Summer is the busiest letting cycle of the year. Students hand back keys in June, professional tenancies turn over through July and August, and Liverpool landlords spend the gap weeks getting properties back to a lettable standard. Right at the centre of that work sits the Electrical Installation Condition Report, or EICR. Since 2020 it has been a legal requirement for almost every private rented property in England, and it is one of the easiest compliance checks to leave too late.
This guide explains what an EICR is, what landlords must do, how the inspection and any remedial work fits into a turnaround week, and how we plan it across our portfolio clients. We are Part P qualified electricians based in Liverpool and we work with landlords across Merseyside, the Wirral and into Manchester.
What an EICR Is and Why Summer Turnover Matters
An EICR is a formal inspection and test of the fixed electrical installation in a property. Sockets, lighting circuits, the consumer unit, earthing and bonding are all tested and graded, and any C1, C2 or FI codes must be put right within 28 days. Our electrical inspection and EICR work covers EICRs alongside any remedial work needed afterwards, which is the bit that catches landlords out when two contractors have to coordinate.
If the property is being renovated between tenancies, an EICR is best done early in the programme. We frequently bundle it into a the wider renovations team so any failures can be corrected while walls are open and disturbance is minimal. Doing it at the very end of a turnaround week, on the morning new tenants arrive, is the most expensive way to discover a fault.
The Legal Requirements Every Landlord Must Meet
Private rented properties in England must hold a satisfactory EICR dated within the last five years, or sooner if the previous report specified a shorter interval. A copy must be supplied to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection and to new tenants before they move in. Local authorities can issue financial penalties of up to thirty thousand pounds for non-compliance. The full position is set out in the GOV.UK guide to landlord electrical safety standards.
Our team is happy to take care of the entire chain. local electrician service can usually attend within a week, the report is issued on the same day where possible, and any remedial work is scheduled to fit your tenancy dates. To get a portfolio walk-through booked, get in touch, or see the wider list at our full service list.
Common EICR Failures We See in Liverpool Rentals
The most common failures we record are old consumer units without RCD protection, missing earthing on lighting circuits in 1930s housing stock, undersized main bonding to gas and water services, and DIY alterations that do not meet current BS 7671 wiring regulations. None of these are exotic. All are correctable.
Less obvious failures include damaged or scorched socket faceplates near worktops, two-way switching with unsleeved earths, and outdoor sockets without IP-rated enclosures. We document each item with photographs and code references so you understand exactly what was found and why. Where you need an independent second opinion, contractors are listed on the NICEIC contractor register.
Planning EICRs Around Tenancies and Turnaround Weeks
If you have a single property with overlapping void, book the EICR for the first day of the void. That leaves nineteen working days to complete remedials before new tenants arrive. If you manage a portfolio, we are happy to schedule properties in batches so the same engineer attends adjacent addresses on consecutive days, which keeps cost and disruption down.
Where remedials run into a longer programme, a satisfactory EICR can sometimes be issued conditionally with limitations recorded, but most landlords prefer a fully satisfactory result before re-letting. We will tell you honestly which approach is right for your property.
How We Work with Liverpool and North West Landlords
We work with private landlords, lettings agencies and HMO operators across the North West. All of our electricians are Part P qualified, our reports are produced to current BS 7671 standards, and we keep digital records that we can share with you or your managing agent quickly. Portfolio discounts apply where multiple properties are booked together, and our standard call-out is competitive across Merseyside and the wider region.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How often does an EICR have to be done?
- Every five years for most private rented properties, or sooner if the previous report specified a shorter retest interval.
- How long does an EICR inspection take?
- A typical two- or three-bedroom property takes three to five hours, depending on the size of the installation and access.
- What happens if my property fails?
- Failures are coded C1, C2 or FI and must be put right within 28 days. We provide a fixed quote for the remedial work before any is carried out.
- Do I need an EICR for a short let?
- Yes. The regulations apply to most assured shorthold tenancies, regardless of length.
- Can the EICR be done while tenants are in residence?
- Yes, with reasonable notice. We coordinate appointments to minimise disruption.
Ready to Get Started?
An EICR is one of the smallest legal duties a landlord faces but one of the most consequential if it is missed. Planning the inspection and any remedial work into your summer turnaround is straightforward when it is done early. Get in touch and we will book a portfolio walk-through that fits your re-let dates.
Contact Omnis Developments — Liverpool-based skilled tradespeople covering Merseyside, the Wirral, Warrington, St Helens, Widnes, Runcorn, Manchester and the wider North West.
Website: omnisdevelopments.co.uk Email: info@omnisdevelopments.co.uk