An EICR — an Electrical Installation Condition Report — is the report a qualified electrician produces after inspecting and testing the fixed wiring already in a building: the consumer unit, the circuits, the earthing and bonding. It is not a charger document. It is a condition report on the installation your charger will be added to, and the report people most often meet when older wiring meets a new, heavy load.
Key Takeaways
- An EICR reports the condition of an existing electrical installation; it is not a charger document and not the same as an installation certificate.
- It appears around charger installs because a charger is a large continuous load added to wiring that may never have been formally inspected.
- Buyers, sellers and landlords meet it most: it is the standard evidence of an installation’s condition.
- Only an electrician competent in inspection and testing should produce one — keep it with your installation paperwork.
What an EICR Is — and Is Not
The electrician inspects what can be seen, tests what cannot, and records the findings in a standard report. The verdict is whether the installation is satisfactory for continued use or unsatisfactory, with anything found listed in order of urgency. It describes the installation as found; it does not fix anything, and it does not approve new work.
| Document | What it covers | When it appears |
|---|---|---|
| EICR | The condition of an existing fixed installation | Periodic checks, house sales, lettings, before major new loads |
| Installation certificate | New work just completed, such as a new charger circuit | Issued by the installer when the job is finished |
| Charger paperwork | The unit itself — its conformity and warranty | Supplied with the charger and the installation |
Confusing the first two is common. The installer’s certificate says the new work meets the wiring regulations; an EICR says what state the rest of the installation was in when someone looked.
Why It Shows Up Around EV Chargers
A wall charger is one of the largest continuous loads a home asks its wiring to carry, running for hours at a time. A competent installer checks the existing installation before adding one — the route to recognised installers is set out in our guide to becoming an approved EV charger installer in the UK. Where the consumer unit is old, the earthing is tired or the installation has never been formally inspected, the installer may recommend an EICR so the condition is documented first.
That is not a charger-specific rule or a sales add-on by default. It is the difference between certifying a new circuit and knowing what that circuit is attached to. A fixed unit such as the EVDANCE EV-ACT3204PE 22 kW wallbox (Type 2, RFID and app, CE) becomes part of the installation; a plug-in unit such as the EVDANCE EV-ACS3210E 32A Type 2 portable charger adds no fixed work at all.
When People Are Asked for One
- Buying or selling a home. A buyer’s solicitor or surveyor may ask whether an EICR exists, especially on an older property — it is the standard evidence of the wiring’s condition.
- Letting a property. Landlords are routinely expected to evidence the condition of the electrical installation, and the EICR is the report used for it.
- Before a major addition. A charger, like any large new load, can prompt a check on an installation that has not been inspected for many years.
- After damage. Flooding, fire or building work can leave an installation in an unknown state that only inspection and testing will settle.
Who Can Produce One, and What to Keep
Inspection and testing is its own competence: look for an electrician qualified and experienced in periodic inspection, not only in installation work. The report records a recommended date for the next inspection, based on the installation’s age and condition, rather than a single fixed interval. Keep it with your house paperwork, alongside any charger installation certificate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an EICR the same as the certificate my charger installer gave me?
No. The installer’s certificate covers the new work they completed. An EICR covers the condition of the installation that already existed, whether or not any new work follows.
Do I legally need an EICR before installing a home charger?
There is no separate charger rule that demands one. Your installer certifies the new work and may recommend an EICR if the existing installation’s condition is unknown or doubtful. Let the installer advise for your address, since duties and practice differ across the UK’s nations.
How long does an EICR last?
It is a snapshot, not a licence with an expiry date. The electrician records a recommended interval until the next inspection on the report itself, based on what they found — shorter for an ageing installation, longer for one in good order.
Related Reading
- How to Become an Approved EV Charger Installer in the UK (OZEV)
- How to Become an EV Charger Installer (and Get Certified)
- Does an EV Charger Cable Need to Be Armoured? (UK)
- Can You Run an EV Charging Cable Across the Pavement? (UK)
