Overloaded or outdated circuits
Circuits added to over the years without the supply being reassessed can be running closer to their limits than is safe.
Electrical InstallationCondition Reports forLocks Heath homes and businesses
A proper EICR tells you exactly where your installation stands, in plain language, with a written quote agreed before any work starts and a report you can hand straight to a landlord, buyer, or insurer.
Rated 5.0 on Google · 12+ years in the trade · NAPIT registered
NAPIT registered
Inspection work carried out to current wiring regulations
18th Edition & 2391-52
City & Guilds qualified for inspection and testing
£5m / £10m cover
Public and employer's liability insurance in place
5.0 on Google
Rated by clients across South Hampshire
12+ years in the trade
Founded 2021 by Director Andrew Hardiman
Overview
What an EICR involves and why it matters
An Electrical Installation Condition Report is a formal inspection and test of the fixed wiring in a property, the consumer unit, circuits, sockets, switches, and earthing arrangements, checked against current wiring regulations rather than against how the installation looked when it was fitted. It is not a test of appliances; it is a health check of the wiring itself, covering everything built into the walls, floors, and consumer unit.
Landlords need an EICR before letting a property and at least every five years after that, or at each change of tenancy if sooner. Homebuyers commission one before completing a purchase to understand what they are taking on. Homeowners request one when a property has not been checked in years, when work has been done by several different people over time, or simply for peace of mind before selling or extending. Businesses need periodic inspection to meet their duties under health and safety law.
The inspection ends with a formal report classifying any issues found, from immediately dangerous conditions through to items that are simply outside current recommendations, plus a clear overall result of satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Because the classifications carry real weight with landlords, letting agents, mortgage lenders, and insurers, the person carrying out the inspection needs to know the regulations properly and apply them consistently, not just tick boxes.
Who it's for
Landlords, homebuyers, homeowners, and businesses needing a formal condition check.
When it's needed
Before letting, before buying, at renewal intervals, or when the wiring's history is unclear.
What you get
A written EICR with observations coded and explained, plus next steps if remedial work is needed.
Why it matters
An inaccurate report can miss a genuine risk or flag work that isn't actually required.
What happens if it is left
What an inspection is actually looking for
Fixed wiring degrades and dates in ways that aren't visible from a socket faceplate. An EICR is designed to catch the issues that build up quietly over years of ordinary use, alterations, and ageing components.
Missing or inadequate earthing and bonding
Earthing and bonding are core protective measures; gaps here reduce protection against electric shock.
Deteriorated insulation and connections
Cable insulation and terminations degrade with age, heat cycling, and previous poor workmanship.
No RCD protection on relevant circuits
Older consumer units often lack the RCD protection now expected on socket and other circuits.
Common mistakes we are called out to fix
- Assuming a property is safe simply because the lights and sockets work.
- Treating a PAT test (which covers appliances) as a substitute for an EICR (which covers fixed wiring).
- Using a report that lists codes without a plain-language explanation of what they mean.
- Leaving remedial work unaddressed until the next inspection is due.
Our process
How we carry out an EICR
The process is methodical, so the report you receive reflects the actual condition of the installation rather than a rushed once-over.
- 01
Understand the property
We ask about the property's age, any known history of alterations, and the reason for the inspection, so the report suits its purpose.
- 02
Visual inspection
We check the consumer unit, accessible wiring, sockets, switches, and earthing/bonding for visible signs of wear, damage, or non-compliance.
- 03
Testing
We test circuits for continuity, insulation resistance, earth fault loop impedance, and RCD operation using calibrated test equipment.
- 04
Classify findings
Any issues found are coded against current regulations, distinguishing genuine risks from items that are simply dated.
- 05
Report and explain
You receive a written EICR with each finding explained in plain terms, plus a written quote for any remedial work you choose to have carried out.
What you get
What a properly carried out EICR gives you
Speed
We schedule inspections around your availability.
