How often is an EICR required for a rental property?

At least every 5 years, under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. A copy must go to tenants within 28 days of the inspection, to new tenants before occupation, and to the local authority within 7 days if requested.

What do EICR codes C1, C2, FI and C3 mean?

C1 means danger present — immediate action required. C2 means potentially dangerous — remedial action required. FI means further investigation needed, treated with the same urgency as C2. C3 means improvement recommended but not required. An EICR with C1, C2 or FI observations is unsatisfactory, and remedial work must be completed within 28 days.

What are the penalties for not having an EICR?

Local authorities can issue civil penalties of up to £30,000 per breach, and can arrange remedial work themselves and recover the cost from the landlord.

Electrical Certificates & EICR

Electrical Installation Condition Reports for rented and commercial property, PAT testing for appliances, and consumer unit upgrades — all by qualified electricians working to the 18th Edition wiring regulations.

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The rules at a glance

Electrical safety law for landlords

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require every rented home to have a valid EICR, renewed at least every 5 years. Tenants get a copy within 28 days of the inspection (new tenants before moving in), and the local authority within 7 days on request. Remedial work for failed reports must be completed within 28 days — or sooner if the report says so.

Non-compliance carries civil penalties of up to £30,000 per breach — and councils can commission the remedial work themselves and bill the landlord. HMO licensing adds further electrical conditions on top.

Electrical services

Testing, certification and upgrades

EICR Certificate (Domestic)

A full condition report on the property's fixed electrical installation — consumer unit, wiring, sockets, switches and earthing — carried out by a qualified electrician and reported against the 18th Edition (BS 7671). Every observation is coded so you know exactly what must be fixed and what's merely advisory.

Code	Meaning	What happens
C1	Danger present	Immediate action — made safe on the day
C2	Potentially dangerous	Remedial work required within 28 days
FI	Further investigation needed	Treated with the same urgency as C2
C3	Improvement recommended	Advisory only — report still passes

Satisfactory certificate valid for up to 5 years
Fixed quote for any remedial work, completed within the 28-day window
Copies formatted for tenants, agents and local authorities

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Commercial EICR

Offices, shops, restaurants and industrial units need periodic inspection to satisfy the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, insurers and lease terms. We test three-phase supplies and distribution boards, and schedule around trading hours so testing doesn't shut the business.

Single and three-phase installations, distribution boards and sub-mains
Out-of-hours testing available to avoid downtime
Reports accepted by insurers and landlords, with prioritised remedial schedules

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PAT Testing

Portable Appliance Testing checks that plug-in electrical items — kettles, white goods, lamps, extension leads, office equipment — are safe to use. Each appliance gets a visual inspection plus instrument tests (earth continuity, insulation resistance and polarity), a pass/fail label, and an entry in your asset register.

Who needs it

Landlords letting furnished properties — evidence that supplied appliances are safe
HMO landlords, where licence conditions commonly require it
Businesses meeting their Electricity at Work Regulations duties

What you get

Itemised register of every appliance tested, with results
Pass labels with test date and retest due date
Failed items flagged with repair-or-replace advice
Per-appliance pricing that stays economical for large portfolios

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Fuse Box (Consumer Unit) Installation

Old fuse boxes with rewirable fuses or no RCD protection are one of the most common causes of a failed EICR. We replace them with modern consumer units with RCBO protection on every circuit — so one fault no longer blacks out the whole property — certified and notified under Part P.

Modern metal consumer unit with RCBO or dual-RCD protection
Surge protection available — recommended under the 18th Edition
Electrical Installation Certificate issued, Building Regulations notified
Frequently the single upgrade that turns an unsatisfactory EICR into a pass

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Common questions

Electrical questions, answered

How long does an EICR take?

Allow 2–4 hours for a typical house — the electrician needs access to the consumer unit and a sample of sockets and switches in every room. Power is switched off in stages during testing, so warn tenants or staff in advance.

My EICR was done before 2019 — is it still valid?

Only if any C1 and C2 defects it identified were completed. Reports from 2019 onwards must be to the 18th Edition. If in doubt, the safe and usually cheapest route is a fresh inspection — we can advise from a copy of the old report.

Does an HMO have extra electrical requirements?

Yes — licensed HMOs must supply the EICR to the local authority, and defects must be dealt with within the licensing timescales. See our HMO services for the full compliance picture.