EPC and EICR on the Same Visit: How Combined Compliance Saves Manchester Landlords Time and Money
Every rental property in Manchester needs both an EPC and an EICR. They are separate legal requirements, carried out by different types of assessor, and they expire on different cycles — 10 years for the EPC and 5 years for the EICR. Most landlords book them at different times, from different providers, with separate property visits, separate tenant notifications and separate invoices. That works, but it is inefficient, and the more properties you manage the more that inefficiency costs.
Manchester Compliance carries out both EPC assessments and EICR testing in-house, and we routinely coordinate them into a single property visit. This guide explains how the combined approach works, what you save, and why it is particularly valuable for landlords managing multiple properties across Greater Manchester.
Two Certificates, One Visit
An EPC assessment and an EICR are fundamentally different inspections, but they are entirely compatible in the same property visit:
The EPC is a visual, non-invasive assessment of the property's energy performance — insulation, heating, windows, lighting and construction. Our accredited Domestic Energy Assessor records the data into Easy software on a tablet, which calculates the RdSAP rating in real time. A typical domestic EPC takes 30 to 60 minutes.
The EICR is a detailed electrical inspection and test of the fixed wiring, distribution board, protective devices, earthing and bonding. Our NICEIC approved electrician isolates and tests each circuit, records observations and provides a satisfactory or unsatisfactory result. A typical domestic EICR takes 2 to 4 hours depending on the number of circuits.
Together, a combined visit takes roughly half a day. The property is accessed once, the tenant is disrupted once, and you receive both certificates from a single provider.
What You Save
Time
Two separate visits mean two booking processes, two tenant notifications, two days of access. A combined visit halves the administration and the disruption. For a portfolio landlord managing 20 or 50 properties, that saving multiplies fast.
Money
While we do not charge separately for combining the visits, the logistical saving is real — our team mobilises once instead of twice, and portfolio scheduling across multiple properties in the same area further reduces per-property costs. Ask about our portfolio rates when booking.
Compliance Risk
When certificates are booked separately at different times, it is easy to lose track of expiry dates. A combined visit puts both certificates on a known date, making it simpler to schedule renewals. We provide a compliance calendar for portfolio landlords that tracks EPC, EICR, gas safety and alarm check dates across every property.
How the Combined Visit Works
Before the visit:
- You book a combined EPC + EICR appointment by calling 0161 706 1360 or emailing Info@manchestercompliance.co.uk.
- We confirm the visit with you and your tenant, explaining what to expect and how long it will take.
- If the property also needs a gas safety check or smoke alarm verification, we can add those to the same visit.
- Our assessor begins with the EPC survey, recording the property's construction, heating, insulation, windows and lighting into Easy software. This takes 30–60 minutes and is entirely non-invasive — no power interruptions, no circuit testing at this stage.
- While the EPC data is being processed, our electrician begins the EICR. This involves isolating and testing circuits, which may cause brief power interruptions to individual areas (typically a few minutes per circuit).
- The EPC rating is available before the team leaves, calculated live by Easy software. The EICR result — satisfactory or unsatisfactory — is also confirmed on site, with any observations and codes explained to you or the tenant.
- The EPC is lodged on the national EPC Register, usually within 24 hours.
- The EICR report is completed and issued, typically within 48 hours.
- Both certificates are sent to you by email as PDFs.
- If the EICR is unsatisfactory (C1 or C2 observations), we provide a remedial quote and schedule the work promptly.
Digital Reporting with Easy Software
Our EPC assessors use Easy software — an industry-standard RdSAP calculation and certificate generation platform — for all domestic energy assessments. Easy runs the full SAP methodology on the assessor's tablet during the inspection, which means:
- The property's energy rating is calculated on site, not back at the office.
- The assessor can immediately model improvement scenarios (what happens if you top up the loft insulation? What does a boiler replacement add?) so you get actionable upgrade advice during the visit.
- The certificate is generated digitally and lodged on the national register electronically — no paper forms, no manual data re-entry, no delay.
- The recommendations report is produced automatically with estimated costs and potential rating improvements for every applicable measure.
Who Benefits Most from Combined Visits?
Portfolio Landlords
If you own 5, 10 or 50 properties across Manchester, Salford, Stockport and the surrounding boroughs, combined visits reduce the total number of property access events across your portfolio. We schedule entire streets or postcodes in sequence, moving from property to property on the same day, and deliver all certificates in a single batch.
Letting Agents
Agents managing properties on behalf of landlords benefit from a single point of contact for EPC and EICR, a single invoice per property, and a single compliance calendar that tracks all certificates. We work with over 60 agent partners across Greater Manchester and tailor our reporting to match their compliance tracking systems.
Landlords at Tenant Changeover
The gap between one tenancy ending and the next beginning is the ideal time to carry out all compliance checks. A combined EPC + EICR visit during the void period — with gas safety and alarm checks added if needed — means the property is fully certified before the new tenant moves in, with no separate visits to arrange during the tenancy.
HMO Landlords
HMO licence conditions typically require evidence of both electrical safety and energy efficiency. A combined visit produces both documents in one go, ready to submit with your licence application or renewal.
What Else Can Be Added to the Visit?
Beyond EPC and EICR, we can coordinate additional services into the same property access:
- Gas Safety Certificate — our Gas Safe registered engineers can carry out the annual gas safety check.
- Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm check — verifying that alarms are present, positioned correctly and functioning.
- PAT testing — testing landlord-supplied portable electrical appliances.
- Emergency lighting and fire alarm testing — for HMOs and communal areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to book the EPC and EICR separately?
No. Call 0161 706 1360 and request a combined visit. We schedule both inspections on the same day at the same property.How long does a combined EPC + EICR visit take?
Typically half a day — 30–60 minutes for the EPC and 2–4 hours for the EICR, depending on property size and circuit count.Can I add a gas safety check to the same visit?
Yes. We coordinate EPC, EICR and gas safety into a single property visit wherever possible.Do I get a discount for combining visits?
We offer portfolio rates for landlords booking multiple properties. Contact us for a quote tailored to your portfolio size and location.Will the tenant be disrupted?
The EPC is non-invasive. The EICR involves brief power interruptions to individual circuits. The entire visit is planned to minimise disruption, and we explain the process to the tenant in advance.Book a Combined EPC + EICR Visit in Manchester
Manchester Compliance provides combined EPC and EICR inspections for landlords, letting agents and property managers across Greater Manchester. Our assessors use Easy software for accurate, same-day EPC reporting, and our NICEIC approved electricians deliver fully digital EICR certification — all in a single visit.
- Phone: 0161 706 1360 (Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM)
- Email: Info@manchestercompliance.co.uk
- Address: 25 Holden Clough Drive, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL7 9TH
- EPC from: £85 + VAT per property