EICR guides
Straight answers about electrical safety reports — what the law asks of landlords, what the codes mean, how often you need a check and what happens if one fails.
Landlords
7 min read · Updated Sep 2026
EICR for landlords: what the law requires in England
Landlords in England must have the electrics inspected and tested at least every five years, give the report to their tenants and complete any required work within 28 days. Here is exactly what the rules say — and how to stay on the right side of them.
Read the guide5 min read · Updated Sep 2026
Landlord EICR fines: what councils can do
Councils can fine landlords up to £40,000 for breaching the electrical safety rules — and can also order the work or carry it out themselves and send you the bill. Here is how enforcement works and how to avoid it.
Read the guide5 min read · Updated Sep 2026
HMO electrical safety in London: EICRs and licensing
HMOs need an EICR at least every five years like any rented home — and HMO licences in London usually ask for one too. Here is how the electrical safety rules and licensing fit together for HMO landlords.
Read the guide6 min read · Updated Sep 2026
Who pays for an EICR — landlord or tenant?
The landlord pays. The legal duty to have the electrics inspected and tested is the landlord’s, and the Tenant Fees Act stops landlords and letting agents in England charging tenants for it. Here is who pays in other situations.
Read the guide6 min read · Updated Sep 2026
Electrical safety: what tenants are entitled to
If you rent in England, your landlord must have the electrics inspected and tested at least every five years, give you a copy of the report and fix dangerous faults within 28 days. Here’s what to do if they don’t.
Read the guide6 min read · Updated Sep 2026
EICRs for letting agents: a practical checklist
The EICR duty belongs to the landlord, but on managed lets the agent usually makes it happen. This checklist covers tracking dates, arranging access, sending copies on time, the 28-day repair rule, keeping records and the planned London landlord register.
Read the guideYour report
6 min read · Updated Sep 2026
EICR codes explained: C1, C2, C3 and FI
Every problem on an EICR gets a code. C1 means danger now, C2 means potentially dangerous, C3 is a recommendation and FI means something needs investigating. Here is what each one means for you — and which ones make a report fail.
Read the guide6 min read · Updated Sep 2026
Unsatisfactory EICR: what happens next
An EICR is unsatisfactory when it has a C1 or C2. For landlords, that starts a 28-day clock for the repairs and another 28 days to send confirmation to tenants and the council. Here is what to do, step by step.
Read the guide6 min read · Updated Sep 2026
When an EICR says the consumer unit must go
An old consumer unit doesn’t automatically fail an EICR. It depends on what is wrong with it. Here is when replacement is needed, what the codes mean for your fuse board, and how the work is signed off under building regulations.
Read the guide6 min read · Updated Sep 2026
How long is an EICR valid?
For a rented home in England, an EICR is valid for up to five years, or less if the report gives an earlier date. For a home you live in, every ten years is the usual advice. Follow the date on your report.
Read the guide6 min read · Updated Sep 2026
RCDs explained: why your EICR mentions them
An RCD is a safety switch that cuts the power in a fraction of a second if electricity leaks to earth. Here is why EICRs check for them, why a missing RCD can be a C2 or C3, and how they’re tested.
Read the guideThe inspection
5 min read · Updated Sep 2026
How often do you need an EICR?
Landlords need an EICR at least every five years by law. For homeowners it is recommended every ten years and when a home changes hands. Here are the usual intervals for every kind of property.
Read the guide5 min read · Updated Sep 2026
How long does an EICR take?
A small flat usually takes a few hours, and a larger house can take most of a day. The time depends on the size of the property, the number of circuits and consumer units, and how easy it is to get to everything.
Read the guide5 min read · Updated Sep 2026
EICR, EIC, Minor Works or PAT: which do you need?
An EICR checks the condition of existing wiring. An EIC certifies new electrical work, a Minor Works certificate covers small jobs, and PAT testing checks plug-in appliances. Here is how to tell which one you need.
Read the guide5 min read · Updated Sep 2026
How to prepare for an EICR
A little preparation makes an EICR quicker and more complete: clear access to the consumer unit and every room, warn the occupiers about short power cuts, and tell the electrician about anything that must stay on.
Read the guide7 min read · Updated Sep 2026
What does an EICR check? The tests explained
An EICR is a visual inspection of your consumer unit, wiring and fittings, followed by electrical tests on the circuits: continuity, insulation resistance, polarity, earth fault loop impedance and RCD tests. Here is what each one checks, in plain English.
Read the guideHomeowners
5 min read · Updated Sep 2026
Do you need an EICR to sell or buy a house?
There is no legal requirement for an owner-occupier to have an EICR to sell a home — but buyers, their solicitors and surveyors often ask about the electrics. Here is when an EICR helps a sale, and why buyers commission one.
Read the guide6 min read · Updated Sep 2026
Does a new-build home need an EICR?
Not at first. A new home should come with an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) for its wiring. An EICR becomes useful later: when you let it more than five years after the EIC, buy it from its first owner, or have concerns.
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