For a home you own and live in, every five years is the guide, and sooner if the installation is older or you have just moved in. For rented property it is not a guide at all: Scottish landlords carry a legal duty to keep a let electrically safe, so testing runs on a regular cycle and a change of tenancy is a sensible trigger on top of it.
The question people ask less often, and should ask more, is what happens if you have never had one. Most home insurance expects the wiring to be in a safe condition, and with no report there is nothing to show that it is. That does not mean a claim is automatically refused, but it does give an insurer something to argue about at the worst possible moment. A current EICR takes the argument away.
Own home
Every five years is the usual guide, sooner for an older installation or right after buying a property.
Rented property
A legal duty in Scotland, tested on a regular cycle, with a change of tenancy a sensible extra trigger.
After any major work
Worth testing after an extension, a loft conversion or anything that added circuits.
Your questions, answered
What actually happens during an EICR?
The full fixed installation is inspected and tested, from the consumer unit out to the furthest socket. Every finding is coded by urgency and you get a formal certificate plus a plain-English summary.
What does an EICR cost?
UK market rates are usually around £150 to £250 for a flat or small house and £250 to £400 for a larger property. We confirm a competitive price before booking you in.
What if it is unsatisfactory?
It only means one or more items need attention. We explain them plainly, price the remedial work and re-issue a satisfactory report once it is done.
Ready for electrics done properly?
Competitive prices, certified work and an immaculate finish, on every single job.