EICR for Landlords: Electrical Safety Rules in England

What the electrical safety rules require

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require landlords to:

• Make sure national standards for electrical safety are met while the property is let.
• Have the electrical installation inspected and tested by a qualified and competent person at least every five years.
• Get a report setting out the results and the date of the next inspection.
• Share the report with tenants, and with the council if asked.
• Carry out any remedial or further investigative work the report requires.

The rules apply to most private tenancies, including houses in multiple occupation.

What an EICR covers

An EICR checks the fixed electrical installation, the parts of the electrics built into the property. That includes:

• Wiring and cables.
• Sockets and switches.
• Light fittings.
• The consumer unit, or fuse box.
• Permanently connected equipment, such as electric showers and extractor fans.

It doesn't cover portable appliances such as kettles, toasters or washing machines. PAT testing isn't required by these regulations, but many landlords test appliances they supply as good practice.

What the codes on an EICR mean

The inspector records any problems using standard codes:

• C1, danger present: there's a risk of injury and immediate action is needed.
• C2, potentially dangerous: urgent remedial action is required.
• FI, further investigation: the inspector needs to look further, without delay.
• C3, improvement recommended: not a requirement, but advisable.

If a report contains any C1, C2 or FI codes, the installation is unsatisfactory and you must act. C3 items don't make the report unsatisfactory on their own.

Who gets a copy and when

• Existing tenants: give them a copy within 28 days of the inspection.
• New tenants: give them a copy before they move in.
• Prospective tenants: provide a copy within 28 days if they ask for it.
• The council: provide a copy within 7 days if it asks.
• Your records: keep a copy for the inspector carrying out the next inspection.

Your EICR, gas safety record and EPC are the core safety documents for any let, and you'll need them to hand when you register on the landlord database from December 2026.

If remedial work is needed

If the report shows remedial or further investigative work is needed, you must have a qualified person carry it out within 28 days, or within any shorter period set out in the report. Some C1 dangers will be made safe by the inspector straight away.

Once the work is done, get written confirmation from the electrician that the installation now meets the national standards. You must give that confirmation, along with the original report, to your tenant and to the council within 28 days of the work being completed.

Enforcement and penalties

Councils enforce the electrical safety regulations. If they believe a landlord has breached them, they can issue a remedial notice requiring the work to be done. If the landlord doesn't comply, the council can arrange the work itself and recover the cost.

Councils can also impose financial penalties of up to £30,000 per breach. Tenants can raise electrical safety problems with their landlord, the council and, once it's in place, the new landlord ombudsman.

Practical tips

• Diary the next inspection date shown on the report.
• Book the inspection between tenancies where possible, to make access easier.
• Use a qualified electrician who belongs to a recognised competent person scheme.
• Keep every report and confirmation of remedial work.
• Check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms at the same time.

For gas appliances, the rules are separate and stricter: they need checking every year. See our guide to landlord gas safety certificates.

The bottom line

Electrical safety for landlords means a satisfactory EICR at least every five years, copies for tenants within 28 days, any required work done within 28 days and written confirmation of the repairs. Councils can fine landlords up to £30,000 for breaches, so it pays to diary the dates and keep every report. A managing agent can arrange inspections and track renewals for you; find a letting agent near you.

This guide is general information about England as of October 2026 and is not legal advice.