EICR GUIDE

EICR Exeter: Electrical Safety Certificate Cost 2026

Everything you need to know about EICRs in Exeter — costs by property type, landlord legal requirements, council enforcement, Victorian and student HMO findings, observation codes, and how to find a qualified inspector.

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10 min readUpdated 2026-06-10Andrew Moore, Founder of Elec-Mate

Written and reviewed by Andrew Moore, founder of Elec-Mate, against BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, IET Guidance Note 3 and the IET On-Site Guide.

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Key Takeaways

  • 1An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is a formal inspection of a property's fixed electrical installation, carried out in accordance with BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 (Chapter 65 — periodic inspection and testing). It produces a condition assessment using C1, C2, C3 and FI observation codes.
  • 2Exeter EICR costs are broadly in line with the South West average. Expect to pay between £95 and £180 for a two-bedroom flat and £150 to £270 for a three-bedroom house.
  • 3Landlords in England must obtain a valid EICR before a new tenancy begins and renew it every five years. Exeter City Council enforces these requirements and can fine non-compliant landlords up to £30,000 per breach.
  • 4Exeter has a mixed housing stock: a historic city centre with Medieval, Georgian, and Victorian properties, alongside inter-war suburbs and post-war estates. The University of Exeter generates strong student HMO demand in the St David's and Heavitree areas.
  • 5Exeter City Council operates mandatory HMO licensing and has an active private sector housing enforcement team. The large student rental market means EICR demand is particularly high in the September to October period at the start of each academic year.
01 · EICR Guide

What Is an EICR?

An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is a formal inspection and test of a property's fixed electrical installation. It covers the wiring, consumer unit, protective devices, earthing and bonding, socket outlets, light fittings, and all fixed electrical equipment.

The report is produced in accordance with BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 (Chapter 65 — periodic inspection and testing). It is a detailed condition assessment using standardised C1, C2, C3, and FI observation codes. The overall assessment is either Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.

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02 · EICR Guide

EICR Cost in Exeter (2026 Prices)

Exeter EICR prices are broadly in line with the South West average. Below are typical 2026 prices:

  • Studio / one-bedroom flat — £80 to £160. Common in the city centre and student areas near the University of Exeter.
  • Two-bedroom flat — £95 to £180. Victorian and Edwardian conversions in St David's and Heavitree take longer to inspect than modern purpose-built flats.
  • Three-bedroom house — £150 to £270. Victorian terraced houses in St Thomas, Heavitree, and Pinhoe are common in Exeter's private rented sector.
  • Four-bedroom+ house / HMO — £250 to £480+. Student HMOs in St David's and Heavitree have a broader inspection scope including fire alarm and emergency lighting systems.

These prices cover the inspection and report only. Remedial work is quoted separately. Historic city centre properties may attract higher rates for the additional time required during inspection.

04 · EICR Guide

Exeter Housing Stock and Common EICR Findings

Exeter has a varied housing stock. The historic city centre retains Medieval, Tudor, Georgian, and Victorian buildings. The inner suburbs of St David's, Heavitree, and St Thomas contain dense Victorian and Edwardian terraced housing that forms the backbone of the student rental market. Outer suburbs include inter-war and post-war housing:

  • Absent RCD protection on socket circuits — Regulation 411.3.3 of BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 requires RCD protection on all socket-outlets rated at 32 A and below (with no exception permitted for dwellings). This is the most common C2 finding across Exeter's pre-1990s housing stock, including the large stock of Victorian terraced houses used as student lets.
  • Absent RCD protection on lighting circuits — Regulation 411.3.4 (introduced in A4:2026) requires that AC final circuits supplying luminaires in domestic premises are protected by an RCD with a rated residual operating current not exceeding 30 mA. Properties with an older consumer unit that has no RCD coverage of lighting circuits will receive a C2 observation under this requirement. This affects virtually every pre-2018 Exeter property that has not had a modern RCBO board fitted.
  • Rubber-insulated cables in Victorian properties — properties in St David's, Heavitree, and the city centre that have not been fully rewired may retain rubber-insulated cables from mid-20th century wiring. These degrade over time and are typically C1 or C2 observations.
  • Inadequate earthing and bonding — Victorian terraced houses converted into student flats commonly have shared or undersized earthing arrangements and absent main protective bonding to gas and water services. These are frequent C2 findings.
  • Overloaded circuits in student HMOs — high occupancy levels and heavy appliance use in student lets can overload circuits designed for domestic use. Extension leads used in lieu of sufficient socket outlets are a common source of concern during inspections.
  • No arc fault detection devices (AFDDs) — Regulation 421.1.7 of BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 recommends installation of AFDDs on AC final circuits to mitigate fire risk from arc fault currents. Inspectors completing EICRs on the updated model forms must record the AFDD field. Victorian terraces and student HMOs — precisely the stock found across St David's and Heavitree — are the dwelling type where the AFDD recommendation is most pertinent. Absence of AFDDs typically attracts a C3 observation where the wiring is otherwise serviceable.

