How often does a landlord need an EICR?

The rule

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 say that, while a home is let, the fixed electrical installation (wiring, sockets, light fittings, the consumer unit) must be inspected and tested by a qualified and competent person:

• before a new tenancy starts, and
• at intervals of no more than five years, or sooner if the last report says so.

The result is an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). Appliances the tenant plugs in are not part of it, although a portable appliance test (PAT) on anything you supply is good practice.

Who gets a copy, and when

• Existing tenants: within 28 days of the inspection.
• New tenants: before they move in.
• A prospective tenant who asks: within 28 days of the request.
• The council: within seven days of a written request.

Keep the report until the next inspection is due, and give the inspector the previous one.

Reading the report

The inspector codes each problem:

• C1: danger present, immediate action needed (often made safe on the spot);
• C2: potentially dangerous, urgent work needed;
• FI: further investigation needed without delay;
• C3: improvement recommended, not required.

A report with any C1, C2 or FI is unsatisfactory.

When the report is unsatisfactory

1. Have the further investigation or remedial work done within 28 days of the inspection, or sooner if the report gives a shorter time.
2. Get written confirmation from the electrician that the work is done and the installation now meets the standard.
3. Give that confirmation, with the report, to the tenant and to the council within 28 days of the work being finished.

C3 items are your choice; keeping a note of them helps plan future work.

If the tenant will not let you in

The regulations have a "reasonable steps" defence. Write to the tenant giving dates, offer alternatives, and keep copies of every attempt. Never let yourself in without agreement.

Penalties

The council can serve a remedial notice and, if you do not act, arrange the work and recover the cost. It can impose a financial penalty of up to £40,000 (the maximum was £30,000 before the 2025 amendments came fully into force on 1 May 2026). The landlord database will ask for your electrical safety evidence when your region opens.

Choosing an electrician

Use someone qualified to inspect and test, usually registered with a competent person scheme. Ask for the full report, not a one-page summary, and check that the address and dates are right.

A simple routine

• Note the date the next EICR is due as soon as the report arrives.
• Book the next one a few weeks early, especially before a new tenancy.
• Keep the report, the remedial certificate and the proof you gave the tenant together.

LevelMoves reads the report you upload, records the date, the result and any C1, C2 or FI items, and reminds you before the next one is due.

This guide is information about the law in England, not legal advice.