What do I need to do before letting a Barbican flat?

Long leaseholders who sublet must register the letting with the City through the Barbican Estate Office, sending a copy of the tenancy agreement and a registration fee. The let must be residential and for at least 90 days, and the Corporation says the lease prohibits short-term holiday lets.

Is an EICR a legal requirement for landlords in City of London?

Yes. The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require all landlords — including those renting properties in City of London — to hold a valid EICR. The requirement has applied to all tenancies in England since April 2021. Landlords must provide a copy to tenants before they move in and to the local authority within 7 days of a written request. Failure to comply can result in a civil penalty of up to £40,000 per breach.

How much does an EICR cost in City of London?

An EICR in City of London starts from £67.99 for a studio apartment. A 1–3 bedroom property costs £94.99. Prices scale by property size up to £199.99 for an 8-bedroom HMO. The only location-based surcharge is £20 for properties within the London Congestion Charge Zone, and £10 if no free on-site parking is available.

How long does an EICR take in City of London?

Most EICR inspections in City of London take 2–4 hours depending on the size and age of the property. Older properties and larger installations may take slightly longer. You do not need to be present; a tenant or keyholder can provide access and the certificate will be emailed directly to you within 24 hours.

How often do I need an EICR?

The law requires an EICR every 5 years, or at each change of tenancy — whichever comes first. If the engineer recommends a shorter re-inspection interval in the report (for example 2 years on an older or complex installation), that interval takes precedence. Always keep the EICR certificate on file — you must be able to supply a copy to tenants and your local authority on request.

What happens if my EICR fails?

An EICR is classified as 'unsatisfactory' if the engineer finds a C1 (immediate danger) or C2 (potentially dangerous) code. C1 hazards must be made safe by the engineer before leaving the property. C2 observations must be remedied within 28 days and evidenced in writing to your local authority before the property can be legally let. C3 codes (improvement recommended) do not cause the EICR to fail — the property can still receive a satisfactory result. We can arrange remedial works through our network of NICEIC approved electricians.

NICEIC Approved · Certificate Within 24 Hours · City of London

EICR City of London — from £67.99

Electrical Installation Condition Report for landlords in City of London. NICEIC approved electricians, fixed pricing, no hidden charges — certificate emailed within 24 hours.

Postcodes covered: EC2, EC1, EC4, E1, EC3. Same-week appointments available — book online in under 3 minutes.

from£67.99

Book EICR in City of London — from £67.99 View pricing

From: £67.99
Valid for: 5 years
Certificate: within 24 hours
Accreditation: NICEIC Approved

What is an EICR?

An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is a formal inspection and test of all fixed electrical wiring, sockets, switches, light fittings and the consumer unit within a rental property. A qualified NICEIC approved electrician tests every circuit from the consumer unit, checks earthing and bonding arrangements, and assigns a condition code to every observation that falls below the current British Standard BS 7671 — the IET Wiring Regulations. The result is a written report that tells you whether the electrical installation is satisfactory for continued use and — if not — what needs to be addressed and within what timeframe.

Since April 2021, every private landlord in England has been legally required to hold a valid EICR and renew it every five years. This national duty applies in City of London as it does across England, and an HMO licence can add its own conditions on top. Failure to comply can result in a civil penalty of up to £40,000 per breach and a remedial notice from your local authority.

Legal requirement: The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 apply to all rental properties in City of London. Every landlord must hold a valid EICR, provide a copy to tenants before they move in, and supply it to their local authority within 7 days of a written request. Failure carries a civil penalty of up to £40,000 per breach.

EICR in City of London — local property context

The City had 8,161 homes in March 2022, and over 40% of them are in the Barbican, Golden Lane and Smithfield areas; the Barbican Estate alone accounts for 2,140. At the 2021 Census, 5.5% of households lived in flats in converted buildings such as former warehouses or churches, and only 1.3% in converted or shared houses (London 11.1%).

Most homes here are small flats: 53.4% of occupied City homes have one bedroom, against 21.2% across London, and only 3.8% have four bedrooms or more. Our NICEIC approved electricians are experienced with the specific electrical characteristics common to properties in the EC2, EC1, EC4, E1, EC3 postcode areas and regularly carry out EICR inspections across City of London for private landlords, letting agents and HMO operators.

Postcodes covered in City of London

EC2, EC1, EC4, E1, EC3 and surrounding areas. Enter your full postcode during booking to confirm coverage and availability.

EICRs in the City of London: post-war blocks and estate electrics

City housing comes largely from one building period. VOA figures for 2025 show 32.9% of council tax properties were built between 1965 and 1972, against 5.6% across London. The Barbican's flats went up between 1963 and 1982.

