EICR for Landlords: How Often, What It Costs, and the Rules

Since 1 April 2021, every rented home in England has needed a valid Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). It's the electrical equivalent of the gas safety certificate, but the cycle is longer and the rules around remedial work are stricter. Getting the codes and the 28-day deadline wrong is where landlords most often slip up.

How often do you need an EICR?

At least every five years, or sooner if the report itself recommends a shorter interval. Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, the fixed wiring - consumer unit, sockets, switches, light fittings and the circuits behind them - must be inspected and tested against BS 7671 (the IET Wiring Regulations) by a qualified and competent person at least once every five years.

You must give a copy of the report to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection, to new tenants before they move in, and to the local authority within seven days if they request it. A new-build or full rewire is different: you hold an Electrical Installation Certificate for the first five years, not an EICR.

EICR vs PAT testing

These are different things and often confused. The EICR covers the fixed installation. Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) covers plug-in appliances you supply - kettles, lamps, washing machines. PAT is good practice and recommended, but it is the EICR that is the legal five-yearly requirement.

Understanding EICR codes

An EICR doesn't simply pass or fail - it assigns a code to each observation. Knowing what they mean tells you exactly what you have to act on:

A report is only marked satisfactory if it contains no C1, C2 or FI observations. If any of those appear, the installation is unsatisfactory and you must complete the remedial work - and obtain written confirmation it has been done - within 28 days (or sooner if the report specifies).

What does an EICR cost?

For a standard one- or two-bedroom flat, expect roughly £125–£200. A larger house or an HMO with more circuits can run to £300 or more. Remedial work is separate and depends on what is found - replacing a consumer unit, for example, is a common and more substantial cost. Always use a registered electrician (for example one registered with NICEIC, NAPIT or ELECSA).

Penalties

Local authorities can impose financial penalties of up to £30,000 per property for breaches of the 2020 Regulations. Where a landlord fails to remediate, the council can also arrange the work itself and recover the cost from the landlord. As with gas safety, a missing or unsatisfactory EICR can also undermine possession proceedings and insurance cover. The full obligation matrix is in the compliance reference.

What about Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

The five-yearly EICR has long been a requirement in Scotland under the Repairing Standard. In Wales, the Renting Homes (Wales) Act framework requires an EICR for properties to be considered fit for human habitation, on a five-yearly basis. Northern Ireland does not yet mandate a fixed five-yearly EICR in the same way, though electrical safety duties still apply. Because the detail differs by nation, Vantage applies the right rule to each property automatically.

Never miss the five-year mark

Because the EICR cycle is five years long, it's the obligation most likely to be forgotten. Vantage records each property's EICR expiry and starts reminding you 180 days ahead - enough lead time to book the inspection and complete any C1/C2/FI remedial work inside the 28-day window. See how it fits into the full UK landlord compliance checklist.