EICR & Electrical Testing · Preston · Lancashire · North West
EICR & Electrical Testing Specialists — Preston & North West
Compliance-led electrical inspection and testing for landlords, housing associations, FM companies and commercial properties across Preston and the North West. Reports that pass scrutiny first time. Same-day weekday response. Fixed quotes — no day-rate surprises.
Understanding EICRs
What is an Electrical Installation Condition Report?
An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) — sometimes called a periodic inspection report — is a formal document produced by a qualified electrician after a thorough inspection and test of a property's fixed electrical installation. It covers the wiring, sockets, light fittings, consumer unit, earthing, bonding and all associated circuits.
The purpose of an EICR is to identify any defects, deterioration, damage or dangerous conditions that could put the building's occupants at risk. Defects are classified as C1 (danger present — immediate action required), C2 (potentially dangerous — urgent action required) or FI (further investigation required). A property with no C1 or C2 observations is classified as Satisfactory.
EICRs are a legal requirement for private landlords, and increasingly expected across social housing, commercial property and facilities management portfolios. Failing to have a valid EICR in place exposes landlords and property managers to significant financial penalties, insurance voidance and potential prosecution in the event of an electrical incident.
NorthGrid's EICRs are carried out personally by Matt Foster or a directly supervised engineer — never subcontracted — and issued as BS 7671-compliant certificates the same day in most cases.
Legal Requirements at a Glance
- Private landlords — EICR required every 5 years, or at every change of tenancy (whichever is sooner). Mandatory in England since 1 June 2020.
- HMOs (Houses of Multiple Occupancy) — 5-year EICR mandatory. Local authority enforcement applies.
- Social housing / housing associations — EICR expected as standard across stock portfolios. Increasingly audited by regulators.
- Commercial properties — Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 requires all electrical systems to be maintained in safe condition. 5-year EICR is the standard evidence.
- Owner-occupiers — Not legally required, but every 10 years is strongly recommended.
Who Needs an EICR
If you own, manage or operate a property — you probably need one
Private Landlords
Legally required every 5 years or at change of tenancy. Failure to comply risks fines of up to £30,000 and potential prosecution.
Housing Associations
Portfolio-scale EICR programmes are standard across social housing. NorthGrid is structured to support multi-site, planned schedules.
Commercial Property Owners
Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 requires demonstrably safe electrical installations. A 5-year EICR is the recognised standard for compliance.
Facilities Managers
FM contracts increasingly specify EICR compliance across managed estates. NorthGrid integrates with planned maintenance schedules and portal requirements.
Industrial Units
Three-phase systems, heavy plant and industrial wiring require specialist testing. Matt has extensive experience in industrial electrical inspection.
Aviation & High-Security Sites
Matt is aviation-cleared and trusted for airside and high-security environments. Compliant EICR documentation for regulated facilities nationwide.
The NorthGrid EICR Process
From first contact to certified report — simple, fast and documented
Get in Touch
Call, WhatsApp or fill in the quote form. We respond the same working day. Describe the property type and we'll give you a fixed price.
Site Visit & Fixed Quote
For larger or commercial properties, we visit first and provide a fixed, itemised written quote. No day-rate surprises — ever.
Full Inspection by Matt Foster
The EICR is carried out personally by Matt or an engineer under his direct supervision. No subcontracting. No unknown labour on your site.
Certified Report Issued
Your BS 7671-compliant EICR certificate is issued the same day in most cases — audit-ready from the moment it arrives, with clear defect classification and remedial schedule where needed.
Scope of Inspection
What NorthGrid's EICR covers
Inspection & Testing
- Full visual inspection of the fixed electrical installation
- Earth continuity testing
- Insulation resistance testing
- Polarity checks (line, neutral, earth)
- RCD (residual current device) testing
- Loop impedance testing
Reporting & Certification
- Consumer unit / distribution board inspection
- C1, C2 and FI defect classification (BS 7671 codes)
- Written findings report with observations and recommendations
- Remedial works schedule where applicable
- BS 7671 / 18th Edition compliant EICR certificate
- Same-day issue in most cases — audit-ready immediately
Our Work
Work carried out by our team
Remedial Works
C1 and C2 defects — remediated in-house, no second contractor needed
When an EICR identifies C1 (danger present) or C2 (potentially dangerous) defects, action is required before the installation can be certified as satisfactory. Finding a second contractor to carry out remedials introduces delays, handover complications and inconsistency of standard.
