How Long Does an EICR Take? Full UK Duration Guide for 2025
⏳ How Long Does an EICR Take? Full UK Duration Guide for 2025
If you’re booking an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), one of the most common questions is: “How long will the inspection take?”
The truth is, EICR duration depends on property size, number of circuits, access, and the condition of the installation. This guide provides the most accurate UK-wide EICR time estimates for 2025, including timings for flats, houses, HMOs, and commercial sites.
📚 Contents
- ⏳ Average EICR Duration in the UK
- 🏠 EICR Duration by Property Type
- 🧩 What Affects How Long an EICR Takes?
- 🔍 What Happens During an EICR? Step-by-Step
- 🔄 How Long Does an EICR Re-Test Take?
- 🛠️ How Long Do Common Remedial Repairs Take?
- ⚡ How to Make Your EICR Faster
- ❓ Frequently Asked Questions
⏳ Average EICR Duration in the UK (2025)
These are the typical inspection times for a standard UK domestic EICR:
| Property Type | Typical EICR Duration |
|---|---|
| 1 Bed Flat | 1 – 1.5 hours |
| 2 Bed Flat | 1.5 – 2 hours |
| 2–3 Bed House | 2 – 3 hours |
| 4 Bed House | 3 – 4 hours |
| 5+ Bed House | 4 hours+ |
| HMO Property | 2.5 – 5 hours+ |
| Commercial Unit | 2 – 6 hours+ |
The time required can increase if the wiring is older, circuits are hard to access, or if the consumer unit is large.
🏠 EICR Duration by Property Type
1️⃣ 1 Bed Flat — 1 to 1.5 hours
- Simple layouts
- Typically 6–8 circuits
2️⃣ 2 Bed Flat — 1.5 to 2 hours
- More lighting and socket circuits
- Longer testing time
3️⃣ 2–3 Bed House — 2 to 3 hours
- More complex wiring than flats
- Loft access may extend time
4️⃣ 4 Bed House — 3 to 4 hours
- Multiple floors
- Additional consumer unit or garage circuits possible
5️⃣ 5+ Bed House — 4 hours+
- Large properties
- Outbuildings, extensions or extra sub-boards
6️⃣ HMOs — 2.5 to 5+ hours
- More circuits due to multiple tenants
- Fire alarm & emergency lighting checks may be included
7️⃣ Commercial Premises — 2 to 6+ hours
- Three-phase equipment increases testing time
- Number of circuits varies widely
🧩 
1. Number of Circuits
More circuits = more tests = more time.
2. Age of Installation
Properties older than 25 years may have more faults to record.
3. Consumer Unit Access
Blocked areas, poorly labelled boards and missing circuit schedules increase duration.
4. Property Condition
Damaged accessories, missing bonding, and outdated fuse boxes slow down inspection.
5. Occupancy & Access
Inspectors require access to all rooms, sockets and lighting points.
🔍 What Happens During an EICR? (Step-by-Step)
1. Visual Inspection
- Consumer unit condition
- Cables, sockets, switches
- Bonding and earthing
- Signs of overheating or damage
2. Dead Testing
- Continuity tests
- Insulation resistance tests
- Polarity checks
3. Live Testing
- RCD trip times
- Earth loop impedance (Zs)
- Prospective fault current
4. Circuit Verification
Each circuit is traced and confirmed.
5. Coding & Reporting
Defects are assigned C1, C2, C3 or FI codes.
If you need help understanding codes, read: EICR Codes Explained (C1, C2, C3, FI).
🔄 How Long Does an EICR Re-Test Take?
Re-testing after remedial work is significantly faster than the full inspection.
- Single circuit repair: 10–20 minutes
- Multiple circuits: 30–60 minutes
- Consumer unit replacement: 1–2 hours re-testing
Learn more about repairs and re-test costs in our EICR Cost Guide 2025 .
🛠️ How Long Do Common Remedial Repairs Take?
- Replace damaged socket — 20–40 minutes
- Upgrade bonding — 1–2 hours
- Replace light fitting — 15–35 minutes
- Replace consumer unit — 4–6 hours
- Rewire circuit — 2–4 hours
⚡ How to Make Your EICR Faster
- Clear access to consumer unit
- Move furniture blocking sockets
- Label outbuildings or additional boards
- Provide previous EICR or circuit schedules (if available)
- Ensure loft access is safe
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Does the power need to be turned off during an EICR?
Yes, briefly during dead testing. Live testing also requires momentary power interruptions.
Can tenants stay in the property during an EICR?
Yes — EICRs are non-intrusive and do not require vacating the property.
Is an EICR faster for new builds?
Yes. Modern properties with clear labelling and modern consumer units are quicker to inspect.
Do HMOs take longer to test?
Usually, due to additional circuits, more rooms and safety systems.
How long does it take to get the EICR report afterwards?
Most electricians issue the certificate within 24–48 hours after testing.
What takes the longest during an EICR?
Testing circuits individually, especially older installations with unclear wiring.
Can an EICR take more than a day?
Only in large commercial or industrial premises.
Understanding how long an EICR takes helps you plan ahead and ensures your electrical system meets UK safety standards in 2025.