How much does an EICR (electrical safety check) cost in Nottingham? (2026)

Typical EICR costs in Nottingham

Most EICRs are priced by property size, because the real driver is the number of circuits. As a rough Nottingham guide for 2026: a one-bed flat is usually £100–£160, a two- or three-bed house £150–£250, and a four- or five-bed house £220–£350. A second consumer unit, an outbuilding or a garage with its own supply adds to that.

The inspection usually takes 2–4 hours for a typical house, and the power will be off for some of that while circuits are tested.

Any remedial work is extra. Small fixes, like replacing a damaged socket, are often £50–£100 each. Bigger findings cost more: a new consumer unit commonly costs £500–£900 fitted, and an old installation with widespread problems may need a partial or full rewire.

What the inspection involves

The electrician checks the fixed wiring: the consumer unit (fuse board), the circuits, earthing and bonding, sockets, switches and light fittings. They'll test a sample of points on each circuit and look for wear, damage, overloading and anything that doesn't meet current safety standards.

It isn't a check of your plug-in appliances, which is a separate test (often called PAT testing).

You'll get a written report listing anything found, an overall result of satisfactory or unsatisfactory, and a recommended date for the next inspection.

Reading the report: C1, C2, C3 and FI

Each problem is given a code. C1 means danger is present and needs fixing immediately, and the electrician may make it safe there and then. C2 means potentially dangerous and needs urgent remedial work. FI means further investigation is needed without delay. Any C1, C2 or FI makes the report unsatisfactory.

C3 means improvement recommended. It doesn't make the report unsatisfactory on its own, and it's often about older installations that met the rules when they were put in.

If a report comes back with a long list of urgent work, ask for photos of each issue, and consider a second opinion before agreeing to a big remedial quote, especially if the inspection itself was very cheap.

The rules for landlords and homeowners

Private landlords in England must have the electrical installation inspected and tested by a qualified and competent person at least every five years. They must give a copy of the report to existing tenants within 28 days, to new tenants before they move in, and to prospective tenants within 28 days of being asked. If remedial or further investigative work is needed, it must be done within 28 days (or sooner if the report says so), with written confirmation sent to the tenant and the council. Councils can fine landlords up to £30,000 for breaches. The GOV.UK guide for landlords has the detail.

There's no legal requirement for owner-occupiers, but Electrical Safety First recommends having your installation checked at least every ten years. It's also worth doing when you buy an older home, before a major renovation, or if you notice warning signs like scorch marks, buzzing sockets or breakers that trip often.

Use an electrician registered with a scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT, and check them on the scheme's own search. On Rank My Builder, electricians can earn a Verified badge once their registration has been checked against the public register. You can post an EICR job free and get up to 5 quotes. We're new and only match jobs in Nottingham, Derby and Leicester for now.

FAQs

Useful official links

Check these yourself — logos on a van are not the same as being on the register.

• GOV.UK — electrical safety standards: guide for landlords
• NICEIC — find a contractor
• NAPIT — search registered electricians
• Electrical Safety First — how often to check the electrics