Electrical Safety Certificates Explained: EICR vs Electrical Installation Certificate vs Minor Works

You are buying a house and the solicitor asks for “the electrical certificate.” Your tenant moves in and wants “the electrical safety certificate.” An electrician finishes a new socket and hands you a document you have never seen before. You ask online and receive four different answers about which certificate is which.

The reality is straightforward once you understand the system: there are four distinct electrical documents, each produced for a different situation, each with different legal standing, and each answering a different question. Confusing them is one of the most common reasons for failed property sales, failed tenancy inspections, and disputes between landlords and tenants.

This guide explains each certificate clearly, when it is triggered, who issues it, how long it is valid, and how they relate to each other — with practical scenarios so you can identify which one you need.

The Four Electrical Documents at a Glance

Understanding which one you need starts with understanding what has actually happened electrically — not what someone told you to get.

Document 1: EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report)

What it is

An EICR is a snapshot assessment of an entire installation’s condition. It is not a certificate that work has been done — it is a report on what state the wiring, consumer unit, earthing, and protection devices are in right now.

The electrician inspects and tests the full installation, then issues a report with a list of observations, each assigned a condition code (C1, C2, C3, or FI) and an overall verdict of Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.

When you need one

• Landlords — legally required every 5 years in England (and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland under equivalent legislation). See our full Landlord Electrical Safety Obligations guide.
• Homeowners — recommended every 10 years, or at change of ownership, or after any major electrical work
• Property sale — increasingly requested by buyers’ solicitors and mortgage lenders
• Insurance claim — some insurers require a current EICR before settling electrical fire claims
• Change of tenancy — required before a new tenancy begins in England

What it covers

• Consumer unit and all protection devices (MCB, RCD, AFDD, SPD)
• All fixed wiring throughout the property
• Earthing and bonding
• Suitability against the current edition of BS 7671
• Visible damage, deterioration, and non-compliance

What it does NOT cover

• Portable appliances (that is PAT testing)
• Individual circuits or alterations (that is an EIC or MWC)
• Gas, water, or structural condition (separate inspections)

How long it lasts

An EICR has no official expiry date. For landlords, it is treated as current for 5 years from the date of issue. For homeowners, it is recommended at 10-year intervals, though mortgage lenders and insurers may request a more recent one.

Related: When to Get an EICR — full guide on costs, what happens if you fail, and how to find a qualified inspector. EICR Codes Explained — what C1, C2, C3, and FI mean in detail.

Document 2: EIC (Electrical Installation Certificate)

What it is

An EIC is a certificate confirming that a new electrical installation has been designed and installed to BS 7671. It is the formal document that says “this work was done correctly, to the current standard, by a competent person.”

When you need one

• A new consumer unit has been installed
• A new circuit has been added (e.g., new ring main, new shower circuit, new outdoor circuit)
• A full or partial rewire has been completed
• A new building has been wired from scratch
• Major alterations to existing circuits that change the circuit’s design or protection

The EIC is produced at the point of completion — the electrician who designed and installed the work issues it.

What it covers

• Design details of the new installation or circuit
• Electrical test results (insulation resistance, earth fault loop impedance, RCD trip times, etc.)
• Confirmation that BS 7671 was followed during design and installation
• Schedule of test results for every circuit tested
• Declaration by the designer and installer

Who issues it

Only the competent person who designed and/or installed the work can issue an EIC. This is typically a registered electrician (NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, SELECT). If the work was done by a non-registered person, the EIC must be obtained from a separate registered electrician who inspects and tests the work — which may require opening up floors, walls, and access points to verify.

How long it lasts

An EIC is valid permanently as evidence that the work was compliant at the time it was done. It does not expire. However, if the installation is later modified, the original EIC still stands for the original work, but a new EIC (or MWC) is required for the modification.

Difference between EIC and EICR

This is the single most common confusion:

You receive an EIC after new work. You receive an EICR after an inspection. A landlord cannot substitute one for the other — a new consumer unit requires an EIC at the time of installation, and an EICR five years later (or sooner).

Document 3: MWC (Minor Works Certificate)

What it is

An MWC is the smaller sibling of the EIC. It confirms that a single addition or alteration to an existing circuit has been done correctly, without requiring a full EIC covering the entire new installation.

