EICR explained: five years on, the traps landlords hit

The EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report — has been mandatory for private rentals in England since 1 June 2020 (new tenancies) and 1 April 2021 (all existing tenancies). Five years on, the first wave of renewals is hitting, and a lot of landlords are finding out their “satisfactory” report was more conditional than they thought.

What it is

A full inspection of the fixed electrical installation — the consumer unit, the wiring, the sockets, the lights, the earthing and bonding. It’s not a check of appliances. It must be carried out by a “qualified and competent” electrician, typically one registered with a Competent Person Scheme such as NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA or Stroma.

The outcome codes

This is where the trouble lives.

• C1 — Danger present. The electrician should make safe before leaving.
• C2 — Potentially dangerous. Must be fixed within 28 days (or sooner if the report specifies).
• C3 — Improvement recommended. Not a legal requirement to fix, but worth considering.
• FI — Further investigation required. Treat as a C2 for compliance purposes: you have 28 days.

The certificate is only “satisfactory” if there are no C1, C2 or FI codes. A report with C3 entries is still satisfactory. A report with even one C2 is not, and you have 28 days from receipt of the report (or the electrician’s stated shorter deadline) to carry out the remedial work.

Written confirmation of remedial work

Once you’ve had the C1/C2 work done, you need written confirmation from the electrician that it’s been completed. This goes to the tenant within 28 days, and to the local authority on request. Landlords routinely forget this step — the original EICR alone doesn’t discharge the obligation if it flagged remedial work.

Who has to see it

• Existing tenants: within 28 days of the inspection.
• New tenants: before they occupy the property.
• Prospective tenants: within 28 days of a written request.
• The local authority: within 7 days of a written request.

Renewal frequency

At least every 5 years, or sooner if the report specifies. Some older installations will get a report recommending a 3-year re-inspection — that becomes your legal minimum.

Enforcement

Local authorities can impose financial penalties of up to £30,000 per breach under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. In practice the first penalty is usually lower, but councils have been increasingly willing to act.

The common mistake

Treating the EICR like an MOT — “it passed, move on.” It’s closer to a survey. Read the recommendations. The C3s today are often the C2s at your next inspection.

References and further reading

• The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 — legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/312/contents/made
• GOV.UK, Guide for landlords: electrical safety standards in the private rented sector — gov.uk/government/publications/electrical-safety-standards-in-the-private-rented-sector-guidance-for-landlords-tenants-and-local-authorities
• Electrical Safety First, Landlords’ guide to the Electrical Safety Standards — electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guidance/advice-for-you/rented-accommodation
• NICEIC, Landlord Electrical Safety Certificate (EICR) — niceic.com/find-a-contractor/landlord-certificates

General guidance, not legal advice. Always check the primary source for the current position on a specific property.