The short version
If you let a home in England, the electrics have to be inspected and tested at least every five years, or sooner if the last report says so. The electrician writes the result up in an Electrical Installation Condition Report, usually called an EICR. It has to be done by a qualified and competent person.
The rules come from the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. They've applied to new tenancies since 1 July 2020 and to every tenancy since 1 April 2021. This isn't legal advice.
The dates to keep
- Every 5 years, or sooner if the report sets a shorter date. Book the next one before the current report runs out.
- Before a new tenant moves in: give them a copy of the current report.
- Within 28 days of the inspection: give your existing tenants a copy.
- Within 7 days of a written request from the council: send them a copy.
- Within 28 days of a written request from someone thinking of renting: send them a copy.
If the report says "unsatisfactory"
The electrician codes each problem. C1 means danger present, C2 means potentially dangerous, and FI means further investigation is needed. Any of the three makes the report unsatisfactory.
- Get the remedial work, or the investigation, done within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so.
- Get written confirmation from the electrician that it's done.
- Send that confirmation to the tenant and to the council within 28 days of the work being finished.
C3 means "improvement recommended". It doesn't make the report unsatisfactory, though it's often worth doing while the electrician is there.
EICR, EIC and PAT: which is which
- EICR: the condition of the fixed wiring, the consumer unit and the circuits
- EIC: the certificate an electrician issues after new work, such as a rewire or a new circuit
- PAT: a test of portable appliances you supply, such as a kettle or a lamp. It doesn't replace the EICR.
More in the PAT testing guide and the full EICR guide.
What happens if you don't
The council can serve a remedial notice, arrange the work itself with the tenant's agreement and recover the cost from you, and fine you up to £40,000. An out-of-date EICR doesn't stop a Section 8 possession claim, but the tenant's side will raise it, and it's the check that finds a fault before it hurts someone. See what happens if your EICR expires.
Keeping the dates in one place
Upload the report and LetCompliance reads the date off it, puts it into the property's 0 to 100 compliance score, and emails you at 90, 30, 14, 7 and 1 days before the next one is due (paid plans add SMS). The same login runs the rest of the let: adverts and applications when you re-let, the rent ledger with arrears chasing, and the SA105 tax pack at year end. See all features and UK pricing, or get started, from £7.99 a month.
Further reading: EICR cost guide · what happens if your EICR expires · landlord checklist 2026
Sources and scope
- Legislation: Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020
- GOV.UK collection: Electrical safety standards in the private rented sector
- GOV.UK: Electrical safety standards, local authority enforcement
Every figure on this page is cited to GOV.UK, legislation.gov.uk or HSE and reviewed against the live source every quarter. This is guidance, not individual legal advice.
2026 UK Landlord Compliance Cheat Sheet
The main duties, deadlines and maximum penalties for a private let in England on two printable A4 pages, and which failures stop a possession order. Updated for the rules in force since 1 May 2026.
- Duties before and during the tenancy, with the deadline for each
- Maximum penalties, including the £40,000 electrical safety figure
- Which failures bar a Section 8 possession order, and which do not
- The possession grounds landlords use most, with notice periods
Frequently asked questions
What are the EICR requirements for UK landlords in England?
Private landlords in England must ensure the fixed electrical installation is inspected and tested at intervals of at most five years (or sooner if the previous report says so). A satisfactory EICR must be provided to tenants as regulations require; C1/C2/FI remedial work must be completed within 28 days (or sooner if specified), with confirmation supplied.
Is an EICR the same as PAT testing?
No. EICR covers the fixed wiring and consumer unit; PAT covers portable appliances. Both may be good practice, but the legal requirement for standard private tenancies in England is the EICR regime for the installation.
