EICR Question

[alsjack]

There has probably already been many questions on this so I apologise for yet another!

I have an EICR which is about 3 years old and my current tenants moved in about 15 months ago, prior to having to provide a new EICR to new tenants I think.

Is this EICR still valid or will I need to get a new one prior April 1st?

Many thanks in advance for any advice.

[Neelix]

I would say give the existing EICR to the lettings agents .......

[Hudson01]

They last 5 years from issue, so you will be fine for 2 years.

[Neelix]

They last 5 years from issue, so you will be fine for 2 years.

that’s not strictly true.

the legislation states to be inspected to the 18th edition, which came into effect in Jan 2019

inspected to doesn’t mean the installation needs to meet the 18th edition , so non compliance’s to earlier editions should receive a C3 or a comment.

Certainly not a C2

[ash72]

This post should be redirected to the correct forum,

Depends upon the following answers -

- How many years does the EICR say it is valid for
- Has any changes happened in the property regarding the electricity (new sockets, switch's, RCD's)
- Do you have a lot of churn in T's?

If your certificate is still valid, and nothing has changed in the property, and you do not have a high turn around on T's then your certificate is valid and you will not need to issue a new certificate.

[DPT57]

I believe Neelix is correct in post #4

[KTC]

“electrical safety standards” means the standards for electrical installations in the eighteenth edition of the Wiring Regulations, published by the Institution of Engineering and Technology and the British Standards Institution as BS 7671: 2018

According to Amazon UK, that was published in July 2018, and as per Neelix and DPT57 said only came into effect in January 2019 so if the last inspection was before that, the certificate wouldn't be valid for the purpose of the new electrical safety requirements.

[alsjack]

Many thanks to all for your replies and my apologies if this was not posted on the correct forum.

In answer to ash72, I have a low turnover and everything is still as it was when the previous inspection took place.

It is interesting to see that there are obviously differences in the understanding of this requirement.

My feeling from reading these replies is that it is likely that my safest, and probably correct, course of action would be to get a new inspection done.

I guess it's on me now!

[jpucng62]

I think if you have an EICR that is in date (ie less than 5 yrs) and which didn't say anything less than 5 yrs for a retest you are fine. Whilst the last test may have been done to a previous standard I can't believe anyone will ever work that out or care! These are not cheap so I will not be doing mine again until they are due (and some are 4 years old now so due later this year).

[Neelix]

These are not cheap so I will not be doing mine again until they are due (and some are 4 years old now so due later this year).

Hum, get a cheaper EICR, you are almost guaranteed that it will identify more C2’s , which cost more to put right, but aren’t actually needed

EICRs are like gas checks, get them done properly, keep your tenants safe

and if the inspector says it needs retesting in 3 years, then that will be the date on the EICR

[flyingfreehold]

I think even the electricians are tiring of doing these in such numbers and as a result showing more lenience than six or nine months ago

[Neelix]

I think even the electricians are tiring of doing these in such numbers and as a result showing more lenience than six or nine months ago

my approach hasn’t changed. But I don’t do many EICR’s

[jpucng62]

Hum, get a cheaper EICR, you are almost guaranteed that it will identify more C2’s , which cost more to put right, but aren’t actually needed

EICRs are like gas checks, get them done properly, keep your tenants safe

I don't get a cheap one, I get one from an electrician I trust (who put in the consumer units 5 years ago as well as updating the installation) so I don't feel the need to do it early due to some arbitrary Govt policy. I certainly want to keep my tenants safe which is why I have been doing these for 20 years and why my dates don't match up with 18th ed or Govt policy.

As with much of my house maintenance - do it right, do it once!

[Neelix]

Landlords should be aware that the inspector can put a date for the next inspection of less than 5 years - this is fairly typical of much older installations.

My shortest re-test date is 1 year

a 5 year re-test isn't a given.