How often does a rented property need an EICR?

At intervals of no more than 5 years, under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 — sooner if an earlier report recommends a shorter interval.

How long does a landlord have to give the report to an existing tenant?

28 days from the date of the inspection. That is the deadline for supplying the report itself. If the report calls for further investigative or remedial work, separate deadlines also apply — see below.

What if the EICR says further investigation or remedial work is needed?

The work must be completed within 28 days of the inspection, or sooner if the report specifies a shorter period. Written confirmation that it has been done must then be supplied to each existing tenant and to the local housing authority within 28 days of the work being completed, along with a copy of the report. This is required by what the report says, not by its overall verdict — a Satisfactory report carrying an FI observation can still trigger it.

When does a new tenant need to receive the report?

Before they move into the property.

Do these rules apply to social housing?

Yes, since a 2025 amendment extended the same duty to the social rented sector — previously the regulations applied to the private rented sector only.

Do these rules apply in Scotland or Wales?

No — the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector and Social Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 apply in England only. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own separate landlord electrical safety duties.

What standard does the inspection follow?

The regulations reference BS 7671, the UK wiring regulations — the same standard an EICR is assessed against for any other property.

Do social landlords now need an EICR?

Yes. A 2025 amendment (SI 2025/1043) extended the same 5-year EICR duty to social housing in England, from 1 November 2025. For social tenancies that already existed before 1 December 2025 the duty applies from 1 May 2026, and the first inspection and test must be done by 1 November 2026.

UK electrical compliance & regulation

Landlord electrical safety rules — the EICR 5-year rule

Private landlords in England must have the electrical installation inspected and tested at least every five years, which in practice means an EICR, give tenants a copy within 28 days, and complete any remedial work the report calls for within 28 days. This guide sets out who the rules cover, every deadline, and the 2025 extension to social housing.

Last updated 15 October 2026. Written by the CertSync team and checked against the standards.

The short answer

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector and Social Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require private landlords in England to have the electrical installation inspected and tested at least every 5 years, referencing BS 7671 — in practice, an EICR. A copy must reach an existing tenant within 28 days, and a new tenant before they move in. Where the report says further investigative or remedial work is needed, that work must be completed within 28 days of the inspection (or sooner if the report says so), and written confirmation must then go to each tenant AND the local housing authority within 28 days of the work finishing. A 2025 amendment extended the same duty to social housing.

The 5-year rule

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector and Social Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 came into force on 1 June 2020. They applied to new private tenancies from 1 July 2020 and to existing ones from 1 April 2021. They require private landlords in England to have the electrical installation in a rented property inspected and tested by a qualified person at intervals of no more than 5 years, referencing BS 7671.

In practice, that inspection and test is recorded as an EICR — the periodic condition report that uses the C1, C2, C3 and FI observation codes to record the installation’s condition.

Getting the report to tenants

A copy of the report must be given to an existing tenant within 28 days of the inspection. For a new tenancy, the report must be provided before the new tenant moves in.

The inspection itself is the same EICR process used across any electrical installation, private-rented or not — but the deadlines are not only a record-keeping exercise, because a report that calls for work triggers a second set of duties. Those are set out below.

If the report calls for further or remedial work

Where the report says the installation breaches, or may breach, the required standards and that further investigative or remedial work is needed, that work must be completed within 28 days of the inspection — or sooner, if the report specifies a shorter period.

Once the work is done, written confirmation that it has been carried out must be supplied to each existing tenant and to the local housing authority, in both cases within 28 days of the work being completed, together with a copy of the report that required it.

This duty keys on what the report SAYS, not on its overall verdict. A report can be marked Satisfactory and still record an FI (further investigation) observation — and where it does, the work and the confirmations are still required. Reading “Satisfactory” and stopping there is the trap this section exists to prevent.

The 2025 extension to social housing

A 2025 amendment extended the same 5-year inspection and reporting duty to the social rented sector, bringing social landlords broadly into line with the private rented sector rules that had applied since 2020.

England only — other UK nations differ

These regulations apply in England only. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own separate landlord electrical safety duties, which aren’t covered by this guide — check the relevant local guidance if the property isn’t in England.

What’s changing

BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 is the current edition of the UK wiring regulations, published 15 April 2026. The previous edition, BS 7671:2018+A3:2024, is withdrawn on 15 October 2026, after a six-month overlap in which a certificate could cite either edition. From 15 October 2026 only A4:2026 is current, so an EICR dated from then on is inspected against it.

A 2025 amendment (SI 2025/1043) put the social-housing extension mentioned above on a specific timetable. For social tenancies that already existed before 1 December 2025, the rules take effect on 1 May 2026 and the first inspection and test must be done by 1 November 2026. Those are two different dates and both matter: the duty applies from the first, and the deadline for acting on it is the second. Everything else in the amendment has applied since 1 November 2025. This applies in England only.

The government has also consulted on extending mandatory electrical checks to some leasehold and owner-occupied homes, but no date has been set and this is not yet law — it remains a proposal, not a current requirement.

Frequently asked questions

How often does a rented property need an EICR?: At intervals of no more than 5 years, under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 — sooner if an earlier report recommends a shorter interval.
How long does a landlord have to give the report to an existing tenant?: 28 days from the date of the inspection. That is the deadline for supplying the report itself. If the report calls for further investigative or remedial work, separate deadlines also apply — see below.
What if the EICR says further investigation or remedial work is needed?: The work must be completed within 28 days of the inspection, or sooner if the report specifies a shorter period. Written confirmation that it has been done must then be supplied to each existing tenant and to the local housing authority within 28 days of the work being completed, along with a copy of the report. This is required by what the report says, not by its overall verdict — a Satisfactory report carrying an FI observation can still trigger it.
When does a new tenant need to receive the report?: Before they move into the property.
Do these rules apply to social housing?: Yes, since a 2025 amendment extended the same duty to the social rented sector — previously the regulations applied to the private rented sector only.
Do these rules apply in Scotland or Wales?: No — the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector and Social Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 apply in England only. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own separate landlord electrical safety duties.
What standard does the inspection follow?: The regulations reference BS 7671, the UK wiring regulations — the same standard an EICR is assessed against for any other property.
Do social landlords now need an EICR?: Yes. A 2025 amendment (SI 2025/1043) extended the same 5-year EICR duty to social housing in England, from 1 November 2025. For social tenancies that already existed before 1 December 2025 the duty applies from 1 May 2026, and the first inspection and test must be done by 1 November 2026.

Disclaimer

This guide is general information, not professional advice, and is not a substitute for the current gov.uk guidance or independent legal advice. Landlord duties can change and you are responsible for checking the current position and for your own compliance. The contractor named on a certificate is responsible for what it certifies.

Sources & official guidance

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