Core service areas
EICR testing in London, including North London, South London, East London and West London; plus Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Norfolk, Suffolk and Surrey.
Home / EICR Testing
EICR testing across London and the South East.
Book a fixed-price Electrical Installation Condition Report for a home, rental property or commercial premises. Our NICEIC-approved inspectors test the fixed wiring against BS 7671, explain every C1, C2, C3 or FI observation, and provide a clear route from inspection to a satisfactory report.
The essentials
An MOT for your fixed installation.
An EICR examines the permanent electrical installation — the consumer unit, cabling, sockets, switches, protective bonding and fixed accessories — rather than plug-in appliances, which fall under PAT testing.
- A snapshot of safety and compliance. The report records the installation's condition on the day of inspection and every defect found, each assigned an observation code.
- Tested against a live standard. BS 7671 is periodically amended; the current issue is the 2018 edition incorporating Amendment 2 of 2022.
- Signed by a competent person. Every Polarity report is completed and signed by a qualified engineer who inspected, tested and assessed the installation in person.
- A satisfactory or unsatisfactory outcome. The overall result is binary — and any C1, C2 or FI observation makes it unsatisfactory.
5 yrsLandlord renewal cycle
2–4hrTypical domestic test
18thEdition of BS 7671
48hrCertificate turnaround
Obligations & intervals
Who needs an EICR, and how often.
- Private and social landlords in England — at least every 5 years. The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private and Social Rented Sectors (England) Regulations 2020 require inspection before occupation and at intervals of no more than five years, or sooner where the report specifies.
- Businesses — on a risk-based schedule. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require systems to be maintained to prevent danger. Inspection frequency depends on the installation, use, environment and the previous report; many commercial premises are commonly reviewed on a five-year cycle.
- Owner-occupiers — commonly every 10 years. There is no general legal interval for an owner-occupied home. Ten years is common industry guidance, but the appropriate date depends on the installation’s condition, use and the previous report.
- Before buying or selling. A pre-purchase EICR reveals the true condition behind the walls — and gives buyers and sellers a documented basis for negotiation.
Inside the inspection
What is actually inspected and tested.
An EICR combines hands-on measurement with a methodical visual survey. The work falls into three groups: dead tests carried out with the supply isolated, live tests taken with power restored, and a detailed visual inspection.
DEAD TESTS
Supply isolated
Continuity of protective conductors and bonding, insulation resistance between conductors, and confirmation of correct polarity — all taken with circuits safely dead.
LIVE TESTS
Power restored
Earth fault loop impedance (Zs) measured at each circuit, plus RCD trip-time and trip-current tests to confirm protective devices disconnect within their required limits.
VISUAL
Consumer unit
Condition of the board, protective device ratings, absence of a non-compliant plastic enclosure where required, and correct labelling and identification.
VISUAL
Bonding & accessories
Main and supplementary bonding to gas and water, condition of sockets, switches and fittings, and any signs of overheating, scorching or damaged cabling.
Reading your report
The observation codes explained.
Every defect is recorded against a classification code. The code — not your opinion of the wiring — determines whether the installation passes.
C1
Danger present
A risk of injury exists and immediate action is required. We make the installation safe on the spot and notify you the same day. Renders the report unsatisfactory.
C2
Potentially dangerous
No immediate danger, but urgent remedial work is needed before a fault could become dangerous. A single C2 makes the report unsatisfactory.
C3
Improvement recommended
Not dangerous and does not fail the report. It flags where the installation falls short of the current standard and could be improved.
FI
Further investigation required
Something could not be fully assessed on the day and warrants a closer look without delay. Like C1 and C2, an FI outcome also makes the overall report unsatisfactory until it is resolved. Only a report with no C1, C2 or FI observations is classed as satisfactory.
On the day
Duration, disruption and how the visit runs.
A typical three-bedroom home takes two to four hours. Because circuits are isolated one at a time, only part of the property loses power at any moment — and never for long.
STEP 01
Arrive & assess
The engineer confirms the extent of the installation with you, locates the consumer unit and notes any limitations agreed for the inspection.
STEP 02
Isolate
Circuits are switched off and tested one by one. A kettle or router may drop out briefly; the whole property is rarely dark at once.
STEP 03
Test & record
Dead tests, then live tests, then the visual survey — with photographs taken of every observation as the engineer works.
STEP 04
Restore & report
Power is fully restored before we leave. Your signed, coded EICR follows within 48 hours, with a fixed-price quote for any remedials.
“The engineer talked me through every C2 before he left and I had the report by the next morning. No jargon, no pressure to book the repairs — just a clear list of what needed doing and what it would cost.”
Sample pricing
Fixed domestic EICR prices.
Indicative prices including VAT, based on property size. Portfolio and commercial installations are quoted per site — call for a figure in minutes.
Studio & 1-bed
£109 inc. VAT
- Up to 6 circuits
- Digital EICR in 48h
- Photographic evidence
2–3 bed home
£139 inc. VAT
- Up to 12 circuits
- Digital EICR in 48h
- Free minor remedials on-site
- Priority next-day slots
4+ bed / HMO
£189 from, inc. VAT
- Unlimited circuits
- HMO-ready documentation
- Bundled PAT test option
Common questions
Straight answers before you book.
Still unsure what your report means? Call 0330 043 8871 and speak to a qualified engineer, or email hello@polaritycompliance.co.uk.
Ask a questionWhat's the difference between an EICR and an EIC?
An EIC (Electrical Installation Certificate) is issued when new wiring is installed or altered. An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) periodically inspects an existing installation to confirm it is still safe. They serve different purposes and are not interchangeable.
What makes a report “unsatisfactory”?
Any observation coded C1 (danger present), C2 (potentially dangerous) or FI (further investigation required) results in an unsatisfactory outcome. C3 items are recommendations only and do not fail the report. Once the C1, C2 and FI items are resolved, we re-test and issue a satisfactory certificate.
Will the power be off for the whole visit?
No. Circuits are isolated one at a time for short periods, so most of the property keeps power throughout. A typical domestic inspection takes two to four hours; we schedule commercial work out-of-hours to avoid disruption to trading.
How long is an EICR valid for?
For rented domestic property in England, a maximum of five years — or sooner if the report specifies. Owner-occupied homes are recommended every ten years, and most commercial premises every five. The report itself states the recommended date for the next inspection.
Do you carry out the remedial work as well?
Yes. Because our engineers are directly employed and fully qualified, we can correct C1 and C2 observations and re-issue a satisfactory certificate — there is no need to bring in a second contractor, and you are never obliged to use us for the repairs.
What qualifications do your engineers hold?
Our inspectors hold the City & Guilds 2391 inspection and testing qualification and work to the 18th Edition (2382). Polarity is an NICEIC-approved contractor, so every report is subject to independent assessment.
Book today
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Get a fixed quote and a next-day appointment in under two minutes. No call-out charges, no surprises.
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Service coverage
Available across London and surrounding counties.
Postcodes and neighbouring areas
We serve London postcode districts plus AL, BR, CB, CM, CO, CR, CT, DA, EN, GU, HA, HP, IG, IP, KT, LU, ME, MK, NR, PE, RG, RH, RM, SG, SL, SM, SS, TN, TW, UB and WD areas.
Coverage extends into neighbouring districts where scheduling permits. Enter the full postcode when booking so we can confirm attendance and pricing.