When you need one

• Adding a single socket to an existing ring main or radial
• Adding a new light fitting or extending a lighting circuit
• Replacing a consumer unit (this may require an EIC depending on whether it constitutes a new installation or an alteration — the dividing line is at the discretion of the electrician)
• Adding an outside socket or shed supply on an existing circuit
• Fitting a new shower isolator or cooker connection
• Any work that is a minor addition or alteration to an existing circuit

What it covers

• Description of the work done
• Confirmation that the work complies with BS 7671
• Test results for the affected circuit only (not the entire installation)
• Confirmation that the work does not adversely affect existing circuits

Who issues it

The competent person who carried out the work — registered electrician via NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, or SELECT. A non-registered person cannot issue an MWC; they must notify Building Control for inspection (via Part P).

How long it lasts

An MWC is valid permanently as evidence that the work was compliant at the time it was done. It does not expire.

When you need an MWC vs an EIC

The decision comes down to whether the work constitutes a new installation or an alteration to an existing one:

Document 4: Part P Compliance Certificate

What it is

A Building Regulations Compliance Certificate confirms that notifiable electrical work was carried out in compliance with Part P of the Building Regulations. It is the document that proves the work was done lawfully.

When you need one

Only when the work was notifiable under Part P. Notifiable work includes:

• New circuits in any location
• Work in special locations (bathrooms, swimming pools, gardens)
• Work in a garage or outbuilding
• Replacement of a consumer unit

Part P compliance can be achieved via three routes:

1. Registered Competent Person Scheme (most common): The electrician is registered with NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, or SELECT. They self-certify their own work under the scheme. The scheme operator registers the completion with the local authority on your behalf. You receive a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate automatically (typically within 5–10 working days).

2. Building Control application: The electrician (or homeowner, for DIY work — though this is rare for notifiable jobs) notifies Building Control before work starts. Building Control inspects the work and, if satisfied, issues a completion certificate.

3. Building Control inspection after completion (retrospective): If work was done without notification, a Building Control application can be made retrospectively. Building Control will inspect and, if the work is satisfactory, issue a compliance certificate. This is more expensive than the competent person route but resolves the compliance gap.

How long it lasts

A Part P Compliance Certificate is valid permanently as evidence that the work complied with Building Regulations at the time it was done. The record is held by the local authority building control department and can be searched for when a property is sold.

Does a Part P certificate replace an EIC or MWC?

No. They are completely different documents serving different legal frameworks:

A property may have a Part P Compliance Certificate but no current EICR, or vice versa. For a landlord, both may be relevant — the EICR is the condition report required for the tenancy; the Part P certificate was relevant at the time the work was originally done.

Practical Scenarios: Which Document Do You Need?

Scenario 1: Buying a house

The solicitor asks for “the electrical certificate.”

What you actually need:

• An EICR — current and satisfactory — to confirm the existing installation is safe. This is the document most solicitors and mortgage lenders are looking for.
• If a new consumer unit or new circuits were recently installed, also provide the EIC for that work.
• If the seller’s documentation includes a Part P Compliance Certificate for work done, include it — it confirms the work was legally carried out, but it does not confirm the current condition of the installation.

What is NOT sufficient: a Part P certificate alone. Part P confirms the work was done legally; it does not confirm the installation is currently safe or compliant with current BS 7671.

Scenario 2: Landlord renting a property

The letting agent needs documentation.

What you need:

• A current EICR — satisfactory rating, issued within the last 5 years — is the legally required document under The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020.
• If a new circuit or consumer unit was installed during the tenancy, the EIC for that work should also be kept on file.
• The Part P Compliance Certificate for that work confirms it was notified and legally carried out — keep it on file but it is not the document the letting agent is asking for.

Scenario 3: Electrician installs new sockets

You have asked an electrician to add two sockets to your kitchen.

What the electrician should give you:

• A Minor Works Certificate (MWC) confirming the work complies with BS 7671 and the test results for the affected circuit
• If the electrician is registered with a competent person scheme, the scheme automatically notifies Building Control — you receive a Part P Compliance Certificate within 5–10 working days

What you should keep: both documents — the MWC confirms technical compliance; the Part P certificate confirms legal compliance.

