If you've recently bought a property in Norwich, you're renting out a house or you simply want to make sure your electrics are safe, an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a great place to start.
What is an EICR? A guide from your local EICR electrician in Norwich
At Norfolk Current, an EICR for a typical three-bedroom house might cost around £150–£250, depending on the property and its electrical installation. As your local EICR electrician in Norwich, we're here to help you understand your electrics, identify any problems and give you peace of mind.
What is an EICR?
Put simply, an EICR is a thorough check of your property's electrical installation. We'll look at things like your wiring, sockets, switches and consumer unit to make sure everything is in a safe condition.
Think about how many years your electrics have been in place. If you've bought an older property, you might not know when the wiring was last checked. Over time, electrical installations can deteriorate, and components can become outdated or damaged. An EICR helps identify these issues before they turn into bigger problems.
During the inspection, your electrician will look for potential hazards, including damaged wiring, problems with earthing and a lack of suitable safety protection. Once the inspection is complete, you'll receive a report explaining what we've found and whether any work is needed.
Why is an EICR important for landlords?
If you're a landlord in Norwich, keeping your property's electrics safe is an important responsibility. In England, landlords must generally arrange an electrical inspection at least every five years, using a qualified person, and provide tenants with a copy of the report as required by the regulations.
It's always better to find out about electrical problems before you start decorating or making improvements. After all, you don't want to spend money on fresh paint and new flooring only to discover that electrical work needs doing afterwards!
A recent EICR in Norwich: A Victorian terrace on Neville Street
We recently carried out an EICR for a landlord who had just purchased a three-bedroom Victorian terraced house on Neville Street in Norwich.
She wanted to make sure the electrics were safe and identify any problems before getting started on cosmetic updates. It's a sensible approach, especially with older properties where you might not know when the electrical installation was last inspected. During our inspection, we identified two issues worth explaining.
The first was a C2 code for missing RCD protection on socket-outlets supplying an outdoor socket. An RCD (Residual Current Device) is an important safety feature that helps protect against electric shock by disconnecting the electricity when it detects certain electrical faults. Missing RCD protection can present a safety risk, particularly when outdoor electrical equipment is involved, so this issue needed urgent attention.
We also issued a C3 code because the circuits on the consumer unit weren't clearly labelled. Although this wasn't considered an immediate danger, clear labelling makes it much easier to identify which circuits supply different parts of your home. Finding these issues early meant the landlord could arrange the necessary electrical work before spending money on decorating. It's a great example of why having an inspection carried out at the right time can save you unnecessary hassle.
What do the different EICR codes mean?
When you receive your report, you'll see codes explaining the issues identified. Here's a quick guide to what they mean:
- C1 – Danger present: An immediate risk exists, and urgent action is required.
- C2 – Potentially dangerous: The issue could present a danger and requires urgent remedial action.
- C3 – Improvement recommended: An improvement could be made, but this code alone doesn't make the report unsatisfactory.
- FI – Further investigation required: More investigation is needed to establish whether a potentially dangerous issue exists.
An EICR is generally considered satisfactory when there are no outstanding C1, C2 or FI issues. Don't worry if your report includes a C3 recommendation, as this doesn't automatically mean your electrics are unsafe.
If you're looking for a friendly, reliable EICR electrician in Norwich, we're happy to help. Contact us today by phone on 01603 369440 or via our contact form to arrange your EICR and get peace of mind about your property's electrics.
