EIC vs Minor Works vs EICR: Which Electrical Certificate Do You Need?

Three documents cover most electrical work in the UK, and people mix them up all the time. A homeowner asks for "an electrical certificate", a landlord asks for "a safety cert", and the electrician has to work out which one they mean. Here is the plain-English version.

The short answer

Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC)

What it is for: confirming that new electrical work has been designed, built, inspected and tested to BS 7671 (currently BS 7671:2018+A4:2026).

Typical jobs:

• Full or partial rewires
• New circuits, such as a new cooker, EV charger or garden supply circuit
• Consumer unit replacements
• New builds and extensions

What it includes: details of the designer, installer and inspector (often the same person), a schedule of inspections, and a schedule of test results for every circuit installed or altered.

Minor Works certificate

What it is for: work that does not add a new circuit. It is an addition or alteration to an existing one.

Typical jobs:

• Adding a socket or spur to an existing circuit
• Moving or adding a light point on an existing lighting circuit
• Replacing a damaged accessory
• Remedial work after an EICR, where no new circuit is involved

What it includes: a description of the work, the circuit affected, and the key test results for that circuit. A separate Minor Works certificate is needed for each circuit worked on.

Common mistake: using Minor Works for a consumer unit change. Replacing a consumer unit needs an EIC.

Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)

What it is for: reporting on the condition of an existing installation. It is not for new work. It says whether what is already there is safe to keep using.

Typical reasons:

• A landlord requirement: at least every five years for private and social rented homes in England, with similar rules in Wales and Scotland
• Buying or selling a property
• Periodic inspection of commercial premises
• After a flood, fire or change of use

What it includes: observations coded C1, C2, C3 or FI, an overall satisfactory or unsatisfactory result, the extent and limits of the inspection, and a recommended date for the next one. EICR codes explained.

Where the Building Regulations come in

In England, some electrical work in homes is notifiable under Part P: new circuits, consumer unit replacements, and additions or alterations in special locations such as the space around a bath or shower. Wales has its own, different, list. If your electrician is registered with a competent person scheme, they can self-certify, and you will get a Building Regulations compliance certificate separately from the EIC. If not, the work must be notified to building control before it starts. Part P guide.

A landlord example

1. EICR issued: unsatisfactory, with two C2s.
2. The electrician fixes a missing bonding conductor. Minor Works certificate issued.
3. The electrician replaces the consumer unit. EIC issued.
4. The remedial work is finished within 28 days of the EICR (or sooner if the report says so). The landlord then sends the tenant and the council written confirmation plus the original report within 28 days of completion.

That is three documents for one job, and all three need to stay together. Scattered across emails, it is easy to lose one just when the council asks.

How CertBox helps electricians

CertBox for electricians covers the full set, including EIC, Minor Works, EICR, PAT testing and fire alarm certificates:

• Fill in on site, free. Schedules of inspections and test results are built into the form.
• Send a professional PDF by secure link. Getting a certificate out needs Pro, the 14-day trial or a one-off payment. The customer does not need an account or an app.
• A QR code on every certificate. Clients, letting agents and building control can confirm it is genuine and unaltered.
• Easy for landlords to track. Landlords can keep the EICR and the follow-up certificates together against the property in their free CertBox account.
• Quotes, invoices and scheduling on the same platform.

Frequently asked questions

Does replacing a light fitting need a certificate?

A like-for-like replacement does not always need one, but many electricians issue a Minor Works certificate as good practice and proof of testing.

Can one certificate cover several small jobs?

A Minor Works certificate covers work on one circuit. Work across several circuits needs several Minor Works certificates or an EIC, depending on the scope.

Is an EICR needed when selling a house?

It is not legally required for a sale, but buyers and surveyors often ask for one.

Who keeps the certificate?

The person who ordered the work should get it. For rentals, landlords keep EICRs and give copies to tenants. Electricians should keep their own copies too.

Sources

Checked against these on 2026-10-20.

• IET model forms, BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 (A4 PDF)
• Voltimum / NICEIC: Appropriate use of Minor Works certificates
• Building Regulations 2010, regulation 12 (England version)
• Planning Portal: Electrics, Building Regulations
• GOV.UK: Electrical safety standards in the private and social rented sectors, guidance
• NICEIC: BS 7671 Amendment 4

Corrected and updated 2026-10-20. This article is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Always refer to the relevant standards and consult qualified professionals for definitive requirements.