One of the most practical questions landlords and homeowners ask when booking an EICR is how long the inspection will take. The answer depends on several factors — primarily the size of the property and the number of circuits, but also the age of the wiring, how accessible the installation is, and the complexity of what the inspector finds. This guide gives realistic time estimates for different property types and explains what you can expect during the inspection itself.
EICR Duration by Property Size
The most reliable guide to how long an EICR will take is the size of the property. More bedrooms means more circuits, more sockets, more lights, and more to inspect and test. Here are typical durations for residential properties:
Studio and One-Bedroom Properties: 1 to 2 Hours
A studio flat or one-bedroom property in good condition with a modern or reasonably modern consumer unit will typically take between one and two hours to inspect and test. These properties have a relatively small number of circuits — usually a lighting circuit, one or two ring mains for sockets, a kitchen circuit, and possibly a shower circuit. The total number of test points is manageable and the inspection can be completed efficiently.
The lower end of this range applies to modern purpose-built flats where the installation is straightforward and all parts of it are accessible. The upper end applies to older conversions where access to the consumer unit or wiring may be more complicated, or where there are more circuits than you would expect in a property that size.
Two-Bedroom Properties: 2 to 3 Hours
A two-bedroom house or flat in average condition will typically take two to three hours. This assumes a standard installation with a main consumer unit, a reasonable number of socket circuits, lighting circuits for each floor, a kitchen circuit, and a bathroom or shower circuit. The inspector will work through each circuit methodically, carrying out both visual inspection and electrical testing.
At the two-bedroom level you start to encounter more variation. A modern two-bedroom flat built in the last twenty years with a clean, accessible installation can be done in closer to ninety minutes. An older Victorian terraced house that has been converted to a two-bedroom property, with multiple generations of electrical work, may take closer to three hours or even slightly longer.
Three-Bedroom Properties: 3 to 4 Hours
A three-bedroom house is the most common property type in Exeter's housing stock and is the benchmark for most EICR pricing and timing estimates. Expect three to four hours for a property in average condition. A typical three-bedroom semi-detached or terraced house will have upstairs and downstairs lighting circuits, multiple socket ring mains, a kitchen circuit, one or more bathroom or shower circuits, and possibly an outdoor circuit or garage circuit.
For landlords in Exeter, a three-bedroom property inspection is usually booked as a half-day appointment. This allows enough time to carry out the inspection thoroughly without rushing, which is what you want — a thorough inspection is in your interest as the property owner.
Four-Bedroom and Larger Properties: 4 to 6 Hours or More
Larger family homes, HMOs, and properties with complex installations — multiple phases, outbuildings, large gardens with outdoor circuits, home offices with dedicated circuits — can take four to six hours or more. For HMOs in particular, the inspection can take a full day, especially if the property has been extended or significantly altered since it was originally wired.
If you have a large property or an HMO and are booking an EICR in Exeter, it is worth discussing the property's characteristics with us when booking so we can allocate sufficient time. An inspection that is cut short because insufficient time was allocated is not useful to anyone.
What Factors Affect How Long an EICR Takes?
Property size is the primary factor but several others can significantly affect the duration:
Age of the Wiring
Older wiring requires more careful inspection and often more extensive testing. A property with rubber-insulated cables from the 1960s or 1970s will take longer to inspect than one with modern PVC-sheathed wiring, because the inspector needs to assess the condition of the cable insulation at each accessible point, document its condition carefully, and may need to carry out additional tests to assess the degree of degradation. The report will also be more detailed and take longer to complete.
Accessibility of the Installation
An electrician can only inspect what they can access. If the loft is sealed off, if floor boards cannot be lifted, or if a consumer unit is in a location that makes it difficult to work at, the inspection will take longer. Preparation makes a difference: if you clear access to the loft hatch, ensure the area around the consumer unit is unobstructed, and make sure the electrician can reach all rooms, the inspection will proceed more efficiently.
Number of Circuits
Each circuit requires individual testing. A property with twelve circuits will take significantly less time than one with twenty-two. Properties that have had additions over the years — EV charger circuits, workshop circuits, garden lighting circuits, additional sockets added to existing circuits — will often have more circuits than their size might suggest. The inspector will identify and test every circuit connected to the consumer unit.
Number of Socket Outlets and Light Fittings
Testing is not limited to circuits at the consumer unit. The inspector will also test socket outlets throughout the property, checking polarity, earth continuity, and resistance at representative points. A property with a large number of sockets — a home office fitout, a kitchen with many integrated sockets — will take slightly longer at the testing stage.
Condition of the Installation
Paradoxically, a property with a poor installation can take longer to inspect than one in good condition, because the inspector needs to document each observation carefully, determine its severity, and consider the implications for the overall result. An installation with multiple C2 observations, complex wiring arrangements, or evidence of previous DIY work will require more time and attention than a straightforward, well-maintained installation.
What Does the Electrician Do During an EICR?
Understanding what happens during the inspection helps you prepare and also helps you understand why it takes the time it does. The inspection has two main phases: a visual inspection and an electrical test.
During the visual inspection, the electrician works through the property systematically. They will inspect the consumer unit — its type, condition, labelling, and the presence of appropriate protective devices. They will check the main earthing and bonding arrangements, including the main protective bonding conductors attached to gas and water services. They will inspect all accessible wiring, including in the loft if there is one, looking for damage, deterioration, incorrect installation, and non-compliance with current standards.
Every socket outlet, switch, and light fitting is checked for damage, correct installation, and polarity. Bathrooms receive particular attention because electrical installations in bathrooms are subject to specific requirements regarding the zones in which different equipment can be installed and the types of protection required.
During the electrical testing phase, the inspector uses calibrated test equipment to carry out a series of tests on each circuit. These tests check the continuity of protective conductors, insulation resistance, polarity, earth fault loop impedance, and the operating time of RCDs. Each test produces a numerical result that is recorded against each circuit in the schedule of test results — a key part of the EICR document.
Report Turnaround: When Do You Get the Certificate?
The EICR report itself is not usually produced on-site at the time of the inspection. The electrician records all observations, test results, and circuit details during the visit, then compiles the formal report back at the office. Typical turnaround from completion of the inspection to receipt of the report is 24 to 48 hours for most inspections. Some electricians will produce a report the same day; others may take a few days for more complex properties.
For landlords who need the report urgently — for example, because a new tenancy is starting and the report must be provided to the incoming tenants before they move in — it is worth discussing the required turnaround when booking. Most electricians can prioritise the report if given sufficient notice.
The report will be issued as a PDF document by email in most cases. This is the format most useful for distributing to tenants, storing in a property management system, and providing to a local authority if required.
What Happens If Remedial Work is Needed?
If the EICR returns an Unsatisfactory result — meaning there are C1, C2, or FI observations — you will need to arrange remedial work. The timeline for this depends on the severity of the findings. C1 observations require immediate action; C2 and FI observations must typically be addressed within 28 days of the inspection unless the report specifies a shorter period.
Once the remedial work is complete, you must obtain written confirmation from the electrician who carried it out. This confirmation, along with the original EICR, forms your compliance documentation. You must then provide the confirmation to your tenants within 28 days.
In some cases, the electrician who carried out the EICR will also be able to carry out the remedial work. In other cases, especially where the work required is a consumer unit replacement or significant wiring remediation, a separate booking will need to be made. Our landlord electrician service can co-ordinate both the inspection and any follow-up remedial work needed to bring your property into compliance.
Book an EICR in Exeter with a NICEIC-registered engineer. We will advise you on the expected duration based on the specific characteristics of your property, and ensure the inspection is carried out by a qualified and experienced electrician.