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 existing tenants and when issuing a new or renewal contract.
Once completed, an EICR is valid for up to five years. Landlords should give tenants a copy of the new report after each renewal.
You can order an EICR is less than a minute here.
What happens if the report fails
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.
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.