What Is an EICR for Landlords? The Report Explained in Plain English

EICR stands for Electrical Installation Condition Report. It is the document a qualified electrician produces after inspecting and testing the fixed electrical wiring in a property — consumer units, circuit breakers, RCDs, earthing, fixed cabling, sockets, switches, and hardwired appliances like electric showers and immersion heaters.

For landlords in England, an EICR is not optional. SI 2020/312 requires one at intervals of no more than five years, or sooner if the inspector specifies a shorter period, for any private rental property with a specified tenancy.

What the Inspector Actually Checks

The inspection covers everything that is permanently wired into the building. That includes the main supply, the consumer unit, every circuit, every socket and light fitting, and any hardwired appliances. It extends to outbuildings, garages, and external lighting under the landlord's control.

What it does not cover: portable appliances like fridges, microwaves, and kettles. Those fall under Portable Appliance Testing (PAT), which is a separate process and not universally mandatory for private landlords in England.

How the Report Works

The inspector tests each circuit and records any defects using standard classification codes:

• C1 (Danger Present) — an immediate safety hazard. The inspector may make it safe before leaving.
• C2 (Potentially Dangerous) — a serious defect that needs fixing within 28 days, or any shorter period specified in the report.
• FI (Further Investigation) — the inspector cannot determine safety without deeper access or testing.
• C3 (Improvement Recommended) — an advisory note. The installation does not meet the latest wiring standard in that respect, but there is no danger.

Any C1, C2, or FI code makes the overall report unsatisfactory. A report with only C3 codes — or no codes at all — is satisfactory.

What You Do With It

A satisfactory report goes into your records. You must send a copy to existing tenants within 28 days and to any new tenant before they move in. The local council must receive it within seven days of a written request.

An unsatisfactory report starts the 28-day remedial clock. Once the work is done and you have written confirmation from the electrician, those documents also need distributing to tenants and the council within 28 days of completion.

The Full Compliance Workflow

If you want every step laid out — from booking the right inspector through to filing the certificates — the Electrical Safety (EICR) Compliance Guide walks you through it with printable tracking tools and a code-by-code action map.

See more England guides →