Just had a quote for an EICR, I have 5 coming up. Sparky tells me from April all Sparkies doing Rental eicr have to register and that the rental EICR is now going to take 3 hours as more exhaustive. The cost is £250 a go as opposed to £100 5 years ago. Is this another kick in the teeth from the Govt to make life harder for LL.
er… before you part with your hard earned cash, I would ask him to verify that info. I can’t find a shred of evidence for this online so I’d be interested if you can.
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I agree with tatemono . i will ask my elec, man
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As a recently retired spark I am not aware of any such legislation in England
As for being more expensive would suggest that he’s been cutting corners
From online seems there has been a change in reqs for competency among electricians and they will now need accredited training not just experience due to EAS updates
Attributed to niciec
By October 1, 2026 , UK electricians and firms must ensure all individuals performing periodic inspection/testing (EICRs) and low-carbon installations (EV, Solar PV, Battery Storage) hold formal Level 3 qualifications and prove ongoing competence. Experience alone no longer suffices; accredited training is mandatory for certification
See also from eca co uk
EAS changes to competence requirements for periodic inspection & testing and low carbon technologies’
which says same.
Maybe it’s this new req that they have to have qualifications so lots maybe need training…?
People often mix up the idea of 'being accredited ’ with 'being registered ’
Best
Hum, the NICEIC and the ECA do not write the regs and have huge vested interests in protecting their commercial activities. There are a huge number of sparks with level 3 qualifications.
as it stands these companies and NAPIT have zero ability to clamp down on people not up to standard or following the
the whole system of EICRs is farcical - I never joined the race to the bottom, meaning I was never the cheapest - and often one of the most expensive. The absolute minimum charge for a small flat should be about £125 minimum with a minimum 90 minutes onsite. What landlords don’t realise is the scope of doing the EICR properly AND often chase the cheapest prices, aided and abetted by lettings agents who often benefit financially
@Neelix so they dont write the regs so its not them forcing the sparks without L3 to get trained - agree they will have vested interest
And @Leslie1 's spark may just be exaggerating…
Seen other things online apparently explaining higher eicr prices - 5 years since original req in 2021 so a surge in renewals needed, EICrs being extended to social rented sector… views?
Shop around. I paid a lot less recently.
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Alarm bells. Cheap isn’t the answer
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I would get the electrician to do one and see how it goes. Some” create “extra work from the test whilst some wont fix an issue just give you a fail for others to fix. If the £250 is inclusive vat its not the cheapest but if he is good and will fix the odd thing then ok.
Incidentally The wiring regs 18th ed have gone from amendment 1 to 4 in those 5 years and they never get simpler.
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Before any Electrical Report is ever undertaken, you need to ensure that the electrician is fully registered, to provide such an EICR report.
Otherwise, you will be stuck with a substandard, superficial, unworthy and perhaps negative initial Report, and not to current Governmental Guidelines/standards as the onus is on you to qualify the Electrical Contractor.
£250 sounds too cheap, and any electrician/ even a layman can provide any initial , electrical report, but will always fail the property because they cannot legally present any Legal and valid certification / documentation to your legal requirements and for the want to milk you financially at any further time, through your own desperation.
Unfortunatately , I believe
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I paid £140 plus vat
Are you being fed a line ?
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£140 for what? Yes an EICR but the size of the property, the number of CUs and circuits has a large bearing on the time to undertake the report
And of course your location in the UK
how do you check an electrician is registered with the ability to do EICRs?
If something has gone up 150% ( £100 to £250) in 5 years you need to question if you are being ripped off
We paid £100-£120 five years ago too. So it’s not dependant on all the factors you raised it’s the fact that inflation has not increased by 150% but the electrician in question has got very greedy .
I’m assuming the opening post did not increase his electrics by 150% in five years or change his location ….
( it’s the same property)
In our area I’ve heard electricians quote based on all the factors you raised ( because they have to justify their ridiculous charge ) but then others quoted better for the same job.
Some electricians are cheap but they rip you off in the faults so record everything and look it up so you know you are not being ripped off. I had an electrician give a c2 fault a satisfactory ( and he was really expensive ) so I didn’t pay him. He also gave a c3 fault for a socket that was 300 mm from a hob ( because it was not 301 mm away ) and a c3 fault for no earth on blue alcothene , the list went on.
(NICEIC did nothing because I didn’t pay him . It’s ludicrous ).
I got someone in behind him who found the c2 accurately but not any of the c3 s he found . A lot of them create faults to garner trust and make the electrician look bad .
And if you complain to NICEIC they protect the electrician
I’m very cynical of trades. They all want money for nothing. I’ve had too many bad experiences.
I was literally taken to court by a tradesman for not paying for work not done. Fortunately the judge wasn’t fooled by the workman.
Soft rent control is being introduced in May. LL have to protect themselves because no one has their back .
On their body’s website it tells you if they are competent for certification.
Not sure I agree with you. The variety of prices put forward by sparks varies hugely. As does the thoroughness of the inspection and the quality of the report.
Absolutely.
A price to be expected.
The real problem exists within any and all changing current Governmental guidelines, to date delivered/misdirections and unqualified/ percieved objectives.
I believe that any Government, thus far has not stated/ produced any legally binding guidance as to how any landlord/ Agent should ever be expected to proceed/ perform in this particular area of unwelcoming and delivered ineficiency. -
However, and in the meantime -
- Validate the actual contractor.
- Confirm the expected/pricing/fixed cost, to satisfy yourself, on any requested / qualified Electrical Certification.
- Do not get “ ripped -off” in any recommendations made by any Electrian in any failing , failing Electrical Reports.
- They will milk you financially.
- Unfortunately, as of this date/ and to my legal understanding, the Government has released no qualified guidelines in this most specific and questionable area .
- And this actual problem does extend it self so much further.
Kindest regards, Tristram
~No. We are all continually being “ Ripped Off”!
Yes.
And please work out why.
Kindest regards, trristram