents, and tenants.
Legionella Services
Legionella risk assessments and water testing to maintain safe and compliant water systems.
What Does a London EICR Inspection Cover?
An EICR is a comprehensive technical assessment of every element of the fixed electrical installation. It is not a visual check and it is not a quick once-over. A qualified engineer carries out both a physical inspection and live electrical testing using calibrated instruments, working systematically through every circuit and component.
Consumer Unit and Protective Devices: The consumer unit — commonly called the fuse board or fuse box — is the starting point of every EICR. The engineer checks that it is correctly specified for the property’s circuits, that protective devices (circuit breakers and fuses) are properly rated, that residual current devices (RCDs) are present where required, and that all circuits are clearly labelled. Consumer units without RCD protection are one of the most common findings in older London rental properties, and while a C3 code rather than a C2 is typical in many cases, the risk they represent is real.
Fixed Wiring and Circuit Integrity: Every circuit in the property is tested for continuity, insulation resistance, polarity, and earth fault loop impedance. These tests confirm that the wiring can safely carry the electrical loads placed on it, that no insulation has broken down, and that fault currents will be safely discharged rather than passing through anyone who touches a faulty appliance or fitting.
Sockets, Switches, and Fixed Fittings: Every accessible socket, switch, and light fitting is visually inspected for physical damage, signs of overheating, incorrect installation, and compliance with current standards. In London HMOs and shared properties, sockets and switches in high-use areas often show wear that would not be present in owner-occupied homes, making this part of the inspection particularly important.
Hard-Wired Smoke and Heat Detectors: Hard-wired smoke detectors and heat detectors that are connected to the property’s electrical installation are inspected as part of the EICR. This is not the same as a full fire alarm system test — if your property requires that, our fire alarm servicing is the appropriate service — but it confirms that the detectors are correctly wired and functioning.
Earthing and Supplementary Bonding: Adequate earthing and bonding are among the most safety-critical elements of any electrical installation. The engineer will confirm that the main earthing terminal is correctly installed, that supplementary bonding is present in bathrooms and kitchens where required under BS 7671 (18th Edition IET Wiring Regulations), and that the overall earthing arrangement provides the protection it is designed to deliver.
What the EICR Does Not Cover — PAT Testing: The EICR covers only the fixed electrical installation. Portable appliances — items that plug into a socket, including washing machines, dishwashers, fridges, televisions, and kettles — are outside the scope of the EICR. If you supply white goods or other appliances in your rental property, those require separate PAT testing. While PAT testing is not legally mandatory for residential landlords under current English regulations, you remain responsible under the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 for ensuring any appliances you supply are safe for use.
EICR Fault Codes Explained
Fault Code | Meaning | Risk Level | Action Required | Report Status |
C1 – Danger Present | An immediate danger exists, such as a risk of electric shock or fire. | Very High | The fault must be made safe immediately before the property can be occupied or legally let. | Unsatisfactory |
C2 – Potentially Dangerous | A defect has been identified that could become dangerous if left unresolved. | High | Remedial work must normally be completed within 28 days of the inspection, or sooner if specified by the electrician. | Unsatisfactory |
C3 – Improvement Recommended | The installation is considered safe but does not meet current best practice or the latest edition of BS 7671. | Low | No legal requirement to carry out the work, although improvements are recommended to enhance safety and future-proof the installation. | Satisfactory |
FI – Further Investigation Required | The inspector has identified an issue that requires additional investigation before its safety can be confirmed. | Medium to High | Further investigation should be arranged without delay to determine whether remedial work is necessary. | Unsatisfactory |
Understanding Your EICR Result
Report Outcome | What It Means | Can the Property Be Let? |
Satisfactory | The report contains no C1, C2 or FI observations. It may include one or more C3 recommendations, which do not affect compliance. | Yes |
Unsatisfactory | The report contains at least one C1, C2 or FI observation. Remedial work or further investigation is required before the electrical installation is considered compliant. | Not until required actions have been completed and documented. |
Our EICR Process — From Booking to Certificate
You can get an EICR inspection done at any time of the year. A lot of landlords have EICR tests done before new tenants move in.
