Landlord electrical safety certificates: what the law actually requires

Since the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, every private landlord in England has to have the fixed electrical installation inspected and tested at least every five years.

Your obligations in short

• Have an EICR carried out at least every five years, or sooner if the report specifies.
• Give a copy to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection.
• Give a copy to any new tenant before they move in.
• Supply a copy to the local authority within 7 days if they request one.
• Keep the report to hand over to whoever carries out the next inspection.

If the report is unsatisfactory

Where a report identifies C1, C2 or FI items, you have 28 days to complete the remedial work — or less, if the report states a shorter period. You then need written confirmation that the work is done, and that has to go to the tenant and, on request, the council.

We handle EICRs across London and Essex for individual landlords and for agents managing whole portfolios, and we can carry out any remedial work off the back of the same visit.