The short answer
In England, the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 make a periodic EICR a legal duty for most private landlords. Landlords must have the installation inspected and tested by a competent person at least every 5 years, give tenants a copy of the report within 28 days, and where the report requires further investigation or remedial work, have it done within 28 days or the shorter time the report states. The rules applied to new tenancies from 1 July 2020 and to existing tenancies from 1 April 2021. Local authorities can impose financial penalties for breaches, so an in-date EICR is part of letting compliantly.
For landlords the EICR is not optional — it is a statutory duty with set deadlines. Here is what the Electrical Safety Standards 2020 require, and what happens if they are not met.
The landlord duty (England)
- Inspection intervalat least every 5 years
- Tenant copywithin 28 days of the test
- Remedial workwithin 28 days (or sooner)
- New tenancies from1 July 2020
- Existing tenancies from1 April 2021
What the law requires
Under the Electrical Safety Standards 2020, a private landlord in England must: have the fixed electrical installation inspected and tested at least every 5 years by a competent person; obtain an EICR setting out the results; supply a copy to tenants within 28 days and to the local authority on request; and, where the report flags remedial or further-investigation work, complete it within 28 days or any shorter period the report specifies and obtain written confirmation. The duty applies to most assured and short assured tenancies, with limited exceptions.
Deadlines and penalties
The headline obligations come with deadlines: the 5-yearly test (or sooner if the report says so), the 28-day tenant copy, and the 28-day remedial window. Where a landlord fails to meet the standards, the local authority can serve a remedial notice and impose a financial penalty; the regulations provide for penalties of up to a substantial sum per breach. Because the figures and enforcement detail are set in law and can change, landlords should confirm the current position on GOV.UK.
| Requirement | Deadline / interval |
|---|---|
| Inspection & EICR | at least every 5 years |
| Copy to tenant | within 28 days of test |
| Copy to new tenant | before they occupy |
| Remedial / FI work | within 28 days (or sooner if stated) |
England, Electrical Safety Standards 2020. Confirm current detail on GOV.UK. Source: GOV.UK guidance.
Need a landlord EICR?
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Frequently asked questions
Do landlords legally need an EICR?
Yes. In England the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require most private landlords to have the installation inspected and tested at least every 5 years and to obtain an EICR.
How often does a landlord EICR need renewing?
At least every 5 years, or sooner if the report sets a shorter date. The landlord must also give tenants a copy within 28 days and act on any required remedial work within the time the report specifies.
What happens if a landlord does not have a valid EICR?
A local authority can serve a remedial notice and impose a financial penalty for breaching the duty. The exact figures and enforcement are set in law and can change, so confirm the current position on GOV.UK.
Sources & further reading
- GOV.UK — electrical safety standards in the private rented sector: guidance
- Electrical Safety First — landlord electrical safety guidance
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.