01
Condition report
EICR
An Electrical Installation Condition Report records the condition of the existing fixed installation at the time of inspection and identifies observations, classifications and any required further investigation.
Landlord Electrical Safety
Responsibilities in England
Landlords need more than a certificate in a folder. This guide explains the inspection cycle, report delivery, remedial-work deadlines and the difference between an EICR, installation certificate and ordinary visual checks.
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Current England guidance, translated into a working checklist
The short answer, before the detail
In England, landlords covered by the electrical safety regulations must have the fixed electrical installation inspected and tested by a qualified person at least every five years, obtain the report, provide the required copies and complete identified remedial or further investigative work within 28 days—or sooner if the report specifies a shorter period.
- A valid recent report may continue across a change of tenancy.
- New tenants must receive the current report before occupation.
- Existing tenants receive it within 28 days of the inspection.
- The local authority can request a copy and enforce the regulations.
Start with the property, not the product
Why the electrical documents differ
Confusion usually begins when every electrical document is called a “certificate”. The record must match what was actually inspected, installed or repaired.
Swipe to compare the situations
02
New installation work
EIC
An Electrical Installation Certificate records new installation work such as a replacement consumer unit or new circuits. Current government guidance recognises appropriate installation certification in relevant circumstances.
03
Smaller alterations
Minor works certificate
A Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate may record suitable minor additions or alterations that do not include a new circuit. It is not a substitute for an EICR of the property.
04
Between formal checks
Visual inspection
A pre-tenancy visual check is sensible for damage or deterioration, but it does not replace the formal inspection and testing required when the report is due or safety concerns justify earlier testing.
A practical decision guide
Build the compliance file around dates & actions
A landlord or agent should be able to answer four questions quickly: what was inspected, when the next inspection is due, what work was required and which tenant received which record.
Before occupation
Give a new tenant the current report
Where a valid report already exists and no earlier inspection is required, provide that report before the tenant occupies the property. A new EICR is not automatically needed for every new tenancy.
After inspection
Send the report and review every observation
Provide the report to the existing tenant within the required period and do not treat delivery as the end of the process. Classifications and recommendations determine the next action.
When work is required
Complete and evidence remedial action
Required remedial or further investigative work must be completed within 28 days or any shorter period stated in the report, with written confirmation retained and supplied as required.
Before the next due date
Check for reasons to inspect earlier
Damage, deterioration, tenant reports, alterations or an inspector-specified shorter interval may justify earlier inspection. Five years is a maximum interval, not a promise that nothing needs attention in between.
What professional work looks like
A landlord EICR should leave a usable record
The inspection is technical; the handover should still be understandable to the person responsible for the property.
- 01
Confirm the property and existing records
Review the address, tenancy context, previous report, certificates and any reported faults or changes since the last inspection.
- 02
Agree access and limitations
Plan access to the consumer unit, circuits, accessories and relevant areas, and record any genuine operational limitations rather than implying that inaccessible items were inspected.
- 03
Inspect, test and classify
Assess the fixed installation, record test results and use the recognised classifications consistently, including any need for further investigation.
- 04
Explain the outcome
Separate immediate danger, potentially dangerous issues, further investigation and recommendations so the landlord knows what action is actually required.
- 05
Close the remedial evidence loop
Retain the report, invoices and appropriate electrical certification or written confirmation for completed work, then update the next due date and tenant record.
Experience made visible
Compliance is a chain of evidence, not one PDF
The useful file connects the property, inspection, observations, remedial work, tenant delivery and next due date. That protects the tenant and makes the next inspection or change of tenancy much easier to manage.
- Correct property and consumer-unit details.
- Clear inspection date and next recommended date.
- Every required observation matched to remedial evidence.
- Record of when the report and confirmation were supplied.
Sources and scope
This guide explains the practical issues customers ask about. Regulations and official guidance can change, and the correct solution still depends on the property. The following primary sources were checked when this page was prepared:
Landlord Electrical Safety Questions
Current England requirements explained in practical language. This is general information, not legal advice for a disputed or unusual tenancy.
How often does a landlord need an electrical inspection in England?
At least every five years, or sooner where the previous report specifies a shorter interval or there is reason to believe the installation may no longer be safe. Check the current GOV.UK guidance for the tenancy concerned.
Is a new EICR required every time the tenant changes?
Not automatically. Current government guidance says a new inspection is not required simply because the property is re-let when a valid report completed less than five years ago remains suitable and does not require outstanding work. The new tenant must receive the current report before occupation.
How quickly must remedial work be completed?
Where the report requires remedial or further investigative work, the regulations generally require completion within 28 days or any shorter period specified as necessary in the report.
Does an EICR include portable appliances?
An EICR concerns the fixed electrical installation. Appliances supplied with the tenancy are a separate responsibility and may require their own checks or records depending on the landlord, sector and applicable guidance.
Does a plastic consumer unit automatically fail a landlord EICR?
No. The material alone does not automatically determine the report outcome. The inspector assesses the installation against the current reporting guidance, including condition, signs of thermal damage, protection and the circumstances of the installation.
Who should receive the EICR?
The landlord must retain the report and provide copies in the situations and timeframes set out in the regulations, including to tenants and to the local housing authority when requested. Use the current GOV.UK guidance for the exact duty.
Arrange Landlord EICR Testing
Tell us about the property, current report and due date. We provide qualified inspection, clear classifications and the evidence needed to close remedial work properly.
Qualified Report
Inspection and testing are recorded against the correct property and installation.
Clear Classifications
Required action is separated from recommendations and explained in practical language.
Remedial Evidence
Completed work is matched to the observations with appropriate electrical records.
Useful Handover
The landlord can see what was done, what remains and when the next inspection is due.