How long does an EICR take?

A small flat usually takes a few hours. A larger house can take most of a day, and an HMO or a business can take longer still. The inspection covers every circuit, so the time depends mainly on how many circuits there are, how many consumer units (fuse boards) the property has, and how easy everything is to get to.

Typical times by property

These are rough guides. The actual time depends on the installation and on what the electrician finds.

What happens during an EICR — and why it takes time

1. A walk round. The electrician looks at the supply, the meter, the consumer unit and the earthing and bonding arrangements.
2. A visual inspection. Sockets, switches, light fittings and fixed equipment are checked for damage, wear, overheating and signs of DIY work. Some accessories are opened up to check the connections behind them.
3. Dead testing. With the power off, each circuit is tested for continuity (the wiring is unbroken), insulation resistance (the insulation isn’t breaking down) and polarity (live and neutral are the right way round).
4. Live testing. With the power back on, the electrician measures earth fault loop impedance — which shows whether a fault would cut the power quickly enough — and checks that RCDs, the safety switches, trip as they should.
5. Recording the results. Every reading goes into the schedule of test results that forms part of your report.
6. A run-through before leaving. The electrician tells you about anything urgent. If there’s a C1 — danger present — they’ll explain it and, with your agreement, make it safe.

What affects how long it takes

• Size and number of circuits. More rooms usually means more to inspect and test.
• Number of consumer units. Converted houses and larger homes often have more than one.
• Labelling. A board with clearly labelled circuits is quicker to work through than one where every circuit has to be traced.
• Access. Furniture in front of sockets, a consumer unit behind stored boxes, or locked rooms all add time.
• The previous report. Having it to hand helps the electrician compare results and spot changes.
• What we find. If results suggest a hidden fault, the electrician may need longer to track it down — or record it as needing further investigation (FI).
• HMOs and business premises. Fire alarm and emergency lighting circuits, shared areas and larger distribution boards take extra time.

Will the power be off the whole time?

No. The inspection is done a section at a time. Some tests need the power off, so expect it to be off for short periods — usually a few minutes at a time, sometimes longer on a big job. Things to plan for:

• Working from home? Your router and computer will lose power during the dead tests, so save your work and plan calls around the visit.
• Fridges and freezers should be fine for short breaks if you keep the doors closed.
• Clocks, timers and heating programmers may need resetting afterwards.
• Medical equipment, alarms or anything that mustn’t lose power — tell us when you book so we can plan around it.

Do I need to be there?

Someone needs to let us in and out, and it helps if they’re around at the start and the end. Landlords often ask their tenant or agent to give access — we can arrange that for you.

Worked examples

A two-bed flat with one consumer unit. The board is in a clear hallway cupboard, every room is open and the last report is to hand. The inspection takes a few hours, with the power off for short spells.

A four-bed Victorian house with a loft conversion. There are two consumer units — the original and one added for the loft — plus older wiring that needs careful testing. Expect it to take most of the day.

A six-bedroom HMO. Each room, the shared kitchen and the landings are inspected, along with the circuits that feed the fire alarm and emergency lighting. It takes longer again. If you also need the emergency lighting tested, it can be done at the same visit.

Why a very quick EICR is a warning sign

A proper EICR tests every circuit. If an inspection of anything bigger than a small flat is over very quickly, ask whether every circuit was tested and whether you’ll get the full schedule of test results. A report that skips the testing may not be accepted by a council, a letting agent or a buyer’s solicitor — and it won’t tell you whether the installation is safe.

Planning the day

Landlords: choose a date that suits your tenant, confirm access in writing and tell them the power will be off for short periods. For an HMO, make sure every bedroom can be opened — locked rooms can’t be inspected.

Homeowners: pick a day when you don’t need the power for work, and clear the cupboard around the consumer unit the night before.

Tenants: expect the electrician to need every room, and mention anything you’ve noticed — a warm socket, a flickering light or a breaker that keeps tripping. It can save them time tracking a fault down.

After the visit

The report is emailed to you as a PDF. If it’s satisfactory, note the date of the next inspection. If it’s unsatisfactory, landlords have 28 days from the inspection to get the remedial work done — see what happens next — and must give each existing tenant a copy of the report within 28 days of the inspection.

How to make it quicker

A little preparation saves time: clear the area around the consumer unit, make sure every room is accessible, and move furniture away from sockets where you can. Our guide on preparing for an EICRhas a full checklist.

Common mistakes

• Booking a slot when you need the power for an important call or deadline.
• Leaving the consumer unit buried behind stored boxes.
• Forgetting keys for a meter cupboard, loft, garage or outbuilding.
• Not telling tenants the power will be off for short periods.

Key points

• A small flat takes a few hours; bigger homes, HMOs and businesses take longer.
• The number of circuits and consumer units matters most.
• The power goes off in short spells, not for the whole visit.
• Good access makes the inspection quicker and the report more complete.

Book your EICR

When you see your price, you choose a preferred date and a morning or afternoon slot, and we call to confirm — nothing is booked until then. The report is emailed to you as a PDF, with every code explained in plain English. See our landlord EICR and homeowner EICR services, read what an EICR costs in London, or call us on 07301 010244.