How much does an EICR cost? What landlords pay for the electrical check
An electrical installation condition report (EICR) is the electrical check a private landlord in England needs at least every five years. The government's own 2017-18 estimates put an average check at £160 to £250, and arranging it is the landlord's job.
What an EICR costs
The government estimated the average cost to a landlord at around £160 a home every five years, in its consultation paper of February 2018. It said the price varies a good deal with the size of the portfolio and where the homes are.
The working group's figure
The working group the government set up reported in November 2017 that the check on an average rented home takes around four hours, at an average cost of £250, allowing for what electricians charge in different regions. The cost varies with the home's size and region. Spread over the five years a report lasts, the group put it at around £50 a year for each home.
Electricians set their own prices and these estimates are some years old, so ask for a quote before you book, from a qualified person.
| Source | Published | Average cost |
|---|---|---|
| Working group report | November 2017 | £250 a check |
| Government consultation paper | February 2018 | £160 a check |
Whose job it is, and how often
The duty is the landlord's: the installation must be inspected and tested by a qualified person at intervals of no more than five years, or sooner if the last report says so, and before a new tenancy starts.
What Datestone does for you
Add the date your electrical safety report says the next one is due (or the date it was done, and the checklist adds five years), and the checklist shows when it runs out. A heads-up email comes three months before, so there's time to get quotes, and a last nudge a week before, unless you chose Only urgent.