Why Every London Home Needs an EICR Before Installing an EV Charger
Thinking about a home EV charger? Before the installation begins, there's one electrical check that could save you time, money, and a failed inspection. Here's why an EICR matters.
Electric vehicles are becoming the norm across London. Whether you've just taken delivery of a new EV or you're planning ahead, one of the first things most owners want is a home charger — the convenience of waking up to a full battery every morning is hard to argue with.
But before any reputable electrician installs a home EV charger, there's a question they'll ask: when was your last EICR?
What Is an EICR?
An EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report — is a formal inspection of your home's electrical installation. A qualified electrician tests every circuit, checks the consumer unit (fuse board), inspects wiring, and verifies that everything meets current BS 7671 standards.
The result is either a Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory report. Satisfactory means your electrics are safe and up to standard. Unsatisfactory means there are issues that need addressing — some minor, some urgent.
Why Does It Matter for EV Charger Installation?
A home EV charger draws a significant and sustained electrical load — typically 7kW for a standard 32A unit. That's considerably more than most household appliances running simultaneously.
If your home's wiring is ageing, your consumer unit is outdated, or your circuits are already running close to capacity, adding an EV charger without checking first can cause:
- Tripped circuits — nuisance tripping that interrupts charging overnight
- Overloaded wiring — a fire risk in older properties with undersized cables
- Failed inspection — OZEV grant applications require a satisfactory electrical installation
- Voided warranties — charger manufacturers can refuse warranty claims if the installation was on a substandard circuit
An EICR identifies all of these issues before a single cable is run.
What Happens If the EICR Finds Problems?
An Unsatisfactory EICR doesn't mean you can't get an EV charger — it means you need to fix the issues first. In most cases, the remedial work is straightforward: replacing an outdated consumer unit, upgrading a circuit, or addressing a specific fault.
At Olectrics Ltd, we handle the full process. If your EICR flags remedial work, we'll quote for it alongside the charger installation — so you get everything done in one visit rather than coordinating multiple contractors.
Is an EICR Legally Required Before EV Charger Installation?
Not strictly — but it's strongly recommended by the IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671) and by most reputable charger manufacturers. Some local authority building control departments also request evidence of a satisfactory electrical installation as part of the permitted development process.
More practically: any NICEIC-registered electrician worth their certification will want to know the condition of your installation before connecting a 7kW load to it.
How Often Should You Get an EICR?
- Owner-occupied homes: every 10 years, or when buying or selling
- Rental properties: every 5 years (legally required in England since 2020)
- Older properties (pre-1970s wiring): more frequently, or before any significant new load is added
If you're in a period property in Richmond, Kew, Wandsworth, or any of London's older residential areas, there's a reasonable chance your wiring hasn't been formally inspected in years.
Book Both Together — and Save Time
At Olectrics Ltd, we offer EICR testing from £99 and EV charger installation from £499 across all 24 London boroughs. Booking both together means one visit, one team, and a clear path from inspection to installation.
Get your free survey and quote for both services — we'll assess your installation and confirm whether your home is ready for a charger, or what work is needed first.
Olectrics Ltd are NICEIC-registered electricians based in Kew, Richmond, covering all London boroughs. All EV charger installations are carried out to BS 7671 and OZEV standards.
