title: "EICR Electrical Safety Requirements for Landlords" slug: eicr-electrical-safety-requirements description: "A complete guide to EICR requirements for landlords in England, including the 5-yearly inspection cycle, condition codes, remediation deadlines, and penalties." category: safety keywords:
- EICR landlord
- electrical safety certificate rental
- electrical installation condition report
- electrical safety standards regulations 2020
- landlord electrical inspection date: 2026-02-15 updated: 2026-03-01
What Is an EICR?
An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a formal document produced by a qualified electrician after inspecting the fixed electrical installation in a property. The fixed installation includes the wiring, consumer unit (fuse box), sockets, light fittings, and any other permanent electrical components that form part of the property rather than being plugged in by the tenant.
The EICR assesses whether the electrical installation is safe and identifies any defects, deterioration, or non-compliance with current wiring standards (BS 7671, the IET Wiring Regulations). It is the electrical equivalent of the gas safety check and is now a legal requirement for all rental properties in England.
The Legal Requirement
The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 came into force on 1 July 2020 for new tenancies and on 1 April 2021 for existing tenancies. These regulations make it a legal requirement for all landlords in England to:
- Ensure electrical installations are inspected and tested before a new tenancy begins and at intervals of no more than 5 years
- Provide a copy of the EICR to tenants within 28 days of the inspection
- Provide a copy to the local authority within 7 days if requested
- Carry out remedial work for any unsatisfactory findings within 28 days (or sooner if specified in the report)
- Provide evidence of completed remedial work to the local authority within 28 days of completion
Who the Regulations Apply To
The regulations apply to all private landlords letting residential property in England under an assured shorthold tenancy, an assured tenancy, or a regulated tenancy. They also apply to licences to occupy. HMO landlords have additional obligations under the Housing Act 2004 management regulations. For HMO-specific requirements, see our HMO licensing guide.
Who Is Exempt
A small number of property types are exempt, including:
- Social housing (covered by separate regulatory frameworks)
- Lodger arrangements where the landlord lives in the same property
- Student halls of residence managed by educational institutions
- Long leases of 7 years or more
What the EICR Covers
A qualified electrician conducting an EICR will inspect and test:
- The consumer unit (fuse box), including the condition of circuit breakers and RCDs (residual current devices)
- Wiring throughout the property, checking for deterioration, damage, or non-compliant installation
- Sockets and switches, testing for correct polarity, earthing, and physical condition
- Light fittings and ceiling roses, including any fixed external lighting
- Bonding and earthing to ensure the installation is properly grounded
- RCD operation through testing trip times to confirm they will disconnect fast enough to prevent electrocution
- Circuit loading to identify any circuits that are overloaded or incorrectly rated
The inspection does not cover portable appliances (those plugged in by the tenant), unless the landlord has provided them.
Understanding Condition Codes
After the inspection, the electrician will assign condition codes to any observations. Understanding these codes is essential because they determine what action you must take and how quickly.
C1: Danger Present
A C1 code means there is an immediate danger to anyone using the installation. The electrician should make the installation safe before leaving the property, typically by disconnecting the dangerous circuit or component. Examples include exposed live wiring, a missing consumer unit cover exposing live parts, or a fitting that could cause immediate electrocution.
Required action: Immediate. The electrician should make it safe on the spot. Full remediation must follow as soon as possible.
C2: Potentially Dangerous
A C2 code indicates a condition that is not immediately dangerous but could become dangerous under certain circumstances. Examples include a missing earth connection on a circuit, inadequate bonding, or a damaged socket that could expose live parts if further deteriorated.
Required action: Within 28 days of the report, or sooner if specified by the electrician. C2 codes make the overall EICR result unsatisfactory.
C3: Improvement Recommended
A C3 code identifies an area where the installation does not meet current wiring standards but is not dangerous. For example, a consumer unit that does not have RCD protection on all circuits (required by current regulations but not when the installation was originally done). C3 codes are advisory and do not make the EICR unsatisfactory.
Required action: Recommended but not legally required. However, addressing C3 items improves safety and can prevent future C2 issues.
FI: Further Investigation Required
An FI code means the electrician has identified something that needs further investigation before a definitive assessment can be made. This might be because they could not access a particular part of the installation, or because a test result was borderline and requires additional work to diagnose.
Required action: Arrange the further investigation promptly. FI codes make the overall EICR result unsatisfactory until resolved.
Overall Result: Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory
The EICR will have an overall outcome of either Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.
- Satisfactory: No C1, C2, or FI codes. The installation meets the required standard.
- Unsatisfactory: One or more C1, C2, or FI codes have been identified. Remedial work is required.
