EICR Testing in Chippenham, Swindon & Wiltshire
For landlords and homeowners across Wiltshire, Swindon, Bath and Bristol
Nulectrics makes EICRs simple. You get a fully qualified electrician, a clear pass or fail you can act on, and any remedial work estimated up front rather than drip-fed as we go.
For landlords working to a deadline we turn reports around quickly, and we explain every finding in plain English, so you know precisely what needs doing now and what can safely wait.
What is an EICR?
An EICR is a scheduled inspection and test of a property's fixed wiring, consumer unit, sockets and circuits. Our engineers record any issues against the standard C1, C2, C3 and FI codes and give you a clear satisfactory or unsatisfactory report, along with a written schedule of any remedial work and exactly what is needed to put it right.
Why an EICR matters
Electrical Safety First reports that almost half of domestic fires are caused by electricity, and many of them are preventable. A periodic inspection picks up deterioration, overloaded circuits and non-compliant work before anything goes wrong. If you are not sure whether your wiring is safe, an EICR is the quickest way to find out.
The written report is also your record that the fixed wiring has been checked against BS 7671. Letting agents, buyers and solicitors often ask for it, and it shows you have kept the property in good repair. Had work done by someone who left no certificate? An EICR shows where you stand, and our guide to uncertified electrical work explains what to do next.
EICRs for landlords
If you let a home in England, the Electrical Safety Standards regulations require the electrics to be inspected and tested by a qualified person before a tenancy starts and at least every 5 years, or sooner if your last report says so. Tenants need a copy of the report before they move in, and any remedial or further investigation work it lists must be done within 28 days. Councils can fine up to £40,000 per breach.
We book around your tenants, email the coded report within 48 hours and give you a written estimate for any work it needs. Once that work is done you get the written confirmation you must send to your tenants and the council. If you manage several properties, we can schedule them in one programme. Letting an HMO, or a property in a council licensing area such as parts of Bristol? Check your licence conditions too, as councils often add their own electrical requirements.
Who needs an EICR?
The right time to book depends on who you are and what the property is used for.
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Landlords
Required by lawThe regulations require an inspection before a tenancy starts and at least every 5 years. We provide the report your tenants and letting agent need, emailed within 48 hours.
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Homeowners selling
Recommended before saleBuyers and their solicitors increasingly ask for a recent EICR. A clean report removes a common late stage sticking point and gives buyers confidence in the wiring.
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Homeowners staying
Every 10 yearsRecommended every 10 years, or sooner if you are extending, rewiring rooms, or buying an older property whose electrical history is unclear.
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Before a renovation
Before you planPlanning an extension or a new kitchen? An EICR first shows whether the existing wiring and consumer unit can take the new work, so the plans and the estimate are right from the start.
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Commercial premises
Duty of care, typically 5 yearsNot fixed in law, but essential for meeting your duty of care under the Electricity at Work Regulations. Typically every 5 years, more often on industrial sites.
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New tenancy or new owner
Before each tenancyFor rentals, the installation must be inspected and tested before a tenancy starts. If you have just bought a home, an EICR tells you the condition of the wiring you have taken on.
How your EICR works
From the first call to the finished report, here is exactly what happens. Every EICR is booked on a written estimate based on the size of your property, tested to BS 7671 by a qualified electrician, and returned with a clear, coded report you can act on.
How much of your installation gets checked? BS 7671 does not set a fixed percentage. The extent of the inspection is agreed with you before we start and recorded on your report. Long-standing IET guidance treats opening up fewer than around 10% of sockets, switches and fittings as too small a sample, and the sample should grow whenever faults turn up. We often find we sit at the higher end of what most inspections cover. For you, that means a more thorough report and lasting peace of mind that your electrics are sound.
For homes we cover Chippenham, Corsham, Calne, Melksham, Devizes, Trowbridge, Bradford on Avon, Warminster, Westbury, Malmesbury, Salisbury and the surrounding Wiltshire villages, as well as Swindon, Bath and Bristol. For commercial and industrial testing we work UK-wide, and can schedule multiple sites into one visit programme with a single portfolio report.
What to expect
| Pricing | A written estimate, agreed before we start |
| On site | 3 to 4 hours for most homes |
| Testing | Inspection and testing to BS 7671, C1 danger flagged on the spot |
| Your report | Emailed within 48 hours, coded C1 to FI, plain English |
| If work is needed | Remedial estimate separately, no obligation |
EICR codes and how often you need one
Every issue we find is classified with the standard EICR codes below, so you can see exactly what needs doing and how urgently. Any C1 or C2 makes a report unsatisfactory. For landlords, the regulations require remedial or further investigation work to be done within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so. Once the work is complete you receive written confirmation that it has been done.
