How long does an EICR take? What landlords should expect on the day

**One-bedroom flat with a single consumer unit and basic circuits**: 1.5 to 2.5 hours.

**Two-bedroom flat or three-bedroom mid-terrace**: 2 to 3.5 hours.

**Four-bedroom semi or detached**: 3 to 5 hours.

**Five-bedroom HMO with shared circuits**: 4 to 6 hours.

**Period property with mixed cabling, multiple consumer units or known issues**: add an hour or two.

A genuinely quick visit (under an hour) on anything larger than a one-bedroom flat is usually a sign the engineer hasn't tested every circuit. The EICR requires every final circuit to be tested individually for earth fault loop impedance, insulation resistance, polarity, RCD operation, and visual inspection of accessible accessories.

**Visual inspection.** The engineer walks the property, checking every accessible socket, switch and light fitting for visible damage or wear. They inspect the consumer unit (fuse board), looking for an RCD-protected setup, correct labelling, and signs of overheating or corrosion.

**Power off.** Power is isolated at the consumer unit. Tenants who are home should be warned: the property will lose power for most of the test window.

**Circuit testing.** Each circuit is tested in turn for:

- **Insulation resistance** — confirms cable insulation hasn't broken down.

- **Earth fault loop impedance** — confirms the protective earth path will trip the breaker fast enough under fault.

- **Polarity** — confirms live and neutral haven't been swapped.

- **Continuity** — confirms protective conductors are intact end-to-end.

**RCD testing.** Residual current devices are tested to confirm they trip at the right current and within the required time.

**Power on.** Power restored.

**Report writing.** The engineer issues an EICR with one of three outcomes: Satisfactory (no remedial work required), Unsatisfactory (remedial work required), or with observations only.

**C1 — Danger present.** Risk of injury. Immediate action required, usually mid-visit. C1 results in an Unsatisfactory certificate and the engineer will often refuse to leave the issue unaddressed.

**C2 — Potentially dangerous.** Urgent remedial action required, typically within 28 days. C2 also results in an Unsatisfactory certificate.

**FI — Further investigation required.** The engineer needs more information to decide if the installation is safe. Treat as Unsatisfactory until resolved.

**C3 — Improvement recommended.** Not a fail. A C3 is best-practice advice (e.g. add an RCD where current regs would require one but the original install pre-dates the requirement). A Satisfactory certificate can be issued with C3s present.

Under the 2020 Regulations, any C1, C2 or FI must be remedied within 28 days of the report. The engineer (or another competent person) re-tests the rectified item and issues a confirmation note.

Clear access to the consumer unit, every socket and every switch. Engineer time spent moving furniture is engineer time you pay for.

Have any previous EICRs, certificates of any electrical work done, and details of the consumer unit type ready. This lets the engineer skip a discovery walk.

Book the inspection when the property is empty between tenancies. With a tenant in occupation, you lose 30-60 minutes to courtesy and explanation.

Choose a [Checkatrade-verified NICEIC engineer](/guides/best-platform-for-eicr-uk-2026). They follow a standard inspection protocol and don't pad time.

Be cautious of two-hour quotes for a five-bedroom HMO. They either skip circuits or use shortcuts the regulations don't permit.

Typical cost band for the EICR itself: £120 to £300 across the UK, £150 to £400 for inner London. See the [EICR cost by London borough guide](/guides/eicr-cost-by-london-borough-2026) for borough-by-borough figures.

Remedial work (any C1, C2 or FI) is billed separately. Common remediations: replacing an RCD-less consumer unit £450 to £900, replacing a damaged socket £25 to £60, fixing a high earth fault loop reading via cable refresh £150 to £600 per circuit.