Are you one of the 32% of landlords who is either unclear whether your Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is valid, or doesn’t have an EICR at all? This is the concerning headline statistic from a new survey conducted by Direct Line.
The results were released just after the EICR’s first anniversary in England, drawing attention to the vast number of landlords who will soon find themselves with an invalid EICR. Similar is true in Scotland, as the EICR was made compulsory on 1st December 2015, with many landlords needing to book a new EICR after 1st December 2025.
In Wales, the first EICR five-year deadline will occur in 2027, as the mandatory requirement was only introduced in late 2022. Still, it’s worth Welsh landlords checking the expiry date of their EICR and marking down the date by which it should be renewed.
With EICRs an essential part of lettings compliance and many landlords having to book a new inspection, we’ve prepared this handy Q&A guide:
Q. Do all rental properties need an EICR?
A. Yes. A valid EICR in let properties is compulsory across the UK as it proves a tenanted home has passed met electrical safety standards. This includes flats, houses and Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). While there is no requirement in England and Wales for holiday lets to have a valid EICR, it is compulsory in Scottish short lets.
Q. How long is an EICR valid for?
A. An EICR, whether it’s held in England, Scotland or Wales, is only valid for five years before expiring. It will need renewing as a compulsory legal requirement if the property continues to house tenants. EICRs in England were introduced in 2020 and 2025 in Scotland, meaning thousands of landlords will have expiring ECIRs in 2025.
Q. Where can I find my EICR’s expiration date?
A. You should be able to find an EICR’s expiration date on the report created by the inspector, and/or on a label affixed to the electrical installation (usually the consumer unit/fuse box).
Q What might happen if I don’t have a valid EICR?
A. A landlord can be fined up to £30,000, find themselves with a criminal conviction or even go to prison if they do not have a valid EICR - especially if there is an electrical incident in their property that harms tenants.
Q. How do I book an EICR?
A. Landlords should book a competent and qualified electrical engineer, electrician or a contractor to carry out the electrical safety inspection. It is recommended the landlord choose someone who belongs to a Government-backed competent persons scheme. In Scotland, landlords must use someone who belongs to Select (Scotland’s Electrical Trade Association) or NICEIC.
Q. What will be tested/inspected during a visit?
A. The contractor will inspect wiring, socket outlets, light fittings, the consumer unit or fuse box and any permanently connected equipment, such as showers, storage heaters, convector panel heaters, electric heated towel rails, electric underfloor heating and extractor fans. They will look for: signs of wear and tear, any exposed live wires and shock risks, scorch marks and deterioration. Tests are then carried out on fixed electrical circuits and systems to detect faults and potential issues.
Q. What happens if issues are found?
A. The report will grade any issues based on their severity of risk to the tenant. The most severe will need immediate attention, while landlords will have a set time frame in which to act on other minor issues – usually up to 28 days.
Q. Is portable appliance testing (PAT) testing compulsory?
A. This depends on where the rental property is. PAT testing is compulsory in all Scottish buy-to-lets, including long and short-term rentals. Although landlords of buy-to-lets in England and Wales are not required to complete PAT testing, it is considered good practice and illustrates a duty of care. PAT testing covers, but is not limited to, white goods, brown goods and kitchen appliances.
We’re urging all landlords to check their current ECIR report today and to find out when it expires. If this is imminent, contact us for advice.
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