On the Barbican, the Corporation runs its own electrical safety programme for communal electrical systems, smoke alarms and CO detectors. As landlord, your EICR covers the installation inside the let flat.

In blocks such as Gilbert House, Defoe House and Thomas More House, the Corporation's asbestos data records asbestos insulation board lining the cupboards that hold consumer units. Tell the electrician before that cupboard is opened.

If the flat is an HMO, licensed or not, the Corporation's standards require the installation to be tested at least every five years, with evidence supplied if the City asks.

Property licensing in City of London

Mandatory HMO licensing
Mandatory HMO · In force
Applies to:
Homes shared by 5 or more people forming 2 or more households, including homes above or below commercial floors. A shared flat in a purpose-built block of 3 or more self-contained flats is outside this scheme
Area:
Whole City
Period:
Current definition since 1 October 2018 (SI 2018/221); in force as of October 2026

Checked October 2026. Schemes and fees change, so confirm the current position on the City of London Corporation licensing page.

Households renting privately: 48.3% (London 30.0%); Census 2021
Households in purpose-built flats: 87.0% (London 40.3%); Census 2021
Homes built 1955 to 1982: 41.4% (London 17.5%); VOA 2025
Conservation areas: 28, with more than 600 listed buildings and structures; City of London Corporation

Sources

EICR pricing in City of London

Fixed pricing by property size. The same prices apply in City of London as across all other London boroughs — no London surcharge. The only location-based fee is the £20 Congestion Charge Zone addition for central London properties.

Prices are per property with one consumer unit and up to 12 circuits. See notes below for additional charges.

Domestic EICR — City of London pricing

Description	Price
Studio ApartmentCheapest	£67.99Book
1–3 Bedrooms	£94.99Book
4 Bedrooms	£104.99Book
5 Bedrooms	£139.99Book
6 Bedrooms	£159.99Book
7 Bedrooms	£179.99Book
8 Bedrooms	£199.99Book

Additional charges (where applicable)

Parking charge if no free on-site parking is available: £10
Properties in the London Congestion Charge Zone: £20

Pricing notes

·Prices shown are for properties with one consumer unit (one fuse board). Most standard residential properties have one.
·Properties with more than one consumer unit — common in HMOs, converted flats, and larger houses — are charged an additional £49.99 per extra consumer unit. Your engineer confirms the number of consumer units on arrival.
·Each consumer unit covers up to 12 circuits. Installations with more than 12 circuits per consumer unit are charged an additional £10 per circuit above 12.

Want a detailed cost breakdown? See our full EICR cost guide →

What's included from £67.99

Every EICR we carry out in City of London covers the complete fixed electrical installation at no extra cost beyond the price shown.

Visual inspection of all accessible wiring, sockets, switches and light fittings
Testing of all circuits for continuity, insulation resistance and polarity
RCD (residual current device) testing for all protective devices
Consumer unit check — type, condition, labelling and protective devices
Earthing and bonding arrangement check against BS 7671
NICEIC approved engineer — fully qualified and independently assessed
Signed EICR certificate emailed within 24 hours
Prioritised remedial recommendations with C1/C2/C3 classification

EICR City of London — frequently asked questions

Other landlord certificates in City of London

We also cover these landlord certificates in City of London:

Gas Safety

in City of London

EPC

in City of London

FRA

in City of London

PAT Testing

in City of London

Commercial EICR

in City of London

Electrical Diagnostic

in City of London

Fuse Box

in City of London

Emergency Lights

in City of London

Commercial Gas (CP42)

in City of London

Boiler Installation

in City of London

Fire Safety Cert

in City of London

Fire Alarm Install

in City of London

Fire Door Cert

in City of London

Extinguisher Testing

in City of London

Commercial EPC

in City of London

Asbestos Survey

in City of London

Legionella

in City of London

EICR in nearby boroughs

We cover all 33 London boroughs. See EICR pricing and booking for areas near City of London:

EICR Islington

from £67.99 · N1, N7, N19 …

EICR Hackney

from £67.99 · N16, E8, E5 …

EICR Tower Hamlets

from £67.99 · E14, E1, E3 …

Book your EICR in City of London

Book online in under 3 minutes. A NICEIC approved electrician confirms your appointment. Certificate emailed within 24 hours.

Same-week appointments across City of London and all 33 London boroughs — or call 020 3996 1070.

Book EICR in City of London — from £67.99

Fixed pricing. No hidden charges. NICEIC approved. Certificate emailed within 24 hours.