How long does an EICR take, and what access is needed?
The honest answer is two to four hours for most homes, and the single biggest variable is not the size of the property but how many circuits have been added to it over the years.
Typical durations
These are the ranges we plan against across South Wales. They assume access to the consumer unit, the loft and any outbuilding is available on arrival.
- One or two bedroom flat: one and a half to two and a half hours
- Two or three bedroom house: two to three and a half hours
- Four bedroom or extended house: three to four and a half hours
- Licensed HMO: four hours upwards, because sampling is not appropriate
- Small commercial unit: half a day, dependent on the number of distribution boards
Why the power goes off, and for how long
Continuity, insulation resistance and polarity testing cannot be carried out on live circuits, so the supply is switched off in stages while those tests are done. It is not one continuous outage from start to finish, but you should assume the property has no usable power for a large part of the visit.
Plan for it rather than working around it. Freezers stay closed and cope fine. Home working, anyone reliant on powered medical equipment, and tropical fish tanks need to be flagged when the appointment is booked so we can sequence the testing sensibly.
What access we need
Time lost on access is the commonest reason a visit overruns. Clearing these before the appointment usually saves half an hour or more.
- The consumer unit, including anything stored in front of a cupboard
- The loft hatch, with a clear landing space beneath it
- Garages, sheds and outbuildings with their own supply
- Under-stairs and under-sink spaces where junction boxes hide
- Keys or a code for any locked room in a tenanted property
Tenanted properties
One confirmed visit is worth two provisional ones. Where a property is tenanted we will contact the tenant directly to agree a slot if you prefer, and we can collect keys from an agent for the day where a portfolio is being tested in a batch.
We work 8am to 9pm seven days a week specifically because tenanted access is easier outside working hours, and an evening appointment is a normal booking rather than an out of hours favour.
Common questions
Do I need to be there for the whole visit?
No, but someone needs to grant access at the start and be reachable. For tenanted properties we can deal with the tenant directly by arrangement.
Will the power be off the entire time?
Not continuously, but for a large part of it. Circuits are isolated in stages, and we can sequence around a critical appliance if you tell us in advance.
Can you do it in an evening or at a weekend?
Yes. We work 8am to 9pm seven days a week, which is often the easiest way to get access to an occupied property.
Why do HMOs take so long?
Because every final circuit is inspected in its own right rather than sampled, and there are usually more circuits, more accessories and more occupancy wear to record.
When do I get the report?
Normally the same day or the next working day, with photographs of every observation and an itemised written price for any remedial work.