EICR for landlords in 2026: what the electrical safety rules require
If you let a property in England, you have a legal duty to get its fixed electrics checked by a qualified person at least every 5 years and prove it with a report. This guide covers the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 - separate from the Renters' Rights Act, and in force since 2020. What changed on 1 May 2026 is the penalty for getting it wrong, and the fact that a missing report can now undermine a Section 8 possession claim too.
What an EICR actually is
An Electrical Installation Condition Report, or EICR, is the written result of an inspection of your property's fixed electrics - the wiring, socket outlets, light fittings and consumer unit - checked against the current wiring standard, BS 7671. It does not cover appliances a tenant plugs in, and in the private rented sector it does not cover appliances you provide either, unlike the newer duty that applies to social landlords. The check must be carried out by a qualified person: someone genuinely competent to inspect and test electrical installations, not a general handyman.
What you must do, and by when
- Inspect and test at least every 5 years. A qualified person issues a report setting the date of the next check - sooner if the report says so.
- Give existing tenants a copy within 28 days of the inspection taking place.
- Give new tenants a copy before they move in. No need to retest if a valid report already exists with no outstanding work.
- Give a prospective tenant a copy within 28 days of a written request.
- Give the local council a copy within 7 days of a request.
- Keep a copy until the next report is due, and pass it to whoever does the next check.
Reading the report: C1, C2, C3 and FI
The engineer marks anything wrong with a code, and the code decides what happens next.
| Code | What it means | What you must do |
|---|---|---|
| C1 | Danger present, risk of injury | Engineer may make it safe on the spot; remedial work within 28 days |
| C2 | Potentially dangerous | Remedial work required within 28 days |
| FI | Further investigation needed | Investigate without delay; any resulting work within 28 days |
| C3 | Improvement recommended | No further work legally required, though acting on it is sensible |
A C1, C2 or FI code means the installation is recorded as unsatisfactory for continued use until the work is done. Once it is finished, you have 28 days to give the tenant, and the council if asked, both the original report and written confirmation the work was carried out - an EICR, an Electrical Installation Certificate or a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate all count.
If your tenant will not let the engineer in
You are not automatically in breach just because access was refused - you have to show reasonable steps were taken, and you do not have to start legal proceedings to force entry. Keep a written record of every attempt: messages explaining that the check is a legal requirement, offers for the tenant to book their own appointment, and dated notes of each try. That paper trail is what a council or tribunal will actually look at.
What happens if you get it wrong
A council can serve a remedial notice, and if you ignore it, arrange the work itself and recover the cost from you, with a right of appeal. Councils can also impose a civil penalty for breaching the regulations. For breaches from 1 May 2026 the maximum rose to £40,000, up from £30,000 for earlier breaches - part of the same wider increase in housing civil penalties introduced alongside the Renters' Rights Act. If urgent remedial action is needed and you have not acted, the council can, with the tenant's consent, arrange it at your cost, on at least 48 hours' notice.
Between tenancies
The duty does not reset every time a tenant leaves. If your existing report is under 5 years old and clean, you can hand a copy to the incoming tenant before they move in - no re-test required. It is still worth a visual check between lets, particularly if the property has stood empty, folded into the same routine as your landlord compliance checklist and gas safety check, since both run on their own easy-to-lose-track-of clocks.
Never miss a renewal date
The Complete Landlord Pack includes a Landlord Compliance Calendar that tracks your EICR, gas safety and EPC renewal dates alongside your tenancy paperwork, so nothing quietly lapses between tenancies.
See the packs →Frequently asked questions
Is an EICR the same as a gas safety certificate? No. An EICR covers the fixed wiring, sockets and consumer unit. A gas safety record covers gas appliances and flues under separate regulations. If your property has both, you need both documents, on their own five-year and one-year cycles.
How often do I need an EICR? At least every 5 years, by a qualified person, unless the report specifies sooner. There is no need to redo it before every new tenancy if the existing report is still valid with no outstanding work.
What do the C1, C2, C3 and FI codes on an EICR mean? C1 means danger present and the inspector may make it safe on the spot. C2 means potentially dangerous. FI means further investigation is needed without delay. All three require work within 28 days. C3 means improvement recommended - no further work is legally required, though acting on it is sensible.
Do I need a new EICR every time I get a new tenant? No, as long as the most recent report is under 5 years old with no outstanding remedial work. You must still give the new tenant a copy before they move in, and a visual check between tenancies is good practice.
This guide is general information for landlords in England, not legal advice for your specific circumstances. Always use a qualified electrician and check current guidance at gov.uk or electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk.