EICR Requirements for Landlords: What You Need to Know

Since 1 April 2021, all private landlords in England have been legally required to have a valid Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) for their rental properties. This is not optional. Failure to comply can result in fines of up to £30,000 per breach.

This guide covers what you need to know as a landlord in Kingston, Richmond, Surrey, or South West London.

What is an EICR?

An EICR is a formal inspection and test of the fixed electrical installation in a property. It checks the condition of:

• The consumer unit (fuse box)
• All fixed wiring and cables
• Sockets, switches, and light fittings
• Earthing and bonding arrangements
• RCD and circuit breaker operation

The electrician tests each circuit and provides a detailed report with coded observations.

Legal requirements

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require landlords to:

1. Have an EICR carried out before a new tenancy begins (for new tenancies from 1 July 2020)
2. Have a valid EICR for all existing tenancies (from 1 April 2021)
3. Renew the EICR at least every five years
4. Provide a copy to tenants within 28 days of the inspection
5. Provide a copy to the local authority within 7 days if requested
6. Remedy any C1 or C2 defects within 28 days (or sooner for C1 “danger present” codes)
7. Provide evidence of remedial work to tenants and the local authority within 28 days of completion

Understanding the report codes

Each observation in the report is classified:

• C1 (Danger present): An immediate risk to life. Must be addressed urgently. The electrician may disconnect the affected circuit during the inspection.
• C2 (Potentially dangerous): A fault that could become dangerous under certain conditions. Must be remedied within 28 days.
• C3 (Improvement recommended): Not currently dangerous, but an upgrade would improve safety. No legal obligation to act, but recommended.
• FI (Further investigation): The electrician could not fully assess this item and further investigation is needed.

A report with no C1 or C2 codes receives a satisfactory outcome. Any C1 or C2 codes make the report unsatisfactory, and remedial work is required.

What happens if the report is unsatisfactory?

If the EICR is unsatisfactory, you must:

1. Arrange remedial work within 28 days (or sooner for C1 codes)
2. Have the electrician confirm the work has been completed satisfactorily
3. Provide written confirmation to your tenant(s) within 28 days of the work being done
4. Provide written confirmation to the local authority if they have requested it

The remedial work itself must be carried out by a qualified person. You cannot simply ignore C2 codes because the tenancy is ending soon.

Penalties for non-compliance

Local authorities can issue a remedial notice if you fail to comply. If you do not respond within 28 days, the local authority can:

• Arrange the remedial work themselves and recover costs from you
• Issue a financial penalty of up to £30,000

London boroughs, including Kingston and Richmond, are increasingly active in enforcing these regulations. Some authorities are carrying out spot checks on rental properties.

Which properties are covered?

The regulations apply to:

• All assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs)
• All tenancies granted by private landlords
• Properties let through letting agents

They do not currently apply to:

• Social housing (separate regulations apply)
• Lodgers in the landlord’s own home
• Long leases of 7 years or more

How much does a landlord EICR cost?

For a typical two to three bedroom rental property in Kingston or Surrey, an EICR costs between £150 and £250. Larger properties with more circuits will cost more.

If remedial work is needed, we provide a separate quote for the repairs. We can usually carry out the EICR and any remedial work on the same day or within a few days.

How to prepare for an EICR

To make the inspection as efficient as possible:

• Ensure the electrician has access to the consumer unit, all rooms, and the loft
• Move furniture away from sockets where possible
• Inform tenants that the power will be switched off to individual circuits during testing
• Have any previous electrical certificates or reports available

Keeping your property compliant

Good practice for landlords:

• Set a calendar reminder for the EICR renewal date (every 5 years)
• Keep a copy of all electrical certificates with your property records
• Address C3 recommendations when practical, not just C1 and C2 codes
• Have the consumer unit upgraded if the EICR identifies it as substandard
• Use a qualified, registered electrician for all electrical work on your rental property

Next steps

If your EICR is due for renewal, or you have not yet had one carried out, contact us to arrange an inspection. We carry out landlord EICRs across Kingston, Richmond, Twickenham, Surbiton, and surrounding areas.

For more information about our EICR service, visit our EICR & Landlord Certificates page.