The short answer
An EICR for a typical three-bedroom home in Canterbury costs around £200 (we charge £150–£250) and includes testing, VAT and the certificate.
We’ll inspect the installation, test circuits and record safety observations against current standards. Larger four- to five-bedroom homes are usually £250–£350. Commercial EICRs are priced at about £30–£50 per circuit.
Please ensure safe access to the consumer unit, sockets and any fixed equipment. Our appointment checklist asks you to tell us about existing faults, previous alterations and any areas that need special access arrangements. We’ll explain our findings clearly and provide the certificate after inspection.
Summary of typical charges - Home EICR, up to 3 beds: £150–£250 — testing, certificate, VAT - Home EICR, 4–5 beds: £250–£350 — testing, certificate, VAT - Commercial EICR: £30–£50 per circuit — testing, certificate, VAT
What changes the price
EICR pricing depends mainly on the size and complexity of the installation, rather than the age of the property alone. We assess the work needed to inspect, test and report safely in line with current standards.
- Inspection depth: More circuits, accessories or inaccessible areas require additional testing time.
- Socket condition: Damaged, thanington or poorly fitted sockets may need closer examination and recorded observations.
- Wiring age: Older installations can require careful identification of cable types, earthing arrangements and protective devices.
- Landlord requirements: Rental properties need a valid report with clear coding, remedial recommendations where necessary, and appropriate documentation.
We’ll confirm a fixed price in writing before starting, based on the information available and the installation’s apparent condition. If testing identifies defects, remedial work is quoted separately, so you remain in control throughout.
Cost by property size
For most homes, EICR cost scales with the number of circuits and the time needed to inspect and test them properly. Room count is a useful guide, but it isn’t decisive: extensions, outbuildings and multiple consumer units can increase testing time. We price transparently, allowing for safe access and the wire condition we find during inspection.
| Property size | Typical EICR cost |
|---|---|
| One-bedroom flat | £150–£180 |
| Two-bedroom home | £160–£210 |
| Three-bedroom home | £150–£250 |
| Larger or complex home | Priced after circuit review |
A larger property doesn’t automatically mean poor compliance. However, older installations, including rubber, VIR or aluminium wiring, may require closer examination. We won’t rush testing to meet a low headline price; accurate results depend on methodical inspection and verification against current safety requirements. Prices include VAT and the report itself, quoted in writing beforehand.
What is included and what is not
Our fixed EICR price covers a visual inspection, testing of accessible circuits and equipment, verification of protective devices and earthing arrangements, and the issue of a written Electrical Installation Condition Report. We carry out safety checks in accordance with BS 7671 where applicable, record observations clearly, and identify any immediate danger, potential risk or non-compliance noted during the inspection.
The inspection does not normally include remedial work, concealed-cable tracing, opening inaccessible areas, or repairs to faults found during testing. If wiring diagrams, specialist access equipment, or further investigation are required, we will explain this and provide a separate quote before proceeding. Your report includes explanations of the certificate so you can understand its outcome and any recommended action.
Common misunderstanding: an EICR is not a guarantee that an installation will remain safe indefinitely; it records the condition at the time of the inspection and identifies observed defects and recommendations for remedial action. For rented properties, tenants should provide safe access and report damage, but the legal duty to maintain the electrical installation in a safe condition rests with the landlord under the applicable housing and landlord-tenant regulations.
How Canterbury compares with the national average
In Canterbury we commonly inspect Victorian terraces in the town centre and near Thanington and St Dunstan's, where original wiring can include rubber-insulated cable (VIR) from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Because we work across Canterbury’s specific neighbourhoods, we assess each installation on its actual condition rather than applying a generic town‑wide allowance. Local landlord duties for properties in Canterbury still require accurate certification, and where building age or conservation status in named areas affects testing we note that in our report. Before attending any property in Canterbury we provide a fixed written EICR price for that specific address, so you know the agreed cost.
When you would pay more, and why
You’d usually pay more than the £150–£250 typical three-bedroom EICR range where an installation is larger, has more circuits or consumer units, or needs additional time for safe access and testing. We’ll allow properly for each circuit’s inspection, dead testing and live testing, rather than treating the certificate as a rush job.
Costs can increase in larger homes, HMOs, converted properties and premises with outbuildings, multiple consumer units or inaccessible wiring routes. Complex wiring, alterations of uncertain age, and older cable types such as VIR, rubber or aluminium may require closer investigation. Flood-affected electrics, damaged accessories and restricted access can also extend the visit.
We provide a fixed written price before work begins, based on the installation details you give us. If safe isolation or further testing is required, we’ll explain why clearly.
Is it worth it?
For most properties, an EICR is worth the typical £150–£250 because it identifies electrical defects before they become a shock, fire or reliability risk. We inspect the installation against current safety standards, record observations clearly and classify any danger by urgency, giving you evidence to plan repairs rather than relying on assumptions about ageing wiring, damaged accessories or inadequate protection.
Is it worth it? Usually, yes: an unsatisfactory report can reveal issues that would otherwise remain hidden until a circuit fails or a fault causes damage. Note on legal duties: landlords in England and Wales must ensure electrical installations in new tenancies are inspected and tested by a qualified person before a tenancy starts and at least every five years thereafter for most tenancies; other landlord obligations and any local rules may vary. For homeowners, an EICR is not a statutory requirement in most cases but provides a documented condition check, particularly useful in older Canterbury properties with legacy cable types. Long-term savings: early remedial work can prevent wider disruption, emergency call-outs and avoidable replacement costs later.
Related guides
For more on maintaining a safe, compliant electrical installation, see our guides to landlord electrical duties, consumer unit upgrades, rewiring older properties and electrical safety after flooding. They explain how inspection findings connect with remedial work, ongoing maintenance and safe use.
Our landlord guide covers landlord requirements, including the duty to provide a satisfactory EICR at the required interval and to act on observations without delay. For older homes, we explain the risks associated with deteriorated VIR, rubber or aluminium wiring, and why careful assessment is essential before alterations.
If your report identifies issues at the consumer unit, our upgrade guide outlines the role of RCD protection, circuit identification and correct enclosure selection. Our flooding guide covers isolation, drying, inspection and testing frequency following water ingress, so electrical safety isn’t assumed before verification.