Since the 1st of April 2021 it has been a legal requirement for all landlords in England and Scotland to have a valid Electrical Installation Condition Report. This requirement now applies regardless of when the tenancy started.
Landlords need to provide a copy of a valid EICR to all tenants at the start of the tenancy and when issuing a new or renewal contract.
Since 1st December 2022, all new occupation contracts in Wales require a valid EICR as per The Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016. Ongoing tenancies that began in Wales before 1st December 2022 will have until 1st December 2023 to comply with the new regulations. Landlords must provide their contract-holders with a copy of the EICR no later than 14 days after the occupation date or 14 days after the inspection date, if the inspection took place mid-contract.
Once completed, an EICR is valid for up to five years.
You can order an EICR is less than a minute here. And read our full guide on EICR rules for landlord here.
What happens if the report fails
In England and Scotland, if your EICR report doesn't pass, you have 28 days to complete any remedial work required and then issue evidence of the work being done to your tenants. There is no requirement for a full retest to be carried out.
In Wales, you must provide the contract-holders of written confirmation of any additional works that were carried out within 14 days of their completion, or 14 days of the occupation date if the works were carried out prior.
Do I need PAT Testing too?
To ensure that you meet all of your electrical safety obligations we recommend that you have an annual Portable Appliances Test (PAT) to ensure that all plugged appliances are safe to use.
This is not a legal requirement, however, as you are responsible for the safety of electrical appliances that are supplied to the property for the tenants’ use, making sure they are all safe should be a priority. PAT testing is a great way to do this, while also ensuring you have a record of the steps you took to protect your tenants’ safety.
Further Information
If you'd like any more information about the new electrical safety legislation, you can read the government issued guidance on the new requirements here.
- Full Guide to Landlords' Legal Duties & Requirements
Information on this site is by way of general guidance only and may not apply in your particular circumstances. You should not act or refrain from acting upon information on this site without seeking independent legal advice.