Electricians working in St David's, Heavitree, and the city centre should allow extra time for EICRs in Victorian terraces and should be familiar with the requirements for working in Exeter's conservation areas.

05 · EICR Guide

EICR Observation Codes Explained

Every observation on an EICR is classified using one of four codes defined in BS 7671 and the associated model forms:

C1 — Danger Present

Risk of injury exists. Immediate remedial action required. In Exeter, this most commonly relates to crumbling rubber-insulated cables in unmodernised Victorian properties or exposed live conductors.

C2 — Potentially Dangerous

Could become dangerous. Urgent remedial action required. Absent RCD protection (Regulation 411.3.3) and inadequate earthing are the most common C2 findings in Exeter's private rented sector.

C3 — Improvement Recommended

Not immediately dangerous. C3 alone does not make the EICR Unsatisfactory. Common in Exeter properties where older accessories are still functional but dated.

FI — Further Investigation

The inspector could not fully assess a part of the installation. Common in Exeter's Victorian properties where cables run beneath solid floors or through lath-and- plaster walls that cannot be disturbed.

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06 · EICR Guide

What to Expect During an EICR

  • Visual inspection — consumer unit, protective devices, cable condition, socket outlets, light fittings, switches, and earthing and bonding.
  • Dead testing — continuity of protective conductors, ring final circuit continuity, and insulation resistance. Table 64 of BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 specifies the required test voltages: 500 V DC with a minimum of 1.0 MΩ for standard circuits, and 250 V DC with a minimum of 0.5 MΩ for SELV and PELV circuits (such as ELV lighting, garden circuits, and bathroom shaver supplies common in Victorian conversions).
  • Live testing — earth fault loop impedance, prospective fault current, RCD operation times, and polarity.
  • Report completion — the inspector completes the EICR including Schedules of Circuit Details and Test Results as required by Chapter 65 of BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 (Regulation 653.1 and Appendix 6), with observation codes and an overall Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory assessment.
07 · EICR Guide

How Often Is an EICR Needed?

  • Private rented property — at least every 5 years (legal requirement under the 2020 Regulations).
  • Owner-occupied domestic — every 10 years recommended. Exeter's Victorian properties are well over 25 years old — the 5-year interval is more appropriate for these.
  • HMO — every 5 years minimum under Exeter City Council HMO licensing conditions. A shorter interval may be required for properties with older wiring or high occupancy.
  • Change of tenancy — a new EICR is required before a new tenant moves into any privately rented Exeter property, even if the current EICR has not expired.
08 · EICR Guide

Finding a Qualified EICR Inspector in Exeter

  • Competent person schemes — search NICEIC, NAPIT, or ELECSA registers for Exeter-based inspectors accepted by Exeter City Council.
  • Qualifications — City & Guilds 2391 or the 2394/2395 combination, plus a current 18th Edition (C&G 2382) qualification. Experience with Victorian terraced properties and student HMOs is an advantage in Exeter.
  • Insurance — the inspector should carry professional indemnity insurance. Scheme-registered electricians are required to maintain adequate cover.

For properties in Exeter's conservation area or listed buildings, look for an inspector who has experience working with Exeter City Council's heritage and conservation team and understands the constraints of remedial work in historic buildings.

09 · EICR Guide

For Electricians: EICR Work in Exeter

Exeter's University of Exeter student population, strong private rented sector, and mixed Victorian and post-war housing stock create consistent demand for EICR work. The start of the academic year in September and October brings a surge in EICR requests as landlords rush to comply before new tenants move in.

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Use the Elec-Mate EICR app to complete reports on your phone while still on site. AI board scanning, voice test entry, and instant PDF export mean the landlord has the report before you leave. During the busy academic year start, this efficiency is critical.

Quote Remedial Work Instantly

When the EICR identifies C1 or C2 observations, quote the remedial work on the day using the quoting app. Exeter landlords face a 28-day deadline and are under pressure to comply before students arrive — quoting immediately gives you the best chance of winning the remedial work.

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