EICR changes in 2020, are you ready?

What is an EICR?

An EICR (Electrical installation certificate) is a full check of all fixed wiring and tells the electrician if the electrics are safe, and if they comply with current regulations. What it will do is flag up any potential risks and hazards that could potentially damage your home or you. The checks will include the fuse board, wiring, earth boarding and electrical switches. The engineer will list any faults on the certificate and they will use a grading system shown below;

• Code 1 or C1 means ‘Danger is present’ and there is a risk of injury therefore IMMEDIATE action is required. The electrician will fix these there and then or you can book in remedials on another day, but be aware that your tenants CANNOT move in if the property has any C1’s.
• C2 means ‘potentially dangerous’ and remedial action is needed urgently.
• C3 means improvements are recommended but they see it as safe. You will usually see a lot of these if the EICR is a pass.

What will the electrician do during their visit?

During the visit, your electrician will check that:

• your fuse board is safe and compliant with the current regulations.
• Everything is correctly earthed – to prevent potentially fatal electric shock.
• The wiring in your sockets, lights, switches and accessories is installed correctly.

You must remember to make sure your electrician is correctly qualified. A qualified electrician should be NIC EIC-accredited at approved contractor level. They can also be approved by another electrical regulatory body at a similar or higher level. You can easily check on the Electrical Safety Register found here – http://www.electricalsafetyregister.com/

I am a landlord, why do I need one?

As you are letting your property it is now a legal requirement as on 1^st June 2020. If an electrical fault does occur in your property, and you need to make an insurance claim, you may find yourself in difficulty, as many insurance companies won’t accept your claim without these electrical checks having been carried out. You also have a duty of care to your tenants living in your property. Your letting agent will be able to arrange this for you and should be able to guide you.

What happens if the engineer comes back with a fail?

The electrician will either pass or fail the EICR, it will show on your certificate as Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. As you are a landlord you are duty bound to act immediately should any issues flag up. This is to guarantee the safety of your tenants and other residents in the surround properties. Works should be carried out ideally on the same day. On completion of these works the engineer will detail all the works completed and issue you with a satisfactory report. You must now pass this onto your tenants and your letting agent.

Please be aware that should you not arrange the remedials to be carried out your local authority have the power to arrange the repairs, you have 28 days to get the works completed. Failure to do so can result in the council carrying out the works on your behalf and they will present you with the bill.

What are the penalties should I fail to comply?

Failing to comply with new regulations could be very damaging for landlords. You could find yourself with a hefty fine of up to £30,000 from your local authority. It is not worth the risk so please act on this.

Do I need an EICR every year?

No, an EICR’s last 5 years. However Electrical Safety First and Institution of Electrical Engineers recommend private landlords get an EICR done with every change of tenancy or every 5 years.

If you have any questions about EICR’s that haven’t been answered you can call your local branch and a member of our team will be happy to help. Buying, selling, renting or letting a property can sometimes be confusing but are experts in our field always on hand to help our customers.