EICR for landlords: how often, and what happens if you miss it

Electrical safety is a legal duty for landlords in England, and the report that proves it is the EICR. It is less familiar than the annual gas check because it comes round only once every five years, which is exactly why it is so easy to forget. Here is what an EICR is, how often you need one, what the codes on it mean, and what happens if you let it lapse. This is general information, not legal advice, so check the official GOV.UK guidance for the detail that applies to you.

What an EICR is

Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, the fixed electrical installation in a rented home, the wiring, sockets, consumer unit and permanent fittings, must be inspected and tested by a qualified and competent person. The report they produce is an Electrical Installation Condition Report, or EICR. It is required for most private tenancies in England, subject to the limited exemptions set out in the Regulations, so check whether your tenancy is covered.

How often you need one

At least every five years, or sooner if the report itself recommends an earlier date. Once the inspection is done, you have specific duties around sharing the report:

• Existing tenants: a copy within 28 days of the inspection.
• New tenants: a copy before they move in.
• The local authority: a copy within seven days if they request it.
• Keep the report ready for the next inspection.

The codes that mean you have work to do

An EICR is marked satisfactory or unsatisfactory, and any issues are given a code. It helps to know what they mean:

• C1 means danger is present, a risk of injury, and immediate action is required.
• C2 means potentially dangerous, and remedial work is needed.
• FI means further investigation is required.
• C3 is an improvement recommendation, not a failure.

Where the report is unsatisfactory or flags C1, C2 or FI, you must carry out the remedial or further investigative work identified in the report within 28 days, or sooner if the report specifies, and then get written confirmation that the work has been done.

What happens if you miss it

If you do not have a valid EICR or you do not carry out required remedial work, the local authority can serve a remedial notice, arrange the work themselves and recover the cost from you, and impose a financial penalty of up to thirty thousand pounds. That figure is a maximum at the authority's discretion depending on the circumstances, and separate breaches can attract separate penalties. As with the other certificates, up-to-date electrical safety records can also matter for possession as Section 21 is removed under the Renters' Rights Act 2025.

Why the five-year gap is the real risk

Nobody forgets a duty that comes round every month. The danger with the EICR is that five years is long enough to lose track of entirely, and the reminder rarely comes from anywhere. Keeping the report and its renewal date in one place, with a prompt well before it expires, is the simplest way to stay ahead of it. That is what VEYLO X is for: it holds your electrical report and its five-year date and reminds you ahead of the date you have added. It is a record-keeping tool, not a replacement for the inspection or for legal advice, and arranging the work stays your responsibility.