EICR certificate

Boudica78

Hello,

I've recently starting renting a property, I had the EICR looked at by a plumber friend - couldn't see anything serious, but the "recommendation" for the next report is "no later than three years" - which was December 2023. Letting agents are saying it's just a recommendation, not legally applicable.
The regulations on the government website say EICRs must be carried out:

at intervals of no more than 5 years; or where the most recent report under sub-paragraph (3)(a) requires such inspection and testing to be at intervals of less than 5 years, at the intervals specified in that report.

Does that "recommendation" = a requirement? Since "recommend" is the phrasing that is already printed on EICRs

Mr.Generous

No, its 5 years.

Boudica78

Why the "No more than" then? and why bother having an official bit to recommend less than 5 years? (Genuine question)

AskAsk

Boudica78 said:

Why the "No more than" then? and why bother having an official bit to recommend less than 5 years? (Genuine question)

it means it must be done within 5 years and that 5 years is the maximum time between the reports.

Mr.Generous

You have to get your car MOT'd no more than 12 months after the last one, probably not a good idea to check nothing for the next 12 months, but does anyone MOT more frequently?

Ratkin007

I would say you do not have a valid EICR if the electrician specified 3 years and that expired in December 2023.  Whilst the regulations specify testing to be done in intervals no more than 5 years, it acknowledges the time period may be shorter.  It is possible the electrician made an error or there may be a reason why the time period is shorter, but it was only given for the 3 years and the agent should have checked that and raised it as an issue at the time.  

Reg 3a - 
"obtain a report from the person conducting that inspection and test, which gives the results of the inspection and test and the date of the next inspection and test; "  

To me, that indicates it is the date of the next inspection and test on the report that is used and not the generic 5 years a lot of people think it is.

Maybe seek advice from the local authority as they are the ones that could look to take action if there is no valid EICR.

Bigphil1474

Agree with the above.

As a safety Inspector, it has never been a standard 5 yearly inspection in all my time doing this job. Used to be anything from 1 year to 7 years for commercial, although 5 yearly is the norm. The more frequent inspection periods are usually due to the age and/or condition of the electrics which would suggest to the electrician it may have issues in less than 5 years - particularly older installations. I don't deal with domestic though, but can't see it being that different.

If the last EICR said no more than 3 years, then that's the requirement. Also, if the electrics aren't checked in line with EICR then any insurance may become invalid if the electrics subsequently cause any loss e.g. from a fire. 

Albermarle

Bigphil1474 said:

Agree with the above.

As a safety Inspector, it has never been a standard 5 yearly inspection in all my time doing this job. Used to be anything from 1 year to 7 years for commercial, although 5 yearly is the norm. The more frequent inspection periods are usually due to the age and/or condition of the electrics which would suggest to the electrician it may have issues in less than 5 years - particularly older installations. I don't deal with domestic though, but can't see it being that different.

If the last EICR said no more than 3 years, then that's the requirement. Also, if the electrics aren't checked in line with EICR then any insurance may become invalid if the electrics subsequently cause any loss e.g. from a fire. 

I do not know the rules, but I think the point in bold is important.
If there was a fire after 4 years, I would not like to be arguing the toss with the insurance company about 3 or 5 year rules, as I may well lose that argument, regardless of any technicalities/interpretation of the rules.

Boudica78

Thank you everyone.

It was the specific statement that the next inspection should be no more than 3 years that seems more than just "it would be a good idea if". Probably because about 12 things weren't up to standard - obviously not necessarily dangerous - but should be kept an eye on.

Interesting point about insurance - will ring my contents insurance tomorrow to see what they say.

I have been in contact with council today and they're saying should have been done for a new tenancy anyway. Which makes sense to me, well for anything over a year or two since the last EICR.

It's all daft, because it's only 9 months early whatever.