Failure to comply with the EICR Regulations is one of the most severely penalised landlord offences in England: local authorities can impose a civil penalty of up to £30,000 per breach. Unlike gas safety (a criminal offence), EICR non-compliance is primarily enforced through civil penalties — but the financial exposure is significantly higher.
The EICR requirement has applied to all private rented properties since 1 April 2021. Any landlord who has not had an EICR carried out, or whose EICR has expired (5 years from the date of the previous report), is currently in breach.
What is an EICR?
An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a formal document produced by a qualified electrician after an inspection and test of the fixed electrical installation in a property. It records:
- The condition of the fixed electrical installation (wiring, consumer unit/fuse board, sockets, light fittings, switches)
- Any observations coded C1 (Danger present — immediate action required), C2 (Potentially dangerous — urgent action required), C3 (Improvement recommended), or FI (Further investigation required)
- The overall verdict: Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory
- The date of the inspection and the recommended date of the next inspection (maximum 5 years)
Who must carry out the inspection?
The inspection and test must be carried out by a qualified and competent person. In practice this means a registered electrician, typically:
- NICEIC registered electrician
- NAPIT registered electrician
- ELECSA registered electrician
- Any person registered under a competent person scheme for electrical work in the relevant category
- Check the electrician's registration on the NICEIC, NAPIT, or ELECSA register before they attend — an unregistered person's report will not satisfy the Regulations
The 28-day service rule
After each EICR, the landlord must provide a copy to:
- Existing tenants: within 28 days of the inspection date
- New tenants: before the tenancy commences
- Prospective tenants who request a copy: within 28 days of the request
- The local housing authority (if requested): within 7 days of the request
- Email delivery is acceptable where the tenant has agreed to receive documents electronically
Remedial work — C1, C2, FI codes
If the EICR contains a C1, C2, or FI observation, the landlord must have the remedial work completed within 28 days of the report date (or sooner if the report specifies a shorter period):
- C1 (Danger present): The electrician should not leave until the immediate danger is made safe — this is the electrician's professional obligation. The landlord must ensure any further remedial work is completed within 28 days
- C2 (Potentially dangerous): Remedial work required within 28 days
- FI (Further investigation): Investigation required within 28 days — the investigation itself may reveal further work
- After remedial work is complete, obtain written confirmation from the electrician that the work has been carried out to the required standard
- Provide a copy of the confirmation to the tenant within 28 days of receiving it
When is a new EICR required?
A new EICR is required in any of the following circumstances:
- The previous EICR is 5 years old (from the date of the inspection, not the date you received the report)
- The previous EICR recommended a shorter re-inspection interval (e.g. 3 years for an older installation)
- There has been significant electrical work since the last EICR (a new consumer unit, rewire, or significant extension)
- The previous EICR was Unsatisfactory and remedial work has been carried out — a new report confirms compliance
- The property has been unoccupied for an extended period
EICR and possession proceedings
Under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, serving a Section 8 notice without having provided the EICR to the tenant may invalidate the notice. The same logic applied to Section 21 prior to abolition. Always verify all compliance documents are current and have been served before taking possession steps.
- Check the EICR date and confirm it was served on the current tenant before any possession action
- If the EICR was issued before the current tenant moved in but was not re-served, serve it now before serving the Section 8 notice
- Keep a signed acknowledgment or email confirmation of EICR service in the tenancy file
Frequently asked questions
How often does a landlord need an EICR?+
At least every 5 years, or at the start of each new tenancy if the existing EICR is older than 5 years. If the EICR specifies a shorter re-inspection interval (e.g. 3 years for an older installation), that shorter period applies. The 5-year maximum is a ceiling, not a standard — older or problematic installations should be re-tested more frequently.
What is the penalty for not having an EICR?+
The local housing authority can impose a civil penalty of up to £30,000 per breach of the EICR Regulations. The authority has a duty to enforce if a breach is identified. This is separate from any liability arising from an electrical incident in the property, which could attract much larger civil damages or criminal charges.
Do I need an EICR for a new build?+
New build properties should have an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) from the installation, which confirms the fixed installation was safe when installed. However, you will still need an EICR within 5 years of the installation — or sooner if your tenancy agreement or insurance requires it. Check the date on the EIC carefully.
My tenant refuses access for the EICR — what do I do?+
Document all access attempts in writing. Send at least two written requests giving reasonable notice and options. If access is persistently refused, you may need to apply to court for an access injunction. Critically, keep all correspondence as evidence that you have taken all reasonable steps to comply — a local authority enforcement action may be defended on the basis that the landlord could not gain access despite reasonable attempts.
Can I use the same EICR for multiple tenancies?+
Yes, provided the EICR is still within its 5-year validity period and is Satisfactory (or any C1/C2/FI items have been remediated). You must provide a copy to each new tenant before or at the start of each tenancy, even if the same EICR has already been given to previous tenants.