EICR vs EIC vs MEIWC: Which Electrical Certificate Do Landlords in England Need?

Three different electrical certificates come up in landlord compliance, and confusing them leads to wasted money or missed obligations. Each one serves a distinct purpose under SI 2020/312.

EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report

This is the periodic safety check. A qualified inspector tests the existing fixed electrical installation — consumer units, circuits, sockets, switches, earthing, and hardwired appliances — and produces a report rating the installation satisfactory or unsatisfactory. It is the certificate landlords must obtain every five years (or sooner if the inspector specifies a shorter interval).

An EICR does not certify new work. It evaluates what is already there.

EIC — Electrical Installation Certificate

An EIC is issued after a complete rewire, a new-build installation, or a full consumer unit replacement. It certifies that the new work meets BS 7671 wiring standards. Under SI 2020/312, a valid EIC satisfies the landlord's statutory duty for five years from its date of issue — you do not need a separate EICR during that window.

The five-year countdown for the next periodic inspection starts from the EIC's date, not from the tenancy start date.

MEIWC — Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate

A MEIWC documents small-scale work that does not involve creating a new circuit: replacing a damaged socket, adding a spur, or carrying out the remedial repairs flagged on an unsatisfactory EICR. It sits alongside the parent EICR or EIC rather than replacing it.

After remedial work on an unsatisfactory EICR, the MEIWC (or an EIC if the work was substantial enough) plus written confirmation from the electrician is what proves the defects have been resolved. A completely fresh EICR is not required unless the inspector specifies one.

How They Work Together

A typical compliance timeline looks like this: you commission an EICR every five years. If it comes back satisfactory, file it. If it comes back unsatisfactory, the electrician carries out repairs and issues a MEIWC. You keep the original EICR, the MEIWC, and the written confirmation together as your compliance package.

If you have a property rewired or a new consumer unit fitted, the electrician issues an EIC. That EIC is your baseline for the next five years. When it expires, you commission an EICR to start the periodic cycle.

Getting the Paperwork Right

The Electrical Safety (EICR) Compliance Guide includes a certificate tracker and distribution matrix so you always know which document to file, who to send it to, and by when.

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