Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) in Horsham

The private rented sector rules apply in Horsham just as they do anywhere else in England. Since 1 April 2021, landlords have had to hold a valid EICR for each rented property, renew it every 5 years, and use a qualified person registered with a competent person scheme. If our report records C1, C2 or FI issues, the installation is classed as unsatisfactory until the fault is dealt with, and the landlord can face penalties of up to £30,000 per breach. Copies also need to go to existing tenants within 28 days, which keeps the record clear if the local authority asks to see it.

Horsham’s housing mix makes that obligation feel very real on the ground. The district’s 44.5% post-1980 stock includes many newer homes, while 31.0% of properties date from 1945 to 1980, a period that often left homes with older consumer units and ageing accessories. Detached homes make up 33.6% of the stock, and semi-detached homes 30.5%, so landlords often look after family houses as well as flats in smaller blocks. Proximity to London and Gatwick Airport, along with major employers such as RSA Insurance Group and The Body Shop headquarters, keeps the town’s rented stock moving between tenants, which means inspection records need to stay current.

Local conditions matter too. Horsham’s geology is mainly Weald Clay, which has shrink-swell potential, and the town also sees flood risk from the River Arun and its tributaries, including the River Adur and Boldings Brook. Those factors do not change the EICR standard, but they can affect how a property ages, especially where damp has reached accessories, garages or external supplies. In conservation areas around the Causeway and Market Square, older buildings may have mixed eras of wiring hidden behind later upgrades, so a methodical test gives landlords a much clearer picture.

• 5-year renewal cycle
• Copy to tenants within 28 days
• C1, C2 and FI make the report unsatisfactory
• Fines can reach £30,000
• Qualified electrician required

An unsatisfactory EICR does not mean the whole property needs rewiring. It means our electricians found one or more issues that do not meet the required standard, and the report needs action before the installation can be treated as compliant. In practice, that often means a broken socket, a missing bond, a damaged accessory or a consumer unit that no longer gives the level of protection the circuits need. Horsham landlords with older stock near the Causeway or in post-war estates often find that one circuit needs work while the rest of the property tests well.

C1 and C2 findings need prompt attention. Landlords must complete remedial work within 28 days, or sooner if the report calls for immediate action, and the updated evidence should be kept with the original report. Once repairs are finished, we can return to retest the affected parts and record the result properly. If the issue is left unresolved, the local authority can step in, request evidence and issue fines of up to £30,000.

FI items need the same serious treatment, because the report cannot be closed properly until we know what is behind the fault. That can happen where a ceiling rose has been altered, a cable route is hidden in a conservation-area property, or a garage supply shows signs of damage after flooding from heavy rain and surface water. Tenants have the right to see the report, and they should not be left without proper documentation just because a defect is small or buried behind later decoration.

Our EICRs in Horsham start from £120, and the final fee depends on the property’s size, the number of circuits and the age of the installation. A compact flat with a straightforward consumer unit usually takes less time than a larger detached house with several ring mains, extra bathrooms, a garage feed or garden lighting. Older homes around the town centre, or properties with later extensions in RH12 4SE, can also take longer because our electricians need to test every accessible part of the fixed wiring.

The inspection fee covers the testing, the visual checks, the written report and the overall verdict on the installation. If the report is satisfactory, you have a clear record for the next 5-year cycle. If we find C1 or C2 issues, we can quote separately for remedial work so you know what needs fixing and what the extra cost will be before anything is booked in.

After the inspection, the report is issued with the observations recorded in plain English, including any FI items that need more work. The turnaround is tied to the visit itself, so you are not left waiting for a vague summary weeks later. That matters to Horsham landlords managing several homes across the district, because a dated report can delay a tenancy, an insurance check or a sale where electrical paperwork is requested alongside other property documents.