Electrical Safety Report (EICR) — landlord obligations in England
The Electrical Safety Standards Regulations 2020 require landlords to have the electrical installations in their rental properties inspected and tested by a qualified person at least every 5 years. You must obtain an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) and give copies to tenants and the local housing authority (LHA) when required. You must keep the report until the next inspection is due.
The law that creates this obligation
Your obligations as a landlord
- Who this applies to: All private landlords in England who grant or intend to grant a specified tenancy.
- When it applies: Before a new tenancy starts, or by 1 April 2021 for existing tenancies; then every 5 years or sooner if the report requires it. Also, within 28 days of the inspection to existing tenants, before occupation to new tenants, within 28 days of a written request from a prospective tenant, and within 7 days of a written request from the LHA.
- What you must do: Arrange for a qualified electrician to carry out an inspection and test of the electrical installations and provide you with an EICR. Provide copies of the EICR to tenants and the LHA as required by law.
What good evidence looks like
Your compliance file should contain
- Written record or document confirming this obligation has been met
- Date of compliance — email timestamp, signed receipt, or platform log
- The trigger is the 5-year inspection cycle. Set a reminder 1 month before the next inspection is due.
Upload the EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) for the property.
Record this obligation in your LettingsLedger workspace
Upload evidence, set reminders, and build a timestamped compliance record — all in one place.
Consequences of non-compliance
The LHA can serve a remedial notice and impose a financial penalty of up to £30,000.
Further reading for landlords
LettingsLedger is a compliance evidence governance platform. It is not a legal services provider and does not provide legal advice. Content is derived from UK primary legislation at legislation.gov.uk and official GOV.UK sources. Reflects the position as at June 2026. A GovProtocol product by Pertheo Limited.