How often does a rented property need an EICR?

At least every five years, or sooner if the last report says so. New tenants must be given a copy of the current satisfactory report before they move in, and existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection.

What happens if the report is unsatisfactory?

You must complete the remedial work the report requires within 28 days (or sooner if it states so) and get written confirmation it's done. C1 and C2 coded faults make a report unsatisfactory; C3 items are recommendations only.

How much does an EICR cost on Teesside?

For a typical terrace or semi it's a modest fixed fee that depends on the number of circuits; larger homes and HMOs cost more because there's more to test. Be wary of very cheap tests — a proper inspection takes hours, not minutes.

EICRs Explained for Teesside Landlords

What an EICR is, when rented homes need one, what the codes mean and what remedial work really costs — explained without the jargon.

4 August 20262 min readTeesside Premium

The two-minute version

An EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report — is a formal inspection of a property's fixed wiring: consumer unit, circuits, sockets, switches and earthing. For rented homes in England it's a legal requirement: a satisfactory report at least every five years, given to tenants, with council fines for landlords who skip it. It is not a certificate that everything is new — it's a professional judgement that the installation is safe to keep using.

What the codes on the report mean

Reports flag observations with codes, and the codes decide what you must do. C1 means danger present — the inspector will make it safe on the spot and you fix it immediately. C2 means potentially dangerous — the report is unsatisfactory until it's fixed. FI means further investigation needed, which also makes the report unsatisfactory. C3 means improvement recommended — the report still passes; it's advice, not obligation. A good electrician explains each observation in plain English rather than leaving you to decode abbreviations.

What tends to come up in Teesside rentals

Across the older terraces and 1930s semis that make up much of the Teesside rental stock, the usual suspects are: old fuse boards without RCD protection (the most common C2 we see), missing earth bonding to gas and water pipes, lighting circuits with no earth in pre-1966 wiring, and the legacy of decades of DIY — the junction box in the loft nobody can explain. None of these are exotic; all have known, quotable fixes.

Getting it done without drama

Book the test before the current report expires or during a void period; give the electrician access to every room and the consumer unit; and insist remedial work is quoted as a separate fixed price, so the person marking the homework isn't paid by the fault. That separation is how our electrical team runs EICRs across Teesside — test, plain-English summary, fixed remedial quote, certificate emailed same day. Pair it with the between-tenancy checklist and the whole compliance-and-refresh job becomes one scheduled visit. Questions about your property? Ask us here.