If you’re already a qualified electrician you may be exploring how you can develop your skills and add to the services you offer clients.
One option to consider is taking the 2391-52 inspection & testing course to not only enhance your knowledge of electrical systems but to put you in a position to produce Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs).
This will open up a wide range of opportunities in both the private and social rental sector in England.
Who needs an EICR?
All private landlords in England need to provide an EICR to their tenants at least every five years. This is a report that assesses the condition of the electrical wiring and appliances in a property.
This kind of inspection looks at the wiring itself, the sockets, light fittings and the fuse box. It is required to ensure that those in rental accommodation are not being put at undue risk as a result of faulty or poorly maintained electrical systems.
From 2025, the regulations requiring private landlords to provide EICRs were extended to cover social housing providers. This means there is likely to be more demand for qualified electrical inspectors now that the rules have changed.
Just under 20 per cent of UK households are in the private rented sector, while 17 per cent are in the social rented sector. This means the number of properties that need an EICR has increased by almost double with this change in regulations.
What happens if a rental property fails its inspection?
When you produce your EICR, you’ll give the property a rating. If you deem the electrical installations to be unsatisfactory, the landlord will have 28 days to rectify the issues. However, you can recommend that they act more quickly if you believe this is necessary.
As a qualified electrician, you can provide a quote to carry out the work you’ve identified. Regardless of whether a landlord uses you or another electrician to conduct the work, it must be recorded and the property will need a fresh assessment once it’s been done.
Who else might want an EICR?
In theory any homeowner may want to receive an EICR to ensure that their property is as safe as possible. It can be useful for those selling their homes to provide an EICR to prospective buyers, although this is not a requirement.
When you’re conducting an EICR, you can also take the opportunity to share advice on how to take care of electrical systems, as well as sharing tips on what to look out for that could indicate a problem.
This is where you can add more value to your clients – and these are some of the areas we explore as part of the inspection and testing course.
As you can see, with a significant proportion of the UK’s population living in rental accommodation, there are many opportunities for you to provide valuable services within your community as a qualified electrician.
Inspections and testing can be a smart way to grow your business, while helping ensure more families stay safe.