Book a suitable time
NICEIC-Approved Engineer Visits at the Agreed Time
You receive your report and certificate
Digital EICR Report Within 24 to 48 Hours
What Happens After a Failed EICR? The Remedial Works Process
An unsatisfactory EICR result is not the end of the process — it is the beginning of the next stage. Most landlords who receive an unsatisfactory report are understandably concerned, but in practice the majority of findings are resolved with targeted works to specific circuits or fittings rather than wholesale rewiring.
The 28-Day Remedial Window
From the date of the inspection, you have 28 days to arrange and complete remedial works for any C2 or FI codes, or any shorter period specified in the report. C1 codes must be made safe before the property is occupied — the 28-day window does not apply to immediate dangers. The clock starts on the inspection date, not the date you receive the report. Works must be completed by a qualified electrician.
Remedial Works Documentation
Once works are completed, the engineer issues a written declaration confirming that the identified faults have been resolved. This declaration — not a new EICR — is what you provide to your tenant and retain for your records. You are then compliant. A full reinspection is only required if the original engineer specifies it or if the scope of the remedial works is such that a new EICR is appropriate. Our EICR remedial work team handles the full process — from identifying the scope of works after the initial inspection through to issuing the completion declaration.
When a Full Rewire Is Actually Required
The question most landlords ask after an unsatisfactory result is whether a full rewire is necessary. In our experience, it rarely is. Full rewires are typically indicated only where the entire wiring installation is beyond its useful service life — generally properties with rubber-insulated wiring from before the 1960s in very poor condition, or where damage is so widespread that circuit-by-circuit repairs are not cost-effective. For the vast majority of London rental properties, even those with multiple C2 codes, targeted remedial works to specific circuits or components are sufficient.
Why London Landlords Choose Liviosiv
- NICEIC-Approved Electrical Engineers
- Transparent Fixed Pricing from £85
- Same-Day and Next-Day Appointments Across London
- Seven Years of London Property Compliance Experience
- All Compliance Under One Roof
Our Accreditations And Professional Standards
All EICR inspections are carried out by NICEIC-approved electricians.
£5M Public Liability Insurance
DBS-checked engineers
Fully compliant documentation
Landlord Electrical Safety Certificate London — Frequently Asked Questions
What is an EICR and is it the same as a landlord electrical safety certificate?
Yes. An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is the formal document produced after an electrical inspection of a rental property. It is the only document that satisfies the landlord electrical safety certificate requirement under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020.
How much does an EICR cost in London?
Liviosiv charges from £85 for a studio flat, £119 for a one or two-bedroom property, £129 for a three-bedroom property, and £139 for a four-bedroom property. Commercial properties start from £119 for installations up to ten circuits. All prices are fixed with no hidden charges.
How long does an EICR inspection take?
Yes, it is against the law for rented properties
Between one and three hours for most residential properties, depending on size and the number of circuits. Larger houses and HMOs may take longer. We will give you a realistic time estimate when you book.
to not have EICRs.UK electrical safety rules must be followed by landlords.This protects tenants and keeps them from going to court.
My property has an old fuse board — will it fail the EICR?
Not necessarily. An older consumer unit without RCD protection is typically classified as a C3 — improvement recommended — rather than C2 or C1. C3 codes do not make a report unsatisfactory. However, if the consumer unit presents an active risk due to its condition, a higher code may apply. If a fuse board upgrade is recommended, our fuse box installation service handles the replacement.
Do I need a new EICR for every new tenant?
No. You need a valid EICR — one within its five-year validity period. You do not need to commission a new inspection at the start of each new tenancy, but you must provide your new tenant with a copy of the current certificate before they move in.
Can Liviosiv do the EICR and any remedial works?
Yes. If your report returns an unsatisfactory result, we provide an itemised quote for remedial works immediately. Our EICR remedial work team completes the works within the 28-day statutory window and issues your written declaration of completion. You do not need a second contractor.
Do you cover my area of London?
We cover every London borough. Whether your property is in Barnet, Bexley, Hackney, Hammersmith, Kensington, Lewisham, Tower Hamlets, or anywhere else within Greater London, we can schedule an appointment with consistent turnaround.
What other compliance certificates do you provide?
Liviosiv provides gas safety certificates, fire risk assessments, domestic EPC, commercial EPC, PAT testing, emergency lighting certificates, fire alarm servicing, HMO fire risk assessments, and asbestos surveys. All services are available across London with fixed transparent pricing.
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