NorthGrid carries out all remedial works in-house. Matt will discuss the remedial schedule directly with you at the time of the inspection, provide a fixed written quote, and return to complete the works as soon as required. Once complete, a fresh EICR certificate is issued.
From simple circuit repairs and consumer unit replacements through to more extensive rewiring, the same contractor who identified the defect will fix it — and sign it off.
Remedial Works Covered
- C1 immediate danger rectification
- C2 potentially dangerous defect remediation
- Consumer unit upgrades (SPD, RCBO, RCD)
- Earthing and bonding upgrades
- Circuit repairs, alterations and additions
- Full and partial rewires where required
- Fresh EICR certificate on completion
Why NorthGrid
Why choose NorthGrid for your EICR?
Reports That Pass Scrutiny First Time
Every EICR NorthGrid issues is thorough, detailed and built to withstand client, regulatory and insurer scrutiny. We don't rush inspections or cut corners to get off site faster. The certificate is the product — and it has to be right.
No Subcontracting — Matt Attends Personally
NorthGrid does not subcontract. All inspections are carried out by Matt Foster personally or by engineers under his direct supervision. You always know who is on your site — and their standard is guaranteed.
Same-Day Weekday Response
Contact us on any weekday and we'll respond the same day. Fixed quotes in writing. Certificates issued the same day as the inspection in most cases. No chasing, no delays, no administration overhead.
Coverage Areas
EICR services across Preston, Lancashire & the North West
NorthGrid Electrical is based in Bamber Bridge, Preston — well positioned for rapid response across Lancashire and Greater Manchester. For domestic and local commercial clients, we typically offer next-day or same-week availability.
For housing associations, FM companies and commercial organisations with multi-site EICR programmes, we operate nationwide. Portfolio contracts across England are welcomed and structured to suit your planned maintenance schedule.
Routine EICR Coverage
- Preston
- Bamber Bridge
- Chorley
- Blackburn
- Leyland
- Lancaster
- Blackpool
- Wigan
- Bolton
- Manchester
- Liverpool
- Burnley
- Southport
- Bury
- Rochdale
Common Questions
EICR frequently asked questions
How long does an EICR take?
It depends on the size and type of the property. As a rough guide:
- 1–2 bed flat or house: 2–3 hours
- 3–4 bed house: 3–4 hours
- HMO or larger residential: 4–6 hours depending on circuits
- Commercial premises: varies — we'll give you an accurate estimate when we quote
We'll always give you a realistic time estimate before the inspection so you can plan access accordingly.
How much does an EICR cost in Preston?
EICR pricing depends on the property size, number of circuits, age of the installation and access requirements. NorthGrid provides fixed-price quotes — no day-rate billing, no surprises on the invoice.
Contact us with the property type, approximate size and postcode and we'll give you a written price. For larger portfolios, we can discuss volume pricing for housing associations and FM contracts.
How often do I need an EICR?
- Private landlords: every 5 years, or at every change of tenancy — whichever is sooner. Mandatory in England since June 2020.
- HMOs: every 5 years. Mandatory and locally enforced.
- Commercial premises: every 5 years, or as specified by the previous EICR. Some installations may require more frequent testing.
- Social housing: every 5 years is now standard across most housing association portfolios.
- Owner-occupiers: every 10 years is recommended — or when buying or selling a property.
What happens if my property fails an EICR?
An EICR doesn't technically "fail" — it's classified as either Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. An Unsatisfactory result means the inspection has identified one or more C1 (danger present) or C2 (potentially dangerous) observations that require remediation before the installation can be signed off.
NorthGrid carries out all C1 and C2 remedial works in-house. We'll provide a fixed quote for the works at the time of the inspection, carry out the remediation, and issue a fresh EICR certificate once complete — all without you needing to find a second contractor.
Do you carry out remedial works after the EICR?
Yes — and this is one of the key reasons clients choose NorthGrid over competitors who only carry out the inspection. All C1 and C2 remedial works are carried out in-house by Matt or a directly supervised engineer. There's no need to find a second contractor, no handover complications and no inconsistency of standard.
Remedial works carried out by NorthGrid include consumer unit upgrades, earthing and bonding remediation, circuit repairs and alterations, RCD upgrades and full or partial rewires where necessary. A new EICR certificate is issued on completion.
Need an EICR in Preston or the North West?
Same-day weekday response. Fixed quotes in writing. BS 7671-compliant certificates. C1 and C2 remedials carried out in-house — no second contractor needed.