What it is
What's often called a 'landlord electrical safety certificate' is an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private and Social Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, landlords must have the electrical installation inspected and tested by a qualified person (someone competent to do the inspection and testing) at least every five years, and provide the report to tenants. We coordinate access with you or your tenants, carry out the inspection, and upload the report to your account. Observations are coded C1 (danger present), C2 (potentially dangerous), C3 (improvement recommended) or FI (further investigation advised). A C1 or C2 makes the report unsatisfactory. On reports made to the 2026 edition of the wiring regulations (BS 7671 Amendment 4), C3 and FI don't change the overall result; on older reports an FI also made it unsatisfactory.
What's included
- Full EICR inspection and testing of the fixed installation
- Coordination of tenant access
- Report ready to share with tenants and the local authority
- Remedial quote if anything needs attention
- Next-due date tracked with a renewal reminder
Not included
- Remedial work (quoted separately)
- Gas safety checks
- Portable appliance testing — available as an add-on
- Smoke and CO alarm checks — available as an add-on
Who needs it
- Private and social landlords with tenants in England
- Landlords starting a new tenancy
- Letting agents managing compliance for landlords
- Landlords whose last report recommended an earlier re-inspection
What you'll receive
EICR in the BS 7671 model format. Where remedial work is required, written confirmation of completion (an Electrical Installation Certificate or Minor Works Certificate, as appropriate) once the work is done.
How often
At least every five years for a rented home in England (private or social), or sooner where the previous report recommends it.
What the rules say
Each point is labelled so you can tell what's law, what's a British Standard, and what's good practice or comes from your lease, licence or insurer.
- Legal requirementEngland
Inspect at least every five years, and before a new tenancy starts
Private landlords, and since 2025 social landlords, must have the electrical installation inspected and tested by a qualified person at intervals of no more than five years, or sooner if the last report says so. GOV.UK says a fresh inspection isn't needed for a new tenancy if a report from the last five years exists and no work is outstanding.
Sources: 2020 Regulations (opens external site): Electrical Safety Standards in the Private and Social Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/312, as amended); 2025 amendment (opens external site): Electrical Safety Standards (Extension to the Social Rented Sector) Regulations 2025 (SI 2025/1043); GOV.UK guidance (opens external site): Electrical safety standards in the private and social rented sectors: guidance (published 1 November 2025)
- Legal requirementEngland
Give copies of the report
To existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection, to a new tenant before they move in, to a prospective tenant within 28 days of asking, and to the local council within 7 days of a written request. Keep a copy for the next inspector.
Sources: 2020 Regulations (opens external site): Electrical Safety Standards in the Private and Social Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/312, as amended); GOV.UK guidance (opens external site): Electrical safety standards in the private and social rented sectors: guidance (published 1 November 2025)
- Legal requirementEngland
Do remedial or investigative work within 28 days
Where the report requires remedial work or further investigation, a qualified person must carry it out within 28 days, or within any shorter period the report gives. The landlord then gets written confirmation that it's done and sends it, with the report, to the tenants and the council within 28 days of completion.
Sources: 2020 Regulations (opens external site): Electrical Safety Standards in the Private and Social Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/312, as amended); GOV.UK guidance (opens external site): Electrical safety standards in the private and social rented sectors: guidance (published 1 November 2025)
- Technical standardUK (BS 7671)
What makes a report unsatisfactory
C1 (danger present) and C2 (potentially dangerous) make the overall result unsatisfactory. On reports issued to BS 7671 Amendment 4 (2026), C3 (improvement recommended) and FI (further investigation advised) don't affect the overall result. Older reports used 'further investigation required without delay', and an FI made them unsatisfactory.
Sources: IET model EICR form (opens external site): BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 model Electrical Installation Condition Report form; IET Wiring Matters (opens external site): Further investigation (Wiring Matters, issue 110, July 2026); IET (current BS 7671) (opens external site): Ensure you are up to date with BS 7671
- Legal requirementEnglandAwaiting professional review
Landlords still have to act on FI items
Even though an FI no longer fails a 2026-format report, the rental regulations still require any further investigation the report calls for to be carried out within 28 days (or sooner if stated). If your report has an FI, treat it as part of the 28-day work.
Sources: 2020 Regulations (opens external site): Electrical Safety Standards in the Private and Social Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/312, as amended); GOV.UK guidance (opens external site): Electrical safety standards in the private and social rented sectors: guidance (published 1 November 2025); IET Wiring Matters (opens external site): Further investigation (Wiring Matters, issue 110, July 2026)
- Legal requirementEngland
Penalties of up to £40,000
Councils can impose a financial penalty of up to £40,000 for breaches. Breaches from 1 May 2026 fall under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 penalty regime; earlier breaches under the Housing and Planning Act 2016.
Sources: 2020 Regulations (opens external site): Electrical Safety Standards in the Private and Social Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/312, as amended); GOV.UK guidance (opens external site): Electrical safety standards in the private and social rented sectors: guidance (published 1 November 2025)
Before your appointment
- Tell your tenants about the visit in line with the tenancy agreement, or give us their details and we'll arrange access with them.
- Make sure the consumer unit and any meter cupboards are accessible, and that we can get into every room, including lofts if they contain wiring.
- Have the previous EICR to hand: the regulations require you to give it to the next inspector.
- Let us know if the property is an HMO, has more than one consumer unit, or has communal areas.
If something's found
- Any C1 (danger present) is made safe before we leave if you agree. That may mean isolating a circuit until it's repaired.
- You get the report with every observation explained in plain English, and a separate itemised quote for anything that needs fixing. You're free to use any qualified contractor for the work.
- Once remedial work is done, you get an Electrical Installation Certificate or Minor Works Certificate for that work, or a new report, as written confirmation.
- Landlords: the 28-day clock for remedial work and further investigation starts from the inspection, so book any work promptly.
What affects the price
- Number of circuits and consumer units
- Property size, HMO status and communal areas
- Tenant access arrangements and any return visits
- Travel beyond our free travel radius (shown before you pay)
Read more
- EICR codes explained: C1, C2, C3 and FI (updated for 2026)
What each code means, which ones fail a report under the 2026 rules, and what landlords must do about each.
- Electrical safety rules for landlords in England (private and social)
Who the 2020 regulations cover, every deadline, the 2025 extension to social housing, penalties and how the rest of the UK differs.
- How much does an EICR cost in Nottingham?
Our current prices, what makes an EICR cost more or less, and what isn't included.
- Unsatisfactory EICR? What to do next, step by step
The order to do things in, the deadlines for landlords, and the paperwork that proves the work is done.
Questions
Is an EICR a legal requirement for landlords?
For most private tenancies in England, yes. The landlord must ensure the installation is inspected and tested at least every five years and provide the report to tenants. Some types of tenancy are excluded, so check the government guidance if yours is unusual.
My tenants are in — how do you handle access?
Give us the tenant's contact details when booking and we'll arrange a time with them directly. You'll be kept informed of the appointment and the outcome.
What if remedial work is needed?
You'll get a quote with the report. The regulations require remedial work to be completed within 28 days unless the report specifies a shorter period, and we'll issue confirmation once it's done.
Can you manage this for all my properties?
Yes. Add each property to your account and we'll track due dates across your portfolio, or ask about portfolio pricing.