If you are a landlord in Liverpool with a tenant moving in, or a homeowner trying to sell, the speed of your EICR matters. Here is an honest breakdown of how long the process takes at each stage and what you can do to make it as fast as possible.
Understanding the EICR Process
An Electrical Installation Condition Report is a formal inspection and test of your property's fixed electrical installation carried out by a qualified electrician. Legally, private landlords in England must have a valid EICR every five years or at each change of tenancy. The overall timeline has three distinct stages: booking, the inspection itself, and receiving the report.
Stage 1: Booking an Appointment
With Ideal Electrical Solutions, same-day and next-day appointments are available across Liverpool. We cover all Liverpool postcodes and surrounding Merseyside areas including Wavertree, Aigburth, Anfield, Toxteth, West Derby, Crosby and Bootle.
If you have a specific deadline, tell us when you book and we will do everything we can to accommodate it. Landlords with back-to-back tenancies often call us with tight turnarounds and we are used to working to these timescales.
Stage 2: The Inspection Itself
How long the inspection takes depends primarily on the size of the property and the condition of its electrical installation.
Older properties with more complex wiring, or those where access to certain areas is restricted, can take longer. Victorian and Edwardian properties across Liverpool's inner city areas often take closer to the upper end of these estimates due to the age and complexity of their electrical systems.
Make sure access is available to all areas of the property including loft spaces, understairs cupboards, the fuse box area and any outbuildings. Properties where access is restricted always take longer and can require a second visit.
Stage 3: Receiving the Report
At Ideal Electrical Solutions, we email your digital EICR certificate within 24 hours of the inspection completing. In most cases it arrives the same day. The report details every circuit tested, any observations found and their code classification, and confirms whether the installation is satisfactory or unsatisfactory.
You must provide a copy of the EICR to your existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection and to any new tenant before they move in. Keeping a digital copy in your property management records makes this straightforward.
What If My Property Fails?
If the inspection identifies C1 or C2 observations, the property receives an unsatisfactory result and remedial works must be completed within 28 days. The time required for remedial work varies significantly depending on what was found.
Minor issues such as replacing a socket, upgrading bonding or adding an RCD to a circuit can often be addressed on the same visit. More substantial work such as a fuseboard upgrade or sections of rewiring will require a separate appointment. If your property requires significant electrical work, a partial or full rewire may be the most cost-effective solution.
We carry out all remedial works identified in our own EICR reports so you do not need to source a second electrician. Once remedial work is complete we provide written confirmation which you must pass to your tenant.
Total Timeline Summary
Same-day appointments available. Certificate within 24 hours. From £99.