How to prepare for an EICR

To prepare for an EICR: give the electrician clear access to the consumer unit and every socket and switch, dig out any past certificates, warn them about known quirks, and expect the power to be off for short spells while circuits are tested. An hour of tidying beforehand saves a return visit.

Clear access to everything electrical

The inspector needs to reach the consumer unit, sockets, switches, light fittings and the meter. Move furniture away from covered sockets, clear the cupboard the board lives in, and unlock any outbuildings, lofts or cellars that are part of the installation. Anything they can’t reach may end up coded FI — further investigation required — which can make the report unsatisfactory for want of access.

Find the paperwork

Any previous EICR, the EIC from a rewire or board change, or Part P certificates for past work all help the inspector understand what’s there and when it was done. It can save testing time and avoid a circuit being flagged as unknown.

Expect the power to go off

A proper inspection includes dead testing, which means switching circuits off — sometimes the whole installation briefly. Shut down computers beforehand, and if anyone relies on medical equipment or there’s a freezer full of stock, mention it so the electrician can plan around it.

Flag the known quirks

The socket that’s always been dead, the light that flickers, the bit of wiring a previous owner “had a go at” — tell the inspector. It points them straight at what needs a closer look and makes the report more accurate.

For landlords: build it into the cycle

In England a rented property needs a satisfactory EICR at least every five years, with a copy to the tenant. Booking it in good time — not the week a tenancy starts — leaves room to complete any remedial work within the 28-day window without a scramble. It’s recurring, predictable work; treat it like the MOT it resembles.