What to Do with Unsatisfactory Results
If the EICR comes back as unsatisfactory, the landlord must take the following steps within the prescribed timescales:
Remediation Checklist
- Review the report with the electrician to understand the specific issues identified
- Obtain quotes for remedial work from a qualified electrician (they must be competent to carry out the work, though there is no equivalent of the Gas Safe Register for electricians in law, the regulations specify "a qualified person")
- Complete all C1 remedial work immediately (the electrician should have already made it safe)
- Complete all C2 and FI remedial work within 28 days of the inspection date
- Obtain written confirmation from the electrician that the remedial work has been completed satisfactorily
- Provide a copy of the completed remediation report to the tenant within 28 days of the work being done
- Provide a copy to the local authority within 28 days if requested
- Retain all records of the original EICR, remedial work, and confirmation reports
If You Cannot Complete Work Within 28 Days
If remedial work genuinely cannot be completed within 28 days (for example, due to the complexity of rewiring, supply chain delays, or difficulty accessing the property), you must be able to demonstrate that you have taken all reasonable steps to meet the deadline. Document every step, including contractor appointments, access requests to the tenant, and any unforeseen complications.
Notify your local authority in writing if you anticipate missing the deadline, explain the reasons, and provide a revised timeline. The local authority has discretion in enforcement, and demonstrating good faith effort can make a significant difference.
Providing the EICR to Tenants
Existing Tenants
You must provide a copy of the EICR to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection. This must be the full report, not just a summary or verbal confirmation.
New Tenants
New tenants must receive a copy of the most recent EICR before they occupy the property. This should be part of the pre-tenancy document pack alongside the tenancy agreement, deposit protection information, EPC, gas safety certificate, and How to Rent guide.
Prospective Tenants
Any prospective tenant who requests a copy of the EICR must be provided with one within 28 days of the request.
Proving Delivery
As with all compliance documentation, being able to prove that the tenant received the EICR is as important as having the report itself. Sending compliance documents through Togal ensures there is a server-timestamped, immutable record of delivery -- giving you evidence-grade documentation that puts you in the strongest possible position if delivery is ever questioned.
The 5-Year Inspection Cycle
The standard EICR interval is 5 years. However, the electrician may specify a shorter interval on the report if they believe the installation requires more frequent monitoring. If the report recommends a 3-year re-inspection, for example, the landlord must comply with that shorter interval.
Planning Ahead
The 5-year cycle means it is easy to forget about electrical safety between inspections. Set calendar reminders well in advance and build the cost of the EICR into your annual property management budget.
Keep in mind that the EICR must be current before any new tenancy begins. If your property is between tenants and the EICR has less than a few months remaining, it is worth arranging a new inspection before remarketing the property.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
The penalties under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 are significant:
- Civil penalties of up to £40,000 (increased from £30,000 from 1 May 2026 under the Renters' Rights Act 2025) per breach, issued by the local authority
- Remedial action notices requiring the landlord to carry out specific work, with the local authority having the power to arrange the work itself and charge the landlord if they fail to comply
- Impact on possession proceedings: While the regulations do not specifically invalidate Section 21 notices in the same way as missing gas safety certificates, the broader provisions of the Renters' Rights Act 2025 and the Deregulation Act 2015 require landlords to have met all prescribed compliance requirements before seeking possession
How Penalties Are Determined
Local authorities consider several factors when setting penalty amounts:
- The severity of the breach (how dangerous the defects are)
- The landlord's history of compliance
- Whether the landlord has a track record of property offences
- The landlord's financial circumstances
- Whether the landlord cooperated with the investigation
Who Can Carry Out an EICR?
The regulations require that the inspection and testing be carried out by a qualified and competent person. Unlike gas safety, there is no single mandatory register. However, the government guidance recommends using an electrician who is:
- A member of a competent person scheme such as NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, or Stroma
- Qualified to at least City & Guilds 2391 (Inspection and Testing) or equivalent
- Carrying appropriate insurance
Always ask to see evidence of qualifications and scheme membership before engaging an electrician.
Electrical Safety and Other Compliance
Electrical safety is one piece of the broader compliance picture for landlords. A property that passes its EICR but fails on other fronts is still non-compliant. Make sure you are also up to date with:
- Gas safety certificates (annual CP12)
- Fire safety regulations (smoke and CO alarms)
- EPC requirements (energy performance)
- Awaab's Law response deadlines (hazard reporting)
Landlord EICR Compliance Checklist
- EICR arranged before any new tenancy begins
- EICR renewed within 5 years (or sooner if specified in the report)
- Inspection carried out by a qualified, competent electrician
- EICR reviewed for any C1, C2, C3, or FI codes
- All C1 issues made safe immediately
- All C2 and FI issues remedied within 28 days
- Written confirmation of remedial work obtained from electrician
- Copy of EICR provided to existing tenants within 28 days
- Copy of EICR provided to new tenants before occupation
- Copy available for local authority within 7 days on request
- All records stored securely for the duration of ownership
- Next inspection date diarised with advance reminders
Summary
The EICR is a legal requirement for all private rental properties in England. Inspections must be carried out by a qualified electrician at least every 5 years, with unsatisfactory results requiring remediation within 28 days. Penalties for non-compliance can reach £40,000 per breach. Landlords must provide copies of the report to tenants within the prescribed timescales and retain all records.
Proactive management of electrical safety protects your tenants from harm, protects your property from fire risk, and protects you from enforcement action. Treat the EICR as a core part of your property management routine alongside gas safety, fire safety, and energy performance compliance.