No. There’s no legal requirement to have an EICR to sell an owner-occupied home in England. But buyers, their solicitors and their surveyors often ask for one, and having a recent report ready can stop electrical questions holding up your sale.
Why would a buyer ask for one?
- Their survey recommended an electrical inspection
- The property has an older fuse box or visible older wiring
- They’re buying to let and will need a satisfactory EICR anyway
- Their solicitor wants evidence that electrical work has been done properly
Will my solicitor ask about electrical work?
Yes. The property information form your solicitor sends you asks about electrical work done while you owned the house, and whether you have certificates for it. Find any certificates you were given for a rewire, a new consumer unit or new circuits. If you can’t find them, tell your solicitor early.
Should I get an EICR before I put the house on the market?
It’s worth considering if:
- the house has an older fuse box or hasn’t been inspected for ten years or more;
- you’ve had electrical work done but can’t find the certificates;
- you’re selling to an investor or landlord;
- a previous sale fell through over the electrics.
Getting it done early gives you time to fix anything at your own pace, rather than negotiating under pressure later.
What if the report is unsatisfactory?
You have three choices: fix the C1 and C2 items before you sell, agree a price reduction with the buyer, or sell as it is and disclose the report. Any C1 danger should be made safe straight away whatever you decide. See what the codes mean and our remedial work service.
Do I have to show the buyer the report?
Your solicitor will advise, but you shouldn’t give misleading answers about known problems. If you have a report, it’s usually better to share it with any work completed than to have it come up through the buyer’s survey.
How long does an EICR take, and when do I get it?
Two to four hours for most homes. The report is emailed within one working day of your payment clearing, and we can send a copy to your estate agent or solicitor.
Selling a rental property?
If the property is let, it must already have a valid EICR. Buyers taking on the tenancy will want to see it. See our landlord EICR guide.
Book an EICR before you sell
Check your total price on our EICR page, call 0161 400 1855 or 07493 508 439, or send us an enquiry. We work Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm, across Manchester and the surrounding areas (see the areas we cover). Your report is emailed within one working day of your payment clearing.
