Electrical safety report (EICR)
An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is an inspection and test of the fixed electrical wiring in a property, written up by a qualified electrician. Landlords of privately rented homes in England must have one at least every five years and give a copy to their tenants. Similar duties now apply in Wales and Northern Ireland, and Scotland has its own rules.
This guide covers the rules in England. See Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
0 electrical inspectors listed across the UK
Featured (paid) listings first, then A–Z · How we check listings
What an EICR is, and what it is not
The electrician inspects and tests the fixed electrical installation: the consumer unit (fuse box), wiring, sockets, light fittings and switches that are part of the building. They record what they find and give the installation an overall result of satisfactory or unsatisfactory, with a list of observations.
An EICR is not the same as an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC), which an electrician issues when new electrical work is finished, and it is not a test of appliances. Portable appliance testing (PAT) covers plugged-in equipment and is a separate check.
Who needs one in England
- Landlords of private rented homes. Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, a landlord must make sure the electrical installation is inspected and tested by a qualified person at least every five years.
- When it started. The rules applied to new tenancies from 1 July 2020 and to existing tenancies from 1 April 2021.
- Reports can be reused. A report that is still valid can be used for the next tenancy, and a change of tenant does not by itself mean a new one is needed. The next inspection date is shown on the report, and it can be sooner than five years if the electrician recommends it.
- Not the same as selling. There is no general legal requirement to have an EICR when you sell a home, although buyers or their lenders sometimes ask for one.
What the codes mean
Each observation in the report is given a code. A report is unsatisfactory if it contains any C1, C2 or FI code.
Danger present
Risk of injury. Immediate remedial action is required. The electrician may make the installation safe on the day.
Potentially dangerous
Urgent remedial action is required.
Further investigation
Something could not be fully checked and needs further investigation.
Improvement recommended
Not dangerous and no action is required by law. A report with only C3 observations can still be satisfactory.
What a landlord has to do with the report
- Give a copy to the tenant. To existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection, and to new tenants before they move in. A prospective tenant who asks in writing should get a copy within 28 days.
- Give a copy to the council. Within 7 days if the local authority asks for it.
- Keep it. Keep the report until the next inspection, and give it to the next electrician.
- Fix what the report requires. If the report is unsatisfactory, the work (or further investigation) must be done within 28 days of the inspection, or sooner if the report says so. The landlord then needs written confirmation from a qualified person that the work is complete, and must send that and the original report to the tenant and the council within 28 days of completion.
- Enforcement. A council can arrange the work itself if a landlord does not act, and can issue a financial penalty for breaching the duty.
Check the rules for your nation and date. Wales and Northern Ireland have introduced their own five-year requirements in recent years, and the details, including timescales for giving the report to tenants, differ from England. Scotland has separate rules under its Repairing Standard. See the section below, and check the official guidance for your tenancy.
What to ask before you book
- Whether they are qualified and competent to inspect and test fixed wiring, and which scheme or body they are registered with. Ask for proof you can check.
- That the report will follow the standard format set out in BS 7671 and show the overall result, each observation with its code, and the date the next inspection is due
- Whether the quote covers the whole property, including any outbuildings, garage or shared areas you are responsible for
- Whether they can also do any remedial work, and whether that is quoted separately
- Whether they will issue written confirmation when remedial work is complete
- How soon you will get the written report after the visit
In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
This guide describes the rules in England. Building regulations are devolved, so here is how electrical safety report (eicr) works in the rest of the UK.
Welsh landlords have to keep rented homes fit for human habitation under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, and this now includes a valid EICR at least every five years, with a copy given to the tenant within 14 days. Rent Smart Wales and the Welsh Government publish guidance for landlords.
Scotland has its own rules. The Repairing Standard covers electrical installations and appliances supplied with a rented home, and the Scottish Government publishes statutory guidance for private landlords on what inspections are expected. Check the current guidance before you let.
Landlords must have each rented home’s electrical installation inspected and tested by a qualified electrician at least every five years. The rules apply to new private tenancies from 1 April 2025 and to existing tenancies from 1 December 2025. Give the tenant a copy within 28 days and the council a copy within 7 days if it asks.
Common questions
How often do landlords need an EICR?
In England, at least every five years, or sooner if the previous report says a shorter interval is needed. The same five-year interval applies in Wales and Northern Ireland.
What happens if my EICR is unsatisfactory?
You must have the required remedial work or further investigation done within 28 days, or any shorter time given in the report. You then need written confirmation that it is done, and you must give that and the original report to your tenants and the council within 28 days of completion.
Does a C3 code mean I fail?
No. C3 means an improvement is recommended and does not indicate danger. A report with only C3 observations is satisfactory. A C1, C2 or FI code makes it unsatisfactory.
Do I need a new EICR for every new tenant?
Not necessarily. A valid report can be used for later tenancies until its next inspection date. New tenants must be given a copy before they move in.
Is an EICR the same as PAT testing?
No. An EICR covers the fixed wiring of the property. PAT covers portable appliances such as kettles and lamps. They are separate checks.
Do I need an EICR to sell my house?
There is no general legal requirement for one when selling. A buyer or their lender may ask for a recent report, especially for a property that is let.
How much does an EICR cost?
It depends on the size of the property and how many circuits it has. Electricians set their own prices, so compare quotes and check what each includes, including whether minor remedial work is covered.
What if my tenant will not let the electrician in?
Landlords have a defence if they can show they took reasonable steps. Keep a written record of each request and the dates and times you offered. Take advice before relying on it.
Sources
The rules and dates in this guide were checked against these pages on 14 October 2026. They are independent of us and may change, so check the current version before you rely on it.
- Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (Torbay Council)
- Electrical Safety Standards: legal requirements (Sefton Council)
- Landlord electrical safety certificate (NRLA)
- High Court ruling on EICRs in Wales (NRLA)
- Reminder for landlords in Northern Ireland on electrical safety checks (NAPIT)
New to the jargon? See our glossary of terms, from air permeability to TrustMark.