Landlord guide · Electrical safety
EICR for landlords: the electrical safety rules
The electrical installation in a rented home must be inspected and tested at least every 5 years by a qualified, competent person. The result is an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR).
The short version
Get an EICR at least every 5 years. Give tenants a copy within 28 days, and fix anything the report requires within 28 days.
A council can fine you up to £40,000 for breaching the regulations. You'll also upload the report when you register the property.
Who gets a copy, and when
- Existing tenants: within 28 days of the inspection
- New tenants: before they move in
- Prospective tenants: within 28 days of asking
- The council: within 7 days of asking
Keep a copy until the next inspection is due.
If the report finds problems
Remedial work or further investigation must be done within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so. Then confirm in writing to the tenant and the council within 28 days of finishing the work.
The confirmation can be a satisfactory EICR, an Electrical Installation Certificate or a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate.
Which lets are covered
The rules apply where a tenant lives in the property as their only or main home and pays rent, including licences. Houses in multiple occupation are covered, but communal areas of a building are not.
Exceptions include homes shared with the landlord or their family, and tenancies of 7 years or more.
What Redilet does and doesn't do
Redilet's free checker reads your EICR and flags one that is out of date or close to it. It doesn't judge the installation itself. Only a qualified electrician can.
Official sources
- Electrical safety standards in the private and social rented sectors: guidance (GOV.UK)
- Register your rental property service: guidance for landlords (GOV.UK)
Checked on 5 November 2026. Check them before you act. This page is researched information, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is an EICR the same as an electrical safety certificate?
Yes, in practice. The register asks for evidence of an electrical safety certificate, and for a rented home that is usually the EICR.
What if the council has to do the work?
If you don't comply with a remedial notice, the council can do the work and recover the cost from you.