Landlord EICR rules in England

Who the rules cover

The rules cover most tenancies in England where the tenant lives in the home as their only or main home and pays rent. They include licences to occupy, so many lodger-style lets and HMOs are covered.

Some lets are excluded. Homes shared with the landlord or the landlord's family are excluded. So are long leases of 7 years or more, student halls, hostels, refuges, care homes, mobile homes and boats.

Most short holiday lets are outside the rules, because guests do not live there as their main home. But you still owe guests a duty of care, and insurers often ask for an EICR. Many Cotswold holiday cottage owners book one anyway. Check your own position.

What landlords must do

The main duty is a check by a qualified person at least every 5 years. The full list is below.

• Have the fixed electrics inspected and tested at least every 5 years, or sooner if the report says so.
• Give a copy of the report to existing tenants within 28 days of the test.
• Give a copy to a new tenant before they move in.
• Give a copy to a prospective tenant within 28 days of a request.
• Give a copy to the council within 7 days of a written request.
• Do any remedial or further investigation work within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so.
• Within 28 days of that work, give the tenant and the council written confirmation from the electrician.

What the codes mean

The report gives each finding a code. C1 means danger is present. C2 means potentially dangerous. Both need remedial work.

FI means further investigation is needed without delay. The landlord must make sure this happens.

C3 means an improvement would make the installation safer. A C3 alone does not need remedial work and does not make the report unsatisfactory.

What changed in 2025 and 2026

Three changes matter. First, the rules now cover social housing in England. They came into force for social landlords on 1 November 2025. They apply to social tenancies granted from 1 December 2025. For social tenancies granted before that, the duty started on 1 May 2026, and the first checks must be done before 1 November 2026.

Second, social landlords must also have the electrical appliances they supply checked at least every 5 years. Examples are cookers, fridges and washing machines. Private landlords do not have this extra duty, but many test appliances anyway.

Third, the maximum fine rose from £30,000 to £40,000. For breaches from 1 May 2026, councils use the civil penalty rules in the Renters' Rights Act 2025 and other housing law.

Practical steps

Keep a simple record for each home. Note the test date, the next due date, the codes, and the date you fixed each item.

Book the next EICR a few months early. Older Cotswold homes often need remedial work, and electricians can be busy.

If a tenant will not let you in, keep copies of every message and every offer of a date. The rules say you are not in breach if you took all reasonable steps.

Never ask a tenant to do electrical work. Never fix C1 or C2 items yourself unless you are a competent electrician.

When to call an electrician

Call an electrician now if your last report is near 5 years old, if a new tenancy starts, or if you have unfixed C1, C2 or FI items.

Use a firm that can do the remedial work too. A firm on the NICEIC or NAPIT register can self-certify notifiable repairs, such as a new consumer unit.

What it costs

The price depends on the number of circuits, the age of the wiring and the access. See our EICR cost guide for prices. If the report leads to a new board or a rewire, see our consumer unit cost guide and our rewire cost guide.

Questions

Sources