EICR for landlords: every 5 years, but the rules are subtle (UK 2026)

The headline rule is easy: a UK landlord must have an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) for every rental property, renewed at least every 5 years. The parts that catch landlords out are the rules around new tenancies, giving a copy to the tenant, and what to do when the report flags up issues.

The legal basis

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 came into force on 1 July 2020 for new tenancies and 1 April 2021 for existing tenancies. They require landlords to:

Have the electrical installation inspected and tested by a qualified person (NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA or equivalent) at the start of a tenancy and at intervals of no more than 5 years.
Obtain a copy of the report.
Supply a copy to each existing tenant within 28 days of the inspection.
Supply a copy to the local authority within 7 days if they request one.
Complete any remedial work identified as C1 (danger present) or C2 (potentially dangerous) within 28 days, or sooner if the inspector says so. C3 (improvement recommended) is optional.
Get a new EICR confirming the remedial work, before re-letting.

What "every 5 years" really means

The clock starts on the date of the inspection, not the start of the tenancy, not the calendar year. If your EICR is dated 12 June 2024, you have until 12 June 2029 to get a new one.

The subtler point: you need a new EICR at the start of every new tenancy if the previous one is more than 5 years old at the start date. So if your EICR expires in October 2026 and you sign a new tenant in August 2026, you have a problem: October will pass during the tenancy, and you should already be arranging a new inspection. The practical move is to get the next EICR done before October, not after.

Reading the report: what C1, C2, C3 actually mean

A qualified electrician's EICR will classify each observation with a code:

C1 — Danger present. Risk of injury. The inspector may make the situation safe immediately (e.g. by isolating a circuit). You must complete remedial work before re-letting. If the property is currently tenanted, you complete it within 28 days.
C2 — Potentially dangerous. No immediate risk, but a fault that could become dangerous. You must complete remedial work within 28 days (or sooner).
C3 — Improvement recommended. Not a breach, just a recommendation. No statutory deadline, but worth doing.
FI — Further investigation required. Means the inspector couldn't fully assess something and wants a follow-up. Treat as C2 for the 28-day clock.

If the report is "Unsatisfactory" (i.e. contains any C1, C2 or FI code), you must get a new EICR confirming the work was done — before the next tenancy starts, and within 28 days of the inspection if the property is currently let.

Who can do the inspection?

The electrician must be "qualified and competent" — meaning registered with a competent person scheme such as:

NICEIC (National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting)
NAPIT (National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers)
ELECSA
STROMA (now part of NAPIT)

A general handyman or "an electrician I know" is not acceptable, even if they're good. The report must come from a registered inspector.

The cost

A typical 1-2 bed flat: £80-£150. A 3-bed house: £120-£200. HMO with multiple consumer units: £200-£400. Costs have crept up since 2022; budget for the upper end of these ranges.

What happens if you miss the 5-year cycle

The local authority can:

Issue a Remedial Notice requiring you to get an EICR within 28 days.
Fine you up to £30,000 per breach if you don't comply.
Carry out the work themselves and bill you.

Beyond the regulatory risk, no EICR means you cannot serve a valid Section 8 notice based on the mandatory ground for anti-social behaviour or rent arrears, because you have failed to meet a statutory obligation.

A practical system for EICR

Log the inspection date in ComplianceTrack when you get the report.
We calculate the expiry (5 years from inspection) and email you at 60, 30 and 7 days before.
Book the next inspection about 2 months before expiry, not 2 weeks before. Popular inspectors are booked 4-6 weeks ahead.
Upload the new report as soon as you have it. If it flags C1/C2, the dashboard shows a "remedial work required" flag with a 28-day timer.
Send a copy to the tenant within 28 days.

Not legal advice. This guide is informational and is based on the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 as of 1 September 2026. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have separate but similar regimes. Always confirm current requirements with a qualified electrician or solicitor.