EICR for Landlords: The Rules, the Timings and What Fails

The short version

• Every privately rented home in England needs an EICR at least every five years.
• Give a copy to your tenant within 28 days of the inspection, and to new tenants before they move in.
• Any C1, C2 or FI result must be put right within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so.
• Councils can fine landlords up to £30,000.
• Since 1 December 2025 the same rules apply to new social housing tenancies, and to existing ones from 1 May 2026.

What an EICR is

An Electrical Installation Condition Report is an inspection and test of the fixed electrical installation in a property: the consumer unit (fuse board), the wiring, sockets, switches and light fittings, and permanently connected equipment such as an electric shower. It does not cover portable appliances such as kettles or televisions.

The electrician tests each circuit against the current wiring regulations (BS 7671) and records anything that is dangerous, potentially dangerous or below today's standard. The report ends with an overall result: satisfactory or unsatisfactory.

The legal requirement

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require landlords to have the electrical installation inspected and tested by a qualified and competent person at least every five years. The landlord must:

• give a copy of the report to each existing tenant within 28 days of the inspection;
• give a copy to a new tenant before they occupy the property;
• give a copy to a prospective tenant within 28 days of them asking for it;
• give a copy to the local authority within 7 days of a written request;
• keep a copy to give to the next inspector.

The rules cover HMOs as well as single lets. In late 2025 they were extended to social housing: they apply to new social tenancies from 1 December 2025 and to existing social tenancies from 1 May 2026, with initial inspections of existing homes due by 1 November 2026.

What the codes mean

• C1: danger present. A risk of injury right now. The electrician should make it safe before leaving.
• C2: potentially dangerous. Not an immediate danger, but it could become one. Must be fixed.
• FI: further investigation. Something needs a closer look before a code can be given. Treated like a C2.
• C3: improvement recommended. Does not meet current standards but is not unsafe. Does not make the report unsatisfactory.

Any C1, C2 or FI makes the report unsatisfactory. You then have 28 days (or less, if the report says so) to have the work done, and 28 days from completion to send written confirmation to your tenant and the local authority.

What most often fails

In older London and Harrow housing stock, the findings we see most often are:

• old fuse boards with no RCD protection on socket or bathroom circuits;
• missing or inadequate earthing and bonding to gas and water pipes;
• damaged sockets, switches and cables, often from past DIY;
• overloaded or poorly connected circuits in extended or converted homes;

Many of these are solved by replacing the consumer unit, which adds RCD protection to every circuit in one job. An older plastic consumer unit on its own is usually coded C3 (improvement recommended) rather than a fail.

How to make it painless

• Book before the old report expires, not when the council asks for it.
• Tell the tenant the power will go off in parts of the home during testing. A typical house or flat takes two to four hours.
• Book the EPC at the same time. You need both to let the property, and one visit is easier for everyone. See our landlord packages.
• Get the remedial quote with the report so you are not chasing a second contractor within the 28 days.