EICRs and landlord electrical testing in the Cotswolds

What an EICR involves

An EICR is an inspection and a set of tests on the fixed electrics. The electrician checks the consumer unit, the circuits, the earthing and bonding, and a sample of sockets, switches and lights.

Most of the tests need the power off for part of the visit. A small flat takes a few hours. A large house takes longer. The electrician then writes a report against BS 7671, the national wiring standard.

The report gives each fault a code. C1 means danger is present. C2 means the fault is potentially dangerous. C3 means an improvement would make it safer. FI means the electrician must investigate further. A report with a C1, C2 or FI is unsatisfactory.

Local factors in the Cotswolds

Cotswold rented homes are often old. Many are stone cottages, Victorian terraces or flats above shops in town centres. These buildings often hold wiring from several decades, which takes more time to test.

Thick stone walls and listed interiors can make access hard. Some rural homes have their own earth rod, not an earth from the network. The electrician must test that rod.

Many homes in the area are holiday lets. The 2020 rules cover tenants who live in a home as their only or main residence. Most short holiday lets fall outside that, but insurers and agents often ask for a current EICR. Check your own position.

Signs you need an EICR

You need an EICR if the last one is 5 years old, or older than the date the report gives. Other signs are below.

• You plan to let a home, or you start a new tenancy and have no valid report.
• You are buying an older home. A normal survey does not test the electrics.
• Trip switches operate often, or sockets and switches are warm or scorched.
• Electrical Safety First suggests a check every 10 years for owner-occupied homes.

The rules

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 apply to most private tenancies in England. A qualified person must inspect and test the electrics at least every 5 years.

The landlord gives a copy to existing tenants within 28 days. New tenants get a copy before they move in. The council gets one within 7 days of a request. The landlord must complete remedial or further investigation work within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so.

In 2025, the government extended the rules to social housing. They apply to social tenancies granted from 1 December 2025. For older social tenancies, the duty started on 1 May 2026, and the first checks must be done before 1 November 2026. Social landlords must also check the appliances they supply.

The same 2025 change raised the maximum council penalty from £30,000 to £40,000. From 1 May 2026, councils use the Renters' Rights Act 2025 civil penalty rules for new breaches.

What to ask a firm

Ask a firm what its price includes before you book. These questions help you compare firms.

• Are you registered with a scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT? Which name are you registered under?
• Will you test every circuit, and what sample of points will you inspect?
• Do you price remedial work separately, and how quickly can you do it?
• Will you give the report in the standard BS 7671 format?
• Can you test appliances too, if I am a social landlord or I supply appliances?

Questions

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