EICR every 5 years: what UK landlords need to know

If you rent out a property in the UK, at some point you've probably heard that you need an EICR. What you might not have heard — until you're trying to figure out whether it's every 5 years or every 10, or whether it applies to your Scotland property the same way it applies to your English one — is the detail.

This guide covers what an EICR is, how often you legally need one, who can issue one, what it costs, and what to do with the report once you have it.

What is an EICR?

An EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report — is a documented inspection of the fixed electrical systems in a property. A qualified electrician visits, tests the wiring, the sockets, the light fittings, and the consumer unit, and produces a report grading the installation as satisfactory or unsatisfactory.

If the report flags any issues — damaged wiring, overloaded circuits, missing earthing — you'll get a list of observations coded C1, C2, C3 or FI:

C1 — Danger present. Requires immediate remedial action.
C2 — Potentially dangerous. Requires urgent remedial action.
C3 — Improvement recommended. Does not make the report unsatisfactory, but worth doing.
FI — Further investigation required before the installation can be assessed.

A C1, C2 or FI on your EICR means the report is unsatisfactory and the property does not meet the electrical safety standard until the issues are resolved.

How often do landlords need an EICR?

The 5-year cycle is the same across Great Britain, but the law behind it, and the paperwork around it, is different in each country.

England: Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, landlords must have the installation inspected and tested by a qualified and competent person at intervals of no more than 5 years, or sooner if the previous report says so. The first report was due by 1 April 2021 for tenancies that already existed, and before the tenancy starts for new ones. A 2025 amendment extended the same rules to social landlords.

Scotland: The Repairing Standard, as amended by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014, requires an EICR before the tenancy starts and at intervals of no more than 5 years from the previous inspection. The same inspection must also cover portable appliance testing (PAT) of any electrical equipment you supply — white goods, kettles and so on, but not the tenant's own appliances. You must keep the EICR for 6 years and give the latest copy to prospective tenants before the tenancy starts.

Wales: Under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, in force since 1 December 2022, the Renting Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) (Wales) Regulations 2022 require a valid EICR from a qualified person. A report is valid for 5 years from the inspection, or less if it sets a shorter interval. The contract-holder must get a copy within 14 days of the occupation date, or within 14 days of a later inspection. A home without a valid report is treated as unfit for human habitation.

Local licensing schemes can impose shorter intervals. If your property is licensed, check the licence conditions.

Who can issue an EICR?

Only a qualified and competent electrician can issue an EICR. There is no single official register for electrical competence (unlike Gas Safe for gas work). In England, the government guidance points to membership of a competent person scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT, or evidence of equivalent qualifications and experience. In Scotland, the statutory guidance names SELECT, NICEIC and NAPIT, or an electrician who can complete the Scottish Government's competence checklist.

Ask the electrician before booking if you're unsure. A standard domestic electrical test is not the same as an EICR — make sure the written report is explicitly described as an EICR before you pay.

How much does an EICR cost?

There is no official price list, and quotes vary a lot by location, property size and demand. As an indicative guide from quotes we have seen in 2026:

1-bedroom flat: £100–£180
2–3 bedroom house: £150–£250
4+ bedroom house or HMO: £200–£400+

Prices tend to be higher in London and the South East. Shop around — quotes for the same property can vary by £50–£100 depending on the electrician.

Factor it into your annual cost of ownership. If you're on a tight margin, a missed EICR deadline leading to a local authority enforcement notice can cost far more than the inspection itself.

What happens if the report flags issues?

A satisfactory EICR — no C1, C2 or FI codes — can be filed and you're compliant until the next inspection is due.

An unsatisfactory EICR is a different situation. Under the English regulations, you must:

Complete the remedial or further investigative work within 28 days of the inspection, or sooner if the report says so
Obtain written confirmation from a qualified person that the work has been done and the installation now meets the standard, or that further work is needed
Give a copy of that confirmation, together with the original report, to your tenants and the local authority within 28 days of the work being completed

If the confirmation says further work is needed, the same 28-day cycle starts again. If you don't comply, the local authority can serve a remediation notice, arrange the work itself and recover the cost, and issue a financial penalty of up to £30,000 per breach.

The practical note here: even before you get to enforcement, a C1 or C2 finding means your property's electrical installation is not safe. Fix it.

What to do with the EICR once you have it

In England the regulations spell out exactly who gets a copy and when:

Existing tenants — within 28 days of the inspection
New tenants — before they move in
Prospective tenants — within 28 days of a written request
The local authority — within 7 days of a written request
The next electrician — keep the report until the next inspection is due and hand it over so they can compare

Scotland and Wales have their own copy rules (see above), but the habit is the same: give the tenant a copy, keep your own, and log the expiry date with a reminder 6–8 weeks before the next inspection is due.

This last point is where landlords run into trouble most often. The 5-year cycle sounds manageable until you're three years in and can't remember whether you had an EICR done in 2022 or 2023, and whether the electrician said it was valid for 5 years or was recommending 3. Keep your own record. LandlordsDiary will track the next due date automatically.

Don't miss the next EICR deadline

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This guide was reviewed against the English regulations, the Scottish Government's statutory guidance and the Welsh regulations on 10 October 2026. It is general information, not legal advice. If you have specific questions about your obligations, consult a qualified electrician or a letting agent familiar with your local authority's requirements.