If you own a rental property in Edinburgh, an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) isn't optional — it's a legal requirement under Scottish law. Yet many Edinburgh landlords are still unclear on exactly what's required, how often, and what happens when a property doesn't pass. This guide covers everything.
What Is an EICR?
An Electrical Installation Condition Report is a formal assessment of the electrical installation in a property — the wiring, consumer unit, sockets, switches, light fittings and earthing. It's carried out by a qualified electrician using calibrated test instruments and involves both a visual inspection and physical testing of every circuit.
The result is a detailed report with coded observations: C1 (danger present, immediate action required), C2 (potentially dangerous, urgent remedial work needed), C3 (improvement recommended) and FI (further investigation required). A property is only classed as satisfactory if there are no C1 or C2 codes.
Scottish Law Requirement
Under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 and the Private Residential Tenancy regulations, all Edinburgh private landlords must have a valid EICR carried out at intervals of no more than 5 years, or at the start of each new tenancy if sooner.
Edinburgh EICR Requirements for Landlords
Edinburgh landlords must ensure:
- An EICR is carried out at least every 5 years by a competent, qualified electrician
- A copy of the current EICR is provided to tenants within 28 days of the inspection
- A copy is provided to new tenants before or at the start of their tenancy
- Any C1 or C2 observations are remedied and the installation retested before the property is re-let
- The EICR is available to Edinburgh City Council on request
How Much Does an EICR Cost in Edinburgh?
Edinburgh EICR costs vary by property size and number of circuits. As a rough guide:
Spotlight Electrical offers fixed-price EICRs with no hidden call-out fees. Volume discounts are available for Edinburgh landlords managing multiple properties.
What Happens During an Edinburgh EICR?
A thorough EICR on an Edinburgh property involves:
Common EICR Findings in Edinburgh Properties
Edinburgh's housing stock is older than most UK cities — a significant proportion of the city's rental properties are Victorian or Edwardian tenements. Common EICR findings include:
- Older rubber or lead-sheathed wiring (pre-1960s) — typically C2 or C1
- Undersized or outdated consumer units without RCD protection — C2
- Lack of supplementary bonding in bathrooms — C2
- Overloaded circuits from added sockets or lighting — C2
- Missing or damaged earth sleeving — C2
- Older round-pin sockets or round-pin fused connection units — C3
EICR Testing Across Edinburgh Areas
We carry out EICR testing across all Edinburgh postcodes. Click your area for local pricing and availability: