Your landlord must keep the electrics safe and have them checked at least every 5 years (an EICR). Here is what that means, the warning signs, and what to do if it is unsafe.
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Direct answer
Your landlord must keep the electrical wiring, sockets, and fuse box in your home safe. The electrics must be inspected and tested by a qualified person at least every 5 years, and you should be given a copy of that report (called an EICR) within 28 days. This applies to private landlords and, since 2025, to social landlords too. If you have sparking sockets, exposed wires, or repeated trips and your landlord has ignored it, that is dangerous and may be a disrepair claim, call us free on 0800 030 4669.
What the law says
Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, extended to social housing in 2025:
- The electrical installation must be inspected and tested at least every 5 years by a qualified person.
- The landlord must give you a copy of the Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR).
- Any dangerous faults found must be fixed, usually within 28 days.
On top of this, Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 makes the landlord responsible for keeping the electrical installation in proper working order at all times, not just at the 5-year check.
Warning signs of unsafe electrics
- Sockets or switches that spark, buzz, feel hot, or are scorched
- Exposed or damaged wiring
- Fuses that keep blowing or trip switches that keep going
- Flickering lights with no other cause
- No working RCD (the safety switch in the fuse box)
What to do
- Report it in writing to your landlord and say clearly if you think it is dangerous.
- Ask for the EICR. You have a right to a copy. If they cannot produce one, the electrics may be overdue a check.
- If it is an immediate danger (burning smell, sparks, shocks), treat it as an emergency, and you can also report it to your local council's environmental health team, who can act for free.
- Keep copies of every report and the dates.
Where we fit in
Support for Tenants helps with housing disrepair claims. Unsafe electrics the landlord has been told about and not fixed are a serious hazard, and under Awaab's Law a genuine emergency like exposed live wiring should be made safe within 24 hours. If your landlord has ignored it, you may have a claim. Call us free on 0800 030 4669, send the short form, or message us on WhatsApp. See also is my landlord responsible for repairs and where to get other housing help.
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)
We review every guide at least twice a year and update it when the law changes. If you spot something out of date or wrong, email help@supportfortenants.co.uk.
Reviewed against current housing law for England and Wales as at 24 May 2026. Checked by our SRA-regulated panel solicitors. This is general information, not legal advice for your specific case. Any compensation figures or ranges shown are illustrative only and not guaranteed; every case is different.
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