The short answer
Yes. In England, a landlord must give a copy of the EICR to each existing tenant within 28 days of the inspection and test. For a new tenant, the report must be supplied before they move in. If the report requires remedial or further-investigation work, the landlord must also supply written confirmation that the work has been completed to the tenant, again within 28 days of finishing it. Beyond tenants, the landlord must give a copy to the local authority within 7 days if it requests one, and must keep a copy to supply to the inspector at the next inspection. Failing to provide the report is itself a breach of the Electrical Safety Standards 2020, separate from the duty to actually have the inspection done.
Having the EICR carried out is only part of the landlord's duty. The regulations are equally specific about who must receive the report and by when, with different deadlines for existing tenants, new tenants and the local authority.
Who gets the EICR, and when
- Existing tenantwithin 28 days of the test
- New tenantbefore they occupy
- Prospective tenantwithin 28 days of a request
- Local authoritywithin 7 days of a request
- After remedial workwritten confirmation to tenant
The copy and confirmation deadlines
The Electrical Safety Standards 2020 set out exactly when the report must reach each person. The core duties are:
- Existing tenants: a copy of the EICR within 28 days of the inspection and test being carried out.
- New tenants: a copy before they occupy the property.
- Prospective tenants: if a person who is considering taking the tenancy asks for the report in writing, the landlord must supply it within 28 days of the request.
- The local authority: within 7 days of a written request.
Where the report records that remedial or further-investigation work is required, the landlord must complete that work and then supply written confirmation of completion to the tenant and the local authority within 28 days of the work finishing.
| Recipient | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Existing tenant | within 28 days of the test |
| New tenant | before they occupy |
| Prospective tenant (on request) | within 28 days of the request |
| Local authority (on request) | within 7 days |
| Confirmation of remedial work | within 28 days of completion |
England, Electrical Safety Standards 2020. Confirm current detail on GOV.UK. Source: GOV.UK guidance.
Why the copy rule matters
The point of giving tenants the report is transparency: tenants can see that the installation has been checked, what condition it is in, and whether anything was flagged. It also creates a clear record. If a dispute or an enforcement query arises later, the landlord's evidence of compliance is not only the EICR itself but proof that it was supplied to the tenant on time.
For that reason it is sensible to send the report by email or another traceable method and keep a record of the date it was sent. A landlord who has a perfectly valid EICR but cannot show it was supplied within the deadline has still missed part of the duty.
What a tenant can do with the report
A tenant who receives the EICR can read the overall result and any observation codes, and see whether the report is satisfactory or unsatisfactory. If the report is unsatisfactory, the tenant can reasonably expect the landlord to carry out the required remedial work within the deadline the report sets, and to receive written confirmation when it is done.
If a landlord does not provide the report at all, a tenant can raise the matter with the local authority, which has the power to investigate and request the report directly from the landlord. Because the regulations apply only in England and the detail can change, tenants and landlords in other UK nations should check the rules for their nation, and anyone unsure of their position should confirm it on GOV.UK or with the local authority.
How to supply the report in practice
The regulations require the report to be given to the tenant, but do not force a single method, which gives landlords some flexibility. In practice the most reliable approach is one that creates a clear, dated record. Common options include:
- Email with the EICR attached as a PDF, which timestamps when it was sent and to whom.
- A signed acknowledgement where a paper copy is handed over and the tenant confirms receipt.
- Including the report in a move-in pack for a new tenant, alongside the gas safety record, EPC and the government's How to Rent guide, so it is demonstrably provided before occupation.
For a new let, building the EICR into the standard pre-tenancy paperwork is the simplest way to be sure the 'before they occupy' rule is met, because everything is handed over together at the same point. For sitting tenants, sending the new report by email each time it is renewed keeps the 28-day duty straightforward to evidence.
| Method | Record created | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Email with PDF | Dated send record | Sitting tenants, renewals |
| Signed paper handover | Tenant acknowledgement | In-person handovers |
| Move-in pack | Part of tenancy paperwork | New tenants, before occupation |
Practical ways to supply and evidence the EICR. General guidance only.
Renewals, new reports and remedial confirmations
The duty to supply the report is not a single event at the start of a tenancy — it recurs each time a new EICR is produced. When the installation is re-inspected on the five-year cycle, or sooner if a report set an earlier date, the landlord must give the new report to the sitting tenant within 28 days, just as with the first one. Each renewal therefore carries its own supply duty.
The same logic applies to remedial work. Where a report comes back unsatisfactory and the landlord arranges the required work, the tenant is entitled not only to the original report but also to the written confirmation that the work has been completed and the installation now meets the standard, again within 28 days of completion. Keeping these documents together — the report, any remedial confirmation, and proof of the date each was sent — gives both landlord and tenant a clear, continuous record. Because the rules apply in England and can be updated, anyone unsure which version of the report a tenant should hold can confirm the current position on GOV.UK.
Frequently asked questions
Do landlords have to give tenants the EICR?
Yes. In England a landlord must give existing tenants a copy of the EICR within 28 days of the inspection, and must give a new tenant a copy before they move in. Failing to supply the report is itself a breach of the regulations.
How long does a landlord have to give a tenant the EICR?
Existing tenants must receive the report within 28 days of the test. New tenants must receive it before they occupy the property. A prospective tenant who asks in writing must be given it within 28 days of the request.
Does the landlord have to give the council the EICR too?
Yes, on request. The local authority can ask for the report and the landlord must supply it within 7 days. The landlord must also give the authority written confirmation once any required remedial work is completed.
Sources & further reading
- GOV.UK — electrical safety standards in the private rented sector: guidance
- Shelter England — electrical safety in rented homes
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific property. They are guidance, not a quotation. Legal duties are summarised for guidance — confirm the current position on GOV.UK.