Short answer: under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, landlords must have the electrical installation inspected and tested by a qualified person at least every five years. Tenants and councils must get copies of the report, and any problems must be fixed within 28 days.
The key deadlines
| What | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Inspection and testing | At least every 5 years, or sooner if the report says so |
| Copy to existing tenants | Within 28 days of the inspection |
| Copy to new tenants | Before they move in |
| Copy to prospective tenants | Within 28 days of them asking |
| Copy to the council | Within 7 days of them asking |
| Remedial or further investigation work | Within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so |
| Written confirmation that work is done | To tenants and the council within 28 days of completion |
What the codes on your report mean
- C1: danger present. Immediate action needed. We make it safe on the day where we can.
- C2: potentially dangerous. Must be fixed. The report will be unsatisfactory until it is.
- FI: further investigation. Something needs a closer look before the inspector can be sure.
- C3: improvement recommended. Not a fail on its own, but worth planning for.
Common reasons Yorkshire rentals fail
In older terraced houses and conversions, the usual problems are old consumer units with no RCD protection, missing or damaged earthing and bonding, worn sockets and fittings, and DIY alterations by previous tenants. Most can be fixed in a day. A board change is the single most common remedial job. See signs you need a new consumer unit.
Keep these as well
- Smoke alarms on every storey and CO alarms where there’s a fixed combustion appliance, checked on the first day of each new tenancy
- Your gas safety certificate, renewed every year
- For HMOs, any fire alarm and emergency lighting servicing records
Keep a copy of every EICR and give it to the next inspector. It makes the next test quicker and cheaper.
Add an EV charger while we’re there
Landlords can claim up to £500 per socket towards EV chargers until March 2027. If your property has off-street parking, it’s easy to quote at the same visit. See the landlord grant.
This guide covers private rented homes in England. It isn’t legal advice. Check GOV.UK or your letting agent for your situation.
Need an EICR? We arrange tenant access and send the report to you or your agent.