EICR: Electrical Installation Condition Report and your rights as a tenant

Since 1 April 2021, private landlords in England must get the electrical wiring in their rental homes checked. A qualified electrician must do this at least every 5 years. Your landlord must also give you a copy of the Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). This page explains what an EICR is, what the codes mean, and what happens if the wiring fails the check.

What is an EICR?

An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is a written report. A qualified electrician fills it in after checking and testing the fixed wiring in a home. "Fixed wiring" means the wiring, the consumer unit (fuse box), the sockets, the light fittings, and other fixed parts. It does not mean plug-in items like a kettle or a lamp.

The electrician checks that the wiring:

• Meets the IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671)
• Is safe to keep using
• Is not a danger to the people living there

Who must have an EICR?

Private landlords who rent out homes under an AST (assured shorthold tenancy) in England must get an EICR every 5 years. They must give a copy to:

• New tenants before they move in
• Tenants already living there, within 28 days of the check
• The local council within 7 days if the council asks

This applies to new tenancies and to ones that already exist. A landlord who breaks these rules can get a fine of up to £30,000.

What do the codes mean?

The EICR uses codes to show the state of the wiring:

• C1, Danger present: There is a risk of injury right now. The fix must be done before anyone can use the home.
• C2, Potentially dangerous: Not dangerous right now, but it could become dangerous. The fix is needed soon.
• C3, Improvement recommended: No safety worry right now, but a change is advised. This does not fail the check. The report can still pass as "satisfactory."
• FI, Further investigation required: A problem has been found. It needs a closer look before the size of it is known.
• N/V, Not verified: Part of the wiring could not be checked on the day of the visit.

An EICR passes as "satisfactory" if it has no C1 or C2 codes. A home with C1 or C2 codes gets an "unsatisfactory" report.

What must happen if the report is unsatisfactory?

If the EICR is unsatisfactory (it has C1 or C2 codes):

• Your landlord must do the needed fix within 28 days. It may be sooner if the report says so.
• Once the work is done, your landlord must get written proof from the electrician that the work is finished.
• Your landlord must give you a copy of this proof.

If there are C1 codes (danger right now), the work should be done at once, before anyone lives in the home.

Your rights if you have not received an EICR

If your landlord has not given you a copy of the EICR:

1. Ask for a copy in writing: Write to your landlord. Ask for the most recent EICR for the home.
2. Complain to the council: The council can fine a landlord up to £30,000 for breaking the EICR rules. You complain to the council's private sector housing team or environmental health team. This is the way the rules get enforced.
3. Use your legal right to ask for it: If the EICR exists but you have not been given it, you have a right to get it.

EICR and housing disrepair

The EICR rules are separate from the wider repair duties under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. But they overlap:

• Under Section 11, your landlord must keep the wiring in good repair and working order. An unsatisfactory EICR is proof that the wiring has not been looked after well.
• An electrical fault may have harmed you. This could be an electric shock from a faulty socket, a fire caused by wiring, or damage to your things. If so, it may back up a claim for injury or damaged property.
• Maybe your landlord knew about the electrical faults, from an earlier EICR or from your reports, and did nothing. Proof of this makes any claim stronger.

Portable Appliance Testing (PAT)

PAT testing covers plug-in items the landlord gives you. This means things like lamps, toasters, kettles and plug-in heaters. PAT testing is not required by law for landlords who rent out homes, but it is a good idea. If a plug-in item from the landlord is faulty and it harms you, the landlord may still be at fault.

Social housing

The EICR rules do not yet apply to social housing landlords in the same way. But social landlords must still keep electrics safe under other laws. These include the Housing Act 2004 (HHSRS) and the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 duty to keep wiring in repair.

When should I contact Support for Tenants?

If your home has electrical safety problems, call us on 0800 030 4669. This is most important if you have reported them and your landlord has done nothing.

No upfront cost. You only pay if you win, and the fee comes out of the compensation, not your pocket. If you don't win, you pay nothing.

Sources

• Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Electrical safety standards guidance (GOV.UK)
• Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, Section 11 (legislation.gov.uk)

Related articles

• Electrical safety and your landlord's duties
• Electric shocks from sockets or switches
• What is Section 11?
• How to request an HHSRS inspection
• Gas safety and your landlord's duties