Are EICRs Notifiable?

Are EICRs notifiable? No. An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is not notifiable under Part P in England. An EICR assesses the safety and overall condition of your existing electrical system. The inspection may find faults which need repairs or other work. Some remedial work can be notifiable. Notification depends on the electrical work carried out, not on the EICR itself.

Why Isn’t an EICR Notifiable?

An EICR inspects and tests an existing electrical installation. The electrician checks its condition and looks for electrical safety issues. No notifiable installation work forms part of the EICR itself.

The electrician tests the installation and records any faults or concerns.

An EICR can include:

• Visual checks of accessible electrical equipment
• Tests on circuits and protective devices
• Checks on earthing and bonding
• Inspection of the consumer unit
• Classification codes for faults or concerns
• A written report showing the results

Part P notification applies to certain types of electrical installation work. An inspection and report do not fall within the listed types of notifiable work.

Our guide to what an EICR involves explains the inspection in more detail.

What Electrical Work Is Notifiable?

Part P covers electrical safety in dwellings in England. Not all electrical work needs notification. Approved Document P lists three main types of notifiable electrical work.

Notification applies to:

• Installing a new circuit
• Replacing a consumer unit
• Adding to or altering an existing circuit in a special location

A special location includes defined areas around a bath or shower. Rooms containing a swimming pool or sauna heater also fall within the definition.

Repairs, replacements and maintenance can fall outside the notification rules. Replacing a consumer unit is different, as the replacement is notifiable work.

What Happens If an EICR Finds a Problem?

Finding a fault does not make an EICR notifiable. The report records the problem and assigns it a classification code. The code shows the level of concern and whether action is needed.

An EICR may use:

• C1 – Danger present
• C2 – Potentially dangerous
• C3 – Improvement recommended
• FI – Further investigation required

A C1, C2 or FI requires action or further investigation under the electrical safety rules for rented homes.

A C3 recommends an improvement but does not make the report unsatisfactory on its own.

The next step depends on the fault. A socket may need replacing. A circuit may need repair. Some faults may lead to more extensive work.

The person carrying out the inspection must be qualified to inspect, test and assess the installation. Our guide to who can carry out an EICR explains what to check before arranging an inspection.

Does Remedial Work After an EICR Need to Be Notified?

Sometimes. The EICR does not decide whether you need to notify. The remedial work decides.

Many repairs to existing installations are non-notifiable. Larger changes may fall within the Part P notification rules.

Work which can be non-notifiable includes:

• Replacing a damaged socket or switch
• Replacing a light fitting
• Repairing part of an existing circuit
• Replacing electrical accessories

Notifiable work includes:

• Installing a new circuit
• Replacing a consumer unit
• Altering an existing circuit within a defined special location

Approved Document P confirms replacements, repairs and maintenance are non-notifiable unless the work falls within a listed notifiable category.

A registered competent person can self-certify qualifying work. Other certification routes are available for installers who are not registered.

Ask your electrician what certification you will receive before remedial work starts.

Do Landlords Have to Notify an EICR?

Part P notification and landlord reporting duties are separate. A landlord may need to arrange an EICR and provide copies of the report. Those duties do not make the EICR notifiable building work.

Our guide to whether an EICR is a legal requirement explains when electrical inspections are required.

If a tenancy is changing, our guide to whether you need a new EICR for a new tenant covers the rules in more detail.

Landlord duties in England can include:

• Arranging electrical inspection and testing at the required intervals
• Giving the report to the tenant
• Providing the report to the local council when requested
• Completing required remedial work
• Providing the tenant with written confirmation when required remedial work is complete

Current government guidance requires qualifying remedial or investigative work within 28 days, or sooner when the report sets a shorter period.

These are reporting and electrical safety duties. Part P notification is a separate requirement.

What Documents Do You Receive After an EICR?

After the inspection, you receive an Electrical Installation Condition Report. The term “EICR certificate” is common, but the document itself is a condition report.

Our guide to what an EICR certificate is explains what the report contains and how you can use it.

Further electrical work may produce separate paperwork. The documents depend on the work completed.

You may receive:

• The EICR following the inspection and testing
• A Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate for suitable minor work
• An Electrical Installation Certificate for relevant installation work
• Building Regulations compliance documents for notifiable work

Do not assume the original EICR covers later repairs. Ask your electrician which documents will follow any remedial work.

Are EICRs Notifiable? – Summary

An EICR is not notifiable under Part P in England. The report records the condition of an existing electrical installation. Notification only becomes a question when electrical work follows the inspection.

The key points are:

• An EICR inspection is not notifiable
• Finding a fault does not make the EICR notifiable
• Repairs and replacements can be non-notifiable
• New circuits are notifiable
• Consumer unit replacements are notifiable
• Certain alterations in special locations are notifiable

If your EICR finds a defect, ask what work is needed and what certification will follow. The remedial work determines whether you need to notify under Part P.

Book an EICR

Need an EICR for your home or rental property? Contact TM Hughes Electrical for a quote and to arrange an inspection. Please use the phone number or email below.