What the EICR codes mean
| Code | Meaning | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| C1 | Danger present | Risk of injury. Immediate action required. |
| C2 | Potentially dangerous | Urgent remedial work is needed to make it safe. |
| C3 | Improvement recommended | Not dangerous, but an upgrade is advised. |
| FI | Further investigation | Something needs a closer look before a verdict. |
A report is marked Unsatisfactory if any C1 or C2 is recorded.
How often you need an EICR
| Property | Recommended interval |
|---|---|
| Owner-occupied home | Every 10 years |
| Rented home in England | Before each tenancy and every 5 years (by law) |
| Commercial or office | Every 5 years |
| Industrial | Every 3 years |
These are recommended maximums. Your report can set a shorter interval.
EICR FAQs
How often do I need an EICR?
Owner-occupied homes: every 10 years, or when the occupier changes. Rented homes in England: before a tenancy starts and at least every 5 years, by law. Commercial premises: every 5 years, and industrial sites every 3 years. Higher-risk installations such as swimming pools may need more frequent checks, and your report can set a shorter interval.
What do the classification codes mean?
C1 (danger present): immediate risk, urgent action required.
C2 (potentially dangerous): could become dangerous, prompt action required.
C3 (improvement recommended): not meeting current standards, but not dangerous.
FI (further investigation): something needs a closer look. Any C1 or C2 makes the report unsatisfactory.
Is an EICR a legal requirement?
For landlords in England, yes. The Electrical Safety Standards regulations require the installation to be inspected and tested before a tenancy starts and at least every 5 years, and councils can fine up to £40,000 per breach. For homeowners an EICR is strongly recommended but not mandatory. Commercial premises have no fixed interval in law, but an EICR is how most businesses show they meet the Electricity at Work Regulations.
Do I need a new EICR between tenants?
Under the current regulations the installation must be inspected and tested before a tenancy starts, as well as at least every 5 years, and the new tenant needs a copy of the report before moving in. Councils and letting agents do not all read the rule the same way, so if your current report is recent, give us a call and we will talk it through. We can book the inspection between tenancies.
What happens if my EICR is unsatisfactory?
It means at least one C1 or C2 was found. The fix is often smaller than people expect, such as a faulty RCD or missing bonding, though older installations sometimes need a consumer unit change or a rewire. We give you a written estimate for the work. For landlords it must be done within 28 days, and you then receive written confirmation to send to your tenants and the council.
How long does an EICR take?
Most homes take 3 to 4 hours on site, depending on the size of the property and the number of circuits. Larger or older properties can take longer. Power is turned off one circuit at a time, so you can usually stay at home. Your coded report arrives by email within 48 hours, with every finding explained in plain English.
Do you carry out EICRs in Swindon and Bristol?
Yes. Alongside Chippenham and the Wiltshire towns, our electricians carry out EICRs for homeowners and landlords in Swindon, Bath and Bristol. Every inspection is the same thorough check, coded C1 to FI and emailed within 48 hours, with a free written estimate before we start.
How much of my installation does an EICR check?
BS 7671 does not fix a percentage. The extent of the inspection, and any limitations, are agreed with you and recorded on the report. Long-standing IET guidance treats a sample below about 10% of sockets, switches and fittings as too small, and the sample should grow when faults are found. We often sit at the higher end of what most inspections cover. Our guide to how much an EICR checks explains more.
Why is an EICR priced as an estimate?
Because the time on site depends on your property. A larger home has more circuits to test and more sockets, switches and fittings to open up, and an older installation can need a closer look once faults appear. We give you a free written estimate before we start, based on the size of the property and the extent of inspection agreed with you. Our guide explains what affects the cost of an EICR.
Does an EICR include PAT testing?
No. An EICR covers the fixed wiring and installation only. PAT testing covers portable appliances such as kettles, fridges and office equipment, and is a separate process. We can carry out both in the same visit if you need it.
What is the difference between an EICR and an EIC?
An EIC (Electrical Installation Certificate) is issued when new electrical work is carried out, for example a rewire, a new circuit or a major alteration. It certifies that the new work complies with BS 7671. An EICR assesses an existing installation. One certifies new work, the other checks whether what is already there is still safe.
Can I do an EICR myself?
No. The regulations require a qualified person who is competent to carry out the inspection and testing, and the work involves live circuits and interpreting results against BS 7671. Our EICRs are carried out by NICEIC approved electricians. A report you produce yourself carries no weight with tenants, letting agents or the council.
Book an EICR
Need an EICR or any other form of electrical testing? Call us or fill in the form and we will arrange it.
- Free estimate, no obligation
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