A standard 3-bed house EICR takes 2 to 4 hours on site, and the signed report is back with you the same or next day. A small flat can be done in 1 to 2 hours; a large detached with multiple consumer units can run to 4 to 6. The reason it takes that long is simple: every single circuit has to be isolated and tested individually, and there is no shortcut that still gives you a report worth having.
How long does an EICR take, by property size?
| Property | Time on site |
|---|---|
| 1-bed flat | 1 to 2 hours |
| 2-bed flat or terrace | 1.5 to 3 hours |
| 3-bed house (most common) | 2 to 4 hours |
| 4-bed detached | 3 to 5 hours |
| Large property or multiple consumer units | 4 to 6 hours, sometimes a full day |
| Small commercial unit | Half a day, quoted individually |
Why does it take that long?
An EICR is not a visual once-over. On every circuit in the property, the electrician has to carry out live and dead testing:
- Continuity of conductors and protective bonding
- Insulation resistance, circuit by circuit
- Earth fault loop impedance
- RCD and RCBO trip times
- Polarity and correct connections
- A physical inspection of the consumer unit, sockets, switches and accessories for damage, overheating or previous DIY work
Each of those has to be recorded against each circuit and coded. A house with ten circuits simply takes longer than a flat with four. If someone offers you a full EICR in 45 minutes, they are not testing every circuit, and the certificate is not worth the paper it is on.
How long until the report actually lands?
Same day or next day with Renovolt. That is the bit most people forget to ask about, and it is the bit that catches landlords out.
In Wales, under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act, a landlord must serve a copy of the EICR on the contract-holder within 14 days of the inspection. A slow turnaround eats into that window. If the report takes an electrician a fortnight to type up, you have already missed it, and a property can be treated as unfit for human habitation even when the wiring passed perfectly. Getting the signed report back fast is not a nice-to-have, it is the whole point.
What can make it quicker?
A few practical things genuinely speed the visit up:
- Clear access to the consumer unit and to every room, including any loft or garage circuits.
- Move things away from sockets you know are behind furniture.
- Have any previous certificates to hand (an old EICR, or an installation certificate for recent work). It helps Aled see what has been done and when.
- Say up front if you work from home, so the isolations can be planned around your calls.
What happens at the end?
Aled walks you through what he found in plain English before he leaves. Anything he has coded gets explained: a C1 means danger present and he will make it safe there and then; a C2 means potentially dangerous and needs remedial work; a C3 is an improvement recommendation and is not a fail. You can read the full breakdown in what C1, C2 and C3 codes mean.
If something needs putting right, you get a separate written quote, no pressure and no invented faults. Because Aled is the same NAPIT-registered electrician who did the inspection, he can carry out the remedial work himself, often the same visit for something small, so you are not chasing a second contractor.
What does it cost?
An EICR with Renovolt is a fixed £200 + VAT (£240 inc VAT) for a standard residential property, the same price whether you are a homeowner or a landlord. Larger or unusual properties are quoted individually, always in writing and always before any work starts. More on the EICR page.