Safety
Testing against current regulations catches issues that a visual check alone would miss.
Longevity
Identifying deterioration early lets you plan remedial work before it becomes urgent.
Cost clarity
Every inspection and any follow-on work is priced individually once the scope is understood, with a written quote.
Reliability
Reports are produced to the standard required by landlords, lenders, and insurers.
Peace of mind
A clear, honestly reported result means you know exactly where the property stands.
In detail
The detail behind an EICR
What gets tested
Testing covers the full fixed installation: continuity of protective conductors, insulation resistance between conductors, polarity, earth fault loop impedance at each point, and the operation of RCDs where fitted. Each circuit is tested individually rather than assessed as a whole, because a fault on one circuit doesn't necessarily indicate a problem elsewhere.
Visual inspection runs alongside testing and covers the condition and suitability of the consumer unit, cable routes and protection where visible, socket and switch condition, and the presence and condition of earthing and main bonding conductors.
How findings are classified
Observations are coded to reflect severity: an immediate danger, a potentially dangerous condition needing urgent attention, an improvement recommended item, or a note where further investigation is needed without a defect being confirmed. The overall report result of satisfactory or unsatisfactory follows directly from these codes rather than from a subjective impression.
Because the coding has real consequences: an unsatisfactory report affects mortgage offers, tenancy renewals, and insurance, so accuracy matters more than either an overly cautious or an overly lenient assessment. We report what we find and explain why each item has been coded the way it has.
Residential and commercial differences
Domestic EICRs typically follow a five-yearly cycle or change-of-tenancy trigger for rented property, and cover a single consumer unit and its circuits. Commercial premises usually have larger or multiple distribution boards, more circuits, and inspection intervals set by the type of business and how the building is used, so the scope and time required are assessed on site rather than assumed in advance.
In both cases, access matters: circuits behind fixed furniture, under flooring, or in roof voids need to be reachable for a thorough inspection, and we'll flag in advance anything that limits what can be checked on the day.
After the report
If the report comes back satisfactory, no further action is needed until the next due inspection. If it's unsatisfactory, the report itself sets out what needs addressing and at what priority, and we provide a written quote for the remedial work if you'd like us to carry it out. Where work is notifiable under Part P, building control is notified directly as part of the job.
Recent work
Photographs from jobs we have completed
Scroll across to see more of our completed work.
Common questions
Answers before you get in touch
How much does an EICR cost?
Every EICR is priced individually once we understand the property, its size, number of circuits, and accessibility, and we provide a written quote before booking anything in.
How long does an EICR take?
It depends on the size of the installation and how many circuits there are; we'll give you a realistic estimate once we know the property, and confirm timing when the visit is booked.
What does the process involve on the day?
We carry out a visual inspection of the consumer unit, wiring, and accessories, then test each circuit with calibrated equipment before writing up the findings.
What certificate do I get?
You receive a formal EICR document with each observation coded and explained, plus an overall satisfactory or unsatisfactory result.
How long is an EICR valid for?
Rented properties typically need re-inspection at least every five years or at change of tenancy if sooner; owner-occupied properties are usually checked at similar or longer intervals depending on condition and use.
When can you fit us in?
We work Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, call 07730 498814 or get in touch to check availability.
Do you cover Southampton and the surrounding area?
Yes, we're based in Locks Heath and cover Warsash, Hedge End, Southampton, Fareham, Titchfield, Park Gate and Whiteley.
What happens if the report is unsatisfactory?
The report sets out exactly what needs attention and how urgently; we'll provide a written quote for any remedial work and notify building control directly if the work is notifiable.
Related services
Other work we take on
Next step
Book an EICR with a NAPIT-registered electrician
Tell us about the property and we'll come back with a written quote, call 07730 498814 or send us the details online.
07730 498814
hardielectrical@outlook.com
Monday to Friday, 8am–5pm
NAPIT registered · £5m public liability · £10m employer’s liability