Homebuyer EICR: What are they and why do you need one?
How old is your property?
As homes get older, more things tend to go wrong with them. This isn’t groundbreaking news or anything new, but many of us tend to focus either on cosmetic issues that are visible in our home, such as replacing kitchen units or old window frames or on issues when they arise, such as water leaks.
Electrical degradation, however, is different. Faulty circuitry or fraying electrical wires aren’t visible or obvious at first glance. Quite often, these issues only become obvious when the situation is potentially dangerous.
Typically electrical cables and other electrical units are either inside walls or behind kitchen and lounge units. As well as cables and other components being well hidden, potential dangers are too.
Regular testing means a safer home
The safest way to deal with potential electrical issues is to identify them early on and to ensure that you have the most up to date electrics in your home, in line with the latest legislation.
Luckily, there is government legislation in place to ensure that properties are tested regularly when any work is underdone.
By having a Homebuyer EICR completed, you can reduce the risk of electrical dangers in your home.
What is a Homebuyer EICR Report?
EICR stands for “electrical installation condition report” and is something that has come into existence as a result of recent changes to government legislation. An EICR report is created as a result of a property inspection by a fully qualified electrician.
An EICR report identifies any potential electrical issues including damage, defects and deterioration in the electrical system. This includes electrical wiring, the electrical system and any other components that are involved in providing electricity to a property. It also identifies any other dangers that might arise as a result of the current electrical installation being in operation.
Why you need a Homebuyer EICR report
We take our car for an MOT regularly and we visit the dentist regularly for a check-up, but we don’t think about having our electrical system checked regularly - despite there being considerable risks.
An EICR report addresses this issue. Having a qualified electrician inspect your property helps to identify any potential dangers before they become serious.
How often should you have an EICR report?
There are no legal timeframes currently for how often a residential property should be checked (although this is different for rented properties) but we recommend that a property is fully checked at least every 10 years.
Older properties may require more frequent checks, which can be as often as every 4 or 5 years.
What exactly is inspected for a Homebuyer EICR?
During the inspection and testing, everything that’s associated with the overall electrical system needs to be checked - from plug and sockets to switches and even extension leads!
The fusebox and RCD protection for the home is also a core component that needs to be tested to ensure it is safely working and there aren’t any defects.
During the inspection, we will look for any visible signs of wear and tear as well as any signs of scorching or burning.
Ready for your electrical inspection?
If your property is more than 10 years old and you haven’t yet had an electrical inspection then now is the time to get in touch to book your Homebuyer EICR.
