Electrical certification for rental properties: interim checks between EICRs
Electrical certification for a rental property in England is an EICR: a full inspection and test at least every 5 years. Between those reports, and before a new tenancy, government guidance recommends at least a visual check. An interim check is that look: it catches damage, wear and anything changed since the last report, and it does not replace an EICR or move the date of the next one.
Last updated 4 November 2026. Written by the CertSync team and checked against the standards.
What is an interim electrical check?
A visual check of an installation between full inspections. You look for damage, signs of overheating, missing covers and anything altered since the last EICR, and you record what you found. Nothing is tested. It does not replace an EICR, and it does not extend or reset the date the last EICR set for the next one.
1. What the rules say for rental properties, and what they do not
In England, the landlord’s duty is a full inspection and test of the electrical installation by a competent person at least every 5 years, with a report that sets a date for the next inspection and test. A copy goes to the existing tenant within 28 days.
Government guidance for landlords in England also recommends, as advice rather than a requirement, at least a visual inspection before a new tenancy begins, and says a landlord may choose a full inspection earlier than the 5-year interval if there are concerns. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules.
2. What an electrical check of a rented property looks at
Accessories and fittings that are cracked, loose, scorched or discoloured. Consumer unit covers and blanks missing or damaged. Flexes and cables visibly damaged. Signs of DIY or other work since the last report. Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms where the property needs them. Anything the occupier has mentioned: tripping, warm sockets, flickering.
A visual check cannot show you a high earth fault loop impedance or a failed RCD. If you see anything that suggests a deeper problem, say so and recommend a full inspection.
3. Who acts on each finding
Record who is to act on each finding: the landlord or their agent, the electrician, or the occupier. A finding with no named owner is the one that does not get done.
4. Recording an interim check in CertSync
Start a visual inspection report and choose a landlord or domestic interim check. It records the last EICR and its date, a short checklist with All OK for each group, what the occupier reported, and who acts on each finding, with optional alarm and landlord-appliance blocks and a list of the photos worth taking.
The report’s title says it is an interim check. The domestic version states no landlord duty.
5. When to move to full electrical testing
Recommend a full inspection and test, an EICR, when the last EICR is near its next-inspection date, when you find damage you cannot explain, when work has been done since the last report, or when the occupier reports tripping or heat.
Frequently asked questions
- What electrical certificate does a rental property need?
- In England, an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) from a full inspection and test at least every 5 years. An interim check is a visual check between those reports; it is not a certificate that replaces the EICR.
- Is an interim check a legal requirement?
- No. The legal duty for landlords in England is a full inspection and test at least every 5 years. Government guidance recommends at least a visual inspection before a new tenancy; that is advice, not a requirement.
- Does an interim check replace an EICR?
- No. It is a visual check with no testing. It does not replace an EICR and it does not change the date the last EICR set for the next one.
- Does an interim check change when the next EICR is due?
- No. The next-inspection date stays what the last EICR said.
- Can a homeowner have an interim check too?
- Yes. The domestic version records a visual check for a home that is not rented and states no landlord duty.
- Who should carry out an interim check?
- The legal duty is for a competent person for the full inspection and test. A visual check is best done by someone able to recognise damage and unsafe wear.
Disclaimer
This guide is general information, not professional advice, and does not replace professional judgement or training. The rules for rented homes differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and can change. The contractor named on a certificate is responsible for what it certifies.
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