EICR

An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is a formal report produced after a qualified electrician has inspected and tested a property’s fixed electrical installation. Things like wiring, consumer unit (fuse box), sockets and light fittings. It assesses whether the installation is safe to use, highlights defects or deterioration, and recommends any remedial work.

In England, private landlords must ensure an EICR is carried out at least every five years (or more often if the report says so) and before a new tenancy starts. They must give a copy of the EICR to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection, to new tenants at the start of the tenancy, and to prospective tenants on request. If the report identifies “unsatisfactory” items, the landlord must arrange remedial or investigative work within specified time limits and provide written confirmation when this is done.

EICