For Homebuyers / Renters | Accolade Electrical

Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICR) are now compulsory for ALL privately rented properties (including holiday rentals and most HMOs). If you don't have an in date EICR give our office a call and we will try to arrange one for you as soon as we can. For more information see these FAQs we have prepared and check out the landlords section at the bottom of this page

Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) for Homebuyers & Landlords

As anyone who has bought a house before will know, and those doing it for the first time will find out, it can be a tricky, time consuming, expensive business. Usually when purchasing a property a Lender will require some sort of Building Survey, ranging from a brief mortgage valuation report to a complete inspection which can cost a considerable sum. Most house buyers will pay for some sort of building survey and will usually feel that it is money well spent but the vast majority of house buyers do not get the gas supply checked and even fewer get the electrical installation tested. An Electrical Installation Condition Report, carried out for as little as £160 plus VAT could highlight any potential problems with the electrics BEFORE you buy, potentially saving thousands of pounds if significant defects are discovered.

So what if the Electrics aren't up to scratch??

If the house you are buying needs re-wiring the cost will be several thousand pounds and this won't include the repair and re-decoration work required afterwards. The £200 or so you spend on an EICR will look like a very wise investment if the inspection uncovers a significant amount of work is required to bring the installation up to a satisfactory standard. If you suspect that the electrics look old a call to our office to arrange an inspection will give you peace of mind and could save you thousands so why take the risk? For more information about the EICR, how it is carried out and what you should expect to receive please click here to visit the Electrical Safety Council (ESC) website.

And what about Landlords?

Historically there has been no legal obligation on Landlords or Letting Agents to carry out regular checks on the electrics in a rental property, but with the introduction of the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector Regulations (2020) this is no longer the case.

From July 2020 (and from April 1st 2021 for existing tenancies) all privately rented housing must have the electrics checked by a competent person and a valid Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) be made available to the tenant and the Local Authority (where requested)

If you would like to discuss having an EICR carried out at your property our staff will be very pleased to advise you. For further information on this subject please visit the relevant article in our News Section by clicking the link here. You can also check out the Competent Persons Register here.

Don't get caught out! Call our office today to arrange your EICR!