Every privately rented home in England — including every HMO — must have a satisfactory Electrical Installation Condition Report at least every five years. Here's what the law requires, what the codes mean, and what happens if you don't comply.
The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require landlords to have the fixed electrical installation (wiring, consumer unit, sockets, light fittings) inspected and tested by a qualified and competent person at least every five years — or sooner if the previous report says so. You must give a copy of the report to tenants within 28 days, to a new tenant before they move in, and to the local authority within 7 days if they ask.
Risk of injury exists now. The inspector should make it safe immediately; remedial work is required.
Urgent remedial action required. A C2 makes the report unsatisfactory.
Doesn't fail the report — but improvement would enhance safety.
Something needs investigating without delay; also makes the report unsatisfactory.
If the report contains a C1, C2 or FI, it is unsatisfactory — the landlord must complete remedial work within 28 days (or sooner if the report says so) and obtain written confirmation from a qualified person that it's been done.
Local authorities can require remedial action and impose financial penalties of up to £30,000 per breach. An unsatisfactory or missing EICR can also affect insurance and complicate possession proceedings.
For a typical flat or house, inspection and testing takes two to four hours depending on the size of the installation and number of circuits. You receive the formal report listing every observation with its code, an overall satisfactory/unsatisfactory outcome, and — if we carry out remedials — certification confirming the installation now meets BS 7671. SparkTricity is NICEIC-registered and delivers EICRs for private landlords, HMOs, blocks and portfolios across London, including communal-area testing and any C1/C2 remedial works by the same team.
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Guidance only, not legal advice. See the official government guidance for landlords.
NICEIC-registered inspection, reporting and remedials across London and the South East.
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