Landlord electrical safety certificates: what you actually need

If you rent out property in England, electrical safety certification isn't optional paperwork — it's a legal requirement, and one that's actively enforced by local authorities.

What's legally required

Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations, landlords must have the electrical installation inspected and tested by a qualified person at least every 5 years, and provide the resulting EICR to tenants and incoming tenants.

What the report actually tells you

An EICR grades any issues found: C1 means immediate danger and must be fixed straight away; C2 is potentially dangerous and needs remedial work within 28 days; C3 is an improvement recommendation, not a legal requirement to fix. A satisfactory report with no C1/C2 codes is what you need to stay compliant.

When you need a new one

• Every 5 years at minimum
• At the start of a new tenancy, if the last report is close to expiring
• After any significant electrical work or a change of use

What happens if you don't comply

Local authorities can issue improvement notices and fines of up to £30,000 for non-compliance. Beyond the legal risk, an out-of-date or unsatisfactory EICR is also something insurers may ask about following any claim.

Booking one

Give us the property address and roughly how old the wiring/consumer unit is, and we'll usually get you booked in within a few working days, with the report delivered within 48 hours of inspection.