Quick answer: On 1 November 2025 the electrical safety rules for landlords in England were amended by SI 2025/1043. The maximum civil penalty rose from £30,000 to £40,000 per breach, the next-inspection date on an EICR must be a fixed calendar date, and the "tenant refused access" defence now also covers refusals to people acting for you. Your existing valid EICR does not need replacing.
Most landlords learned the EICR rules in 2020 and 2021, when inspections first became mandatory for private lets in England. The rules have since been amended, and a lot of published guidance, including many letting agents' packs, still quotes the old figures.
What changed on 1 November 2025
The amending regulations were primarily designed to bring social housing into the same electrical safety regime as the private rented sector. Along the way they made three changes that directly affect private landlords.
1. The penalty cap rose to £40,000
Regulation 10 of SI 2025/1043 substitutes £40,000 for £30,000 as the maximum financial penalty a council can impose. It is a per-breach figure. Failing to have an inspection carried out, failing to give the report to your tenant, and failing to complete remedial work within the deadline are separate duties, and each can attract its own penalty.
For breaches from 1 May 2026, GOV.UK guidance directs councils to the civil penalty framework under the Renters' Rights Act 2025. Earlier breaches are dealt with under the Housing and Planning Act 2016 framework.
2. The next-inspection date must be a real date
An EICR must state when the next inspection is due. Some reports used to say things like "on change of occupancy". That no longer satisfies the rules: the next inspection has to be a fixed calendar date, and it cannot be more than five years after the inspection.
When your report arrives, check the date field. If it shows an event instead of a date, ask the electrician to reissue it.
3. The access defence is wider
Landlords have long had a defence where a tenant refuses access. The amendment extends that defence to refusals given to someone acting on the landlord's behalf. In practice, that is usually your electrician or managing agent.
The defence only works if you can prove you took all reasonable steps. Keep copies of every message, letter and missed appointment.
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Book your EICR from £67.99 →What did not change
The core duties are the same as they were in 2020:
- Have the fixed electrical installation inspected and tested by a qualified person at least every five years, or sooner if the report says so.
- Give a copy of the report to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection, and to new tenants before they move in.
- Give a copy to the local council within 7 days of a written request.
- Complete any remedial or further investigation work within 28 days, or the shorter period the report specifies, and confirm completion in writing to the tenant and council within 28 days of the work.
A report is unsatisfactory if it contains any C1, C2 or FI observation. C3 items are recommendations only.
Why this matters more in London
A large share of London's rental stock is Victorian and Edwardian, often converted into flats with older wiring and, in some cases, more than one consumer unit. That combination raises the chance of C2 observations and of remedial deadlines being missed.
It also matters because of timing. The first compulsory inspections for existing tenancies were due by April 2021, so many of those five-year reports expire through 2026. A landlord who lets an EICR lapse this year faces a higher cap than in 2021.
A practical checklist
- Find your current EICR and note the next-inspection date.
- If the date is within the next three months, book the renewal now.
- Check the report states a calendar date, not an event.
- Confirm you have evidence the tenant received a copy.
- If there were C1, C2 or FI items, confirm the completion letter was sent.
Pricing notes for your EICR
Our domestic EICR starts from £67.99 for a studio and £94.99 for a 1–3 bedroom property. Prices cover one consumer unit with up to 12 circuits. Additional consumer units are £49.99 each and circuits above 12 are £10 per circuit. Your engineer confirms both on arrival.
Book your EICR online or call 020 3996 1070.
Sources
- SI 2025/1043 — The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) (Amendment) (Extension to the Social Rented Sector) Regulations 2025
- GOV.UK — Electrical safety standards in the private and social rented sectors: guidance
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About the author
My Landlord Certificate
This guide was written and fact-checked by the My Landlord Certificate compliance team and reviewed against current UK legislation by our NICEIC-approved, NAPIT-registered, Gas Safe registered, accredited DEA and NEBOSH-qualified engineers. We help landlords across all 33 London boroughs stay compliant with fixed-price EICR, Gas Safety (CP12), EPC, Fire Risk Assessment and PAT testing.