Scenario 4: Full rewire of a house

An older property is being completely rewired.

What the electrician should give you:

• An Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) — this covers the entire new installation, including all circuits, the consumer unit, earthing, and bonding
• A Part P Compliance Certificate — issued automatically through the competent person scheme

What you should NOT receive instead: an MWC (the work is too extensive for minor works) or an EICR (the EICR is for assessing existing wiring; a new installation starts with an EIC, and the first EICR for the new installation should be carried out 5 years later).

Scenario 5: Tenant reports a fault

A tenant reports a flickering light and burning smell.

What the landlord should do:

• Arrange an immediate inspection — this may result in an ad hoc EICR or targeted inspection
• If a new circuit or repair is carried out, an MWC or EIC (depending on scope) should be issued for the work
• The existing EICR remains valid unless the fault was a condition code finding that should have been identified — in which case, consider requesting a re-inspection

Where to Keep Certificates

Store all electrical documents together — they form a complete history of the installation:

• At the property: in the kitchen drawer or utility cupboard with the gas safety certificate, boiler manual, and property paperwork
• Digitally: photographed, scanned, or stored in a cloud folder
• On sale or let: provide copies to the buyer or tenant within 28 days (landlord legal requirement for EICRs)
• With the local authority: Part P Compliance Certificates are held by Building Control and can be searched for on request

A property with a complete set of electrical documentation — EICR, EICs for major work, MWCs for alterations, and Part P certificates — is significantly easier to sell or let than one without.

Common Questions

”My electrician said I don’t need a certificate — is that right?”

If the work was like-for-like replacement (changing a light fitting, swapping a socket) and did not alter the circuit or its protection, no formal certificate is legally required. If the work added a new circuit, extended a circuit, replaced a consumer unit, or was in a special location (bathroom, garden, garage), a certificate is required. An electrician who says otherwise may be trying to avoid the paperwork — or may not be registered and therefore cannot issue one.

”Can I get an EICR done by anyone?”

Only a competent person registered with NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, or SELECT can issue an EICR that will be accepted by letting agents, mortgage lenders, and local authorities. An EICR from an unregistered person has no formal standing — the report may not be accepted where a current EICR is legally required.

”What if I buy a house with no electrical certificates?”

This is common in older properties. The solution is straightforward: commission an EICR before or immediately after completion. If major work is identified, budget for remedial work and request the appropriate EICs or MWCs for any new work done. Properties with no certificates at all are not legally non-compliant (there is no general legal requirement to have a current EICR as a homeowner) — but they may be difficult to sell, difficult to insure, and potentially unsafe.

”Does an EICR cover portable appliances?”

No. Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) is a separate process covering plugs, leads, and portable equipment — kettles, microwaves, vacuum cleaners, computers. See our PAT Testing Explained guide for the full picture.

”Do I need a new EICR every time I have work done?”

Not necessarily. If a new circuit is added, the electrician issues an EIC for that work. The existing EICR remains valid for the rest of the installation. However, if the new work is extensive (full rewire, major consumer unit upgrade), you may choose to commission a new EICR covering the complete updated installation. The decision depends on whether the new work affects the overall assessment of the installation’s condition.

Key Takeaways

• Four distinct documents — EICR (condition of existing installation), EIC (new installation), MWC (minor alteration), Part P Compliance Certificate (legal notification) — each answers a different question
• An EICR is for assessing existing wiring; an EIC is for confirming new work is compliant; an MWC is for confirming a minor alteration is compliant; a Part P certificate confirms the work was legally notified
• Landlords need a current EICR — legally required every 5 years in England, Scotland, and Wales; failure can result in penalties up to £30,000
• Part P does not replace an EIC or EICR — it confirms legal compliance; it does not confirm technical wiring quality or current condition
• An EICR is the document most solicitors and mortgage lenders request when buying a property
• A competent person scheme (NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, SELECT) automates Part P notification — if your electrician is registered, you receive the Part P Compliance Certificate automatically
• Store all certificates together — they form a complete electrical history of the property and are invaluable at sale or let

Understand circuit faults before you need a certificate: Open ElectraSim → — build, test, and inject faults into circuits to see exactly what an EICR inspector is looking for. Free, browser-based, no account required.