EICR Compliance for Landlords: Your Complete Guide to Electrical Safety Certificates
Since April 2021, private landlords in England have been required to hold a valid Electrical Installation Condition Report for every rental property. Here is what an EICR involves, how often it must be renewed, and what happens if a property fails.
The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 have applied to all existing tenancies since 1 April 2021. Every private rented property in England must have its fixed electrical installation inspected and tested by a qualified person, and the resulting report must be kept and shared.
What is inspected
An EICR covers the fixed installation: the consumer unit, wiring, sockets, switches, light fittings and any permanently connected equipment. It does not cover portable appliances, which are assessed separately. The inspector checks for damage, wear, overloading, inadequate earthing and bonding, and any conditions that could cause electric shock or fire.
Understanding the observation codes
- C1 — danger present, risk of injury. Immediate remedial action required; the report is unsatisfactory.
- C2 — potentially dangerous. Urgent remedial action required; the report is unsatisfactory.
- C3 — improvement recommended. The report can still be satisfactory.
- FI — further investigation required without delay. The report is unsatisfactory.
Where a report is unsatisfactory, the landlord must complete the remedial work within 28 days, or sooner if the report specifies a shorter period, and obtain written confirmation that the work has been carried out.
Renewal intervals and who must receive the report
- Inspections must be carried out at least every five years, or more frequently if the report says so.
- A copy must be given to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection.
- New tenants must receive a copy before they take occupation.
- The local authority must be supplied with a copy within seven days of a written request.
Penalties for non-compliance
A local housing authority that is satisfied a landlord has breached the regulations can impose a financial penalty of up to £30,000 per breach. It can also serve a remedial notice and, if the landlord does not act, arrange the work itself and recover the costs.
Councils commissioning temporary accommodation routinely check certification before a placement is agreed. A missing or expired EICR is one of the most common reasons a property is turned down at the inspection stage.
Choosing an inspector
The inspection must be carried out by a qualified and competent person. In practice this means an electrician registered with a recognised competent person scheme, holding current inspection and testing qualifications and appropriate insurance. Ask for scheme registration details before booking, and keep the certificate and any remedial invoices together in the property file.
Every property we take on is inspected and certificated before it is offered for placement, and renewals are tracked so that certification never lapses mid-tenancy.