What Is an EICR? A Complete Guide for UK Landlords (2026)

An EICR — or Electrical Installation Condition Report — is a formal assessment of the fixed electrical wiring and installations in a property. For UK landlords, it is no longer optional: since 1 July 2020, the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 have made a valid EICR a legal requirement for every privately rented home in England.

This guide explains exactly what an EICR is, who carries it out, what the inspection covers, and what landlords must do to stay compliant.

What Does EICR Stand For?

EICR stands for Electrical Installation Condition Report. You will also hear it referred to as an electrical safety certificate, an electrical inspection certificate or a periodic inspection report — all of these terms describe the same document.

The word "condition" is deliberate. The inspection assesses the current condition of a property's fixed electrical installation against the UK standard for electrical safety, BS 7671 (the IET Wiring Regulations, 18th Edition). It is an assessment and a test — not a service or repair.

Is an EICR a Legal Requirement for Landlords?

Yes — and the consequences for non-compliance are serious.

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 place a legal duty on all private landlords in England to:

• Have the electrical installation inspected at least every five years by a qualified and competent person
• Obtain a written EICR setting out the results of the inspection
• Provide a copy of the EICR to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection
• Provide a copy to new tenants before they move in
• Provide a copy to prospective tenants within 28 days of a written request
• Supply a copy to the local authority within 7 days if requested
• Carry out any remedial work identified in the report within 28 days

Local authorities can issue a remedial notice if a landlord fails to comply. If a landlord ignores a remedial notice, the council can arrange the work and recover the cost — and can impose a financial penalty of up to £30,000.

Scotland has had similar legislation since December 2015 under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014. Wales and Northern Ireland have separate but comparable requirements.

What Does an EICR Inspection Cover?

A qualified electrician conducting an EICR will inspect and test the fixed electrical installation throughout the property. This includes:

• Consumer unit (fuse board) — condition and operation of circuit breakers, RCDs (residual current devices) and fuses
• Wiring and cables — condition, routing and protection of all fixed cables throughout the property
• Sockets, switches and light fittings — checking all accessories for damage, signs of overheating or incorrect installation
• Earthing and bonding — verifying that the earthing system and all bonding conductors meet current standards
• Circuit testing — electrical tests on each circuit including insulation resistance, polarity, earth continuity and earth fault loop impedance

The inspection does not cover portable appliances such as kettles, lamps or extension leads — those are assessed separately by a PAT test.

EICR Condition Codes Explained

After the inspection, every circuit and item of equipment is assigned a condition code. These codes determine what action — if any — the landlord must take:

| Code | Description | Required action | |------|-------------|-----------------| | C1 | Danger present — risk of injury | Immediate remedial action required | | C2 | Potentially dangerous | Remedial action required within 28 days | | C3 | Improvement recommended | No legal obligation, but advisable | | FI | Further investigation required | Investigation needed before re-energising |

If the report contains only C3 codes (and no C1, C2 or FI codes), the EICR outcome is classified as "Satisfactory" and no remedial work is legally required. A C1 or C2 code results in an "Unsatisfactory" report — which requires action within 28 days.

How Long Does an EICR Take?

The time required depends on the size and complexity of the property:

• Studio or 1-bedroom flat: approximately 1–2 hours
• 2–3 bedroom house: approximately 2–4 hours
• 4–5 bedroom house: approximately 3–5 hours
• Large HMO: 4–8 hours, depending on the number of rooms and circuits

Older properties — particularly those built before 1970 or with non-standard wiring — typically take longer because the inspector needs to trace circuits carefully and conduct more detailed testing. Our engineers complete an EICR on a standard 2–3 bedroom rental property within a morning or afternoon, and your certificate is emailed the same day.

What Happens If Your Property Fails an EICR?

A property does not technically "pass" or "fail" an EICR — the outcome is classified as either Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. An Unsatisfactory outcome means the report contains at least one C1 or C2 code.

If your property receives an Unsatisfactory EICR:

1. You have 28 days (or less, if specified in the report) to arrange remedial work by a qualified electrician
2. Once the work is complete, you obtain written confirmation from the electrician who carried it out
3. You supply that written confirmation to your tenant and to the local authority within 28 days of receiving the original EICR

For C1 defects — where there is an immediate danger — discuss urgency with the inspecting engineer. In some cases the engineer will isolate the affected circuit before leaving, and the property may not be safe to let until the remedial work is completed.

How Often Do Landlords Need a New EICR?

The standard interval is every five years for rental properties in England. However:

• If the EICR specifies a shorter interval (for example, "next inspection due in 3 years" due to the age of the wiring), you are legally required to follow that recommendation
• If you purchase a rental property with an existing EICR, verify its date — it must have been carried out within the past five years
• Changing tenants does not trigger a requirement for a new EICR — you simply supply the existing valid certificate to the new tenant before they move in

How Much Does an EICR Cost?

EICR costs vary by property size, age and complexity of the electrical installation. At My Landlord Certificate, certificates start from £ for a studio or 1-bedroom flat — with no hidden charges and the certificate emailed the same day.

For a detailed cost breakdown by property size and an analysis of the factors that affect pricing, see our dedicated EICR cost guide.

Who Can Carry Out an EICR?

Under the Electrical Safety Standards Regulations, the inspection must be carried out by a "qualified and competent person". Government guidance recommends using an electrician registered with an approved competent person scheme such as:

• NICEIC (National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting)
• NAPIT (National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers)
• Elecsa

Ask to see the electrician's qualifications — they should hold a minimum of the EAL Level 3 Award in Inspection and Testing or the City & Guilds 2391 certificate. Their accreditation number can be verified on the relevant scheme's website.

All My Landlord Certificate engineers are NICEIC approved, and every EICR we issue meets the legal standard required by the Electrical Safety Standards Regulations 2020.