Electrics and gas

Does an owner-occupier in England have to give the buyer an EICR?

No. The government guidance on electrical safety standards is aimed at private and social rented homes in England, not at a sale between owner-occupiers. A buyer can still choose to commission an EICR. A lender can ask. The home survey is not that document.

Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Written for buyers in England and Wales unless this answer says otherwise. No named surveyor has signed this page. It is general guidance, not a report on your house, and not legal advice.

What is the fuller explanation?

If the seller happens to have an EICR because they once let the house, read it. Satisfactory does not mean every circuit was perfect. Unsatisfactory means the electrician found issues that the codes describe. Those codes are not RICS condition ratings. Ask an electrician to explain them if the report is thick with initials.

Scotland’s Home Report is a different system and includes its own inspection, not an English EICR. If you are buying in Scotland, read the Home Report rather than demanding an English form. If you are buying a rented house in England with sitting tenants, the rented-sector rules may already apply to the seller. Ask your solicitor which regime you are in.

What should you ask your surveyor?

Are you recommending an EICR because of what you saw, or noting that you did not test?
Did you see an existing certificate, and how old did it look?
Is this house being sold with vacant possession or with a tenancy?

What are the typical next steps?

Decide whether you want an EICR for your own peace of mind. The law described in the rented-sector guidance does not force it on an ordinary purchase.
If the lender asks, give them an electrician’s report rather than the survey paragraph.
If a tenancy is involved, let the solicitor explain the seller’s duties. Do not guess them from this page.

Costs vary with the building and with who you instruct. Where this page does not cite a published figure, ask the surveyor, a relevant specialist, or your solicitor for a written quote. Do not treat a forum average as the price.

Also asked about this

What do EICR codes C1, C2, C3 and FI mean in one line each?

They are the electrician’s codes for danger, potential danger, improvement, and further investigation. They are not condition ratings 1, 2 and 3. The electrician’s form defines them. Ask them to translate the ones on your certificate.

Can the seller refuse to allow an EICR?

They can refuse access. You then decide whether to proceed on a visual survey. Your solicitor explains the contract.