Electrical safety
EICR for Landlords: Requirements, Costs and Penalties
An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is the electrical equivalent of the gas safety check. Every privately rented home in England needs one, renewed at least every five years. The rules were tightened on 1 November 2025, and the maximum penalty is now £40,000.
What the law requires
- An inspection and test at least every five years by a qualified and competent electrician, or sooner if the report says so.
- A copy to tenants within 28 days of the inspection, and to new tenants before they move in. The council can ask for a copy too, and you have seven days to provide it.
- Remedial work within 28 days (or sooner if the report says so) for anything coded C1, C2 or FI, with written confirmation to the tenant and the council once it is done.
- Keep the report until the next inspection date it gives.
What changed in November 2025
- The maximum civil penalty rose from £30,000 to £40,000.
- A new "all reasonable steps" defence: if a tenant refuses access, you are not expected to go to court to get in, as long as you can show you tried properly.
- The rules now apply to social housing as well, and the report must state the date of the next inspection.
Reading the report
| Code | Meaning | Action |
|---|---|---|
| C1 | Danger present | Make safe immediately; fix within 28 days at most |
| C2 | Potentially dangerous | Fix within 28 days |
| FI | Further investigation needed | Investigate within 28 days |
| C3 | Improvement recommended | Not required, but worth planning |
A report with any C1, C2 or FI is "unsatisfactory" until the work is done and confirmed.
What it costs
Most landlords pay roughly £120 to £300 for a flat or small house, more for larger properties and HMOs. Prices vary by region and the number of circuits. Remedial work is extra, so get the inspection done early enough to leave time for it.
Common ways to get caught out
- Losing track of the five-year date. It is long enough to forget.
- A shorter interval on the report. If the electrician recommends three years, that is your deadline, not five.
- Remedial work left undocumented. Without written confirmation to the tenant and council, the report still counts as unsatisfactory.
The EICR and its expiry date are among the details the PRS Database will ask for.
General information for landlords in England, not legal advice. Figures are maximums; councils decide penalties case by case. Check GOV.UK or a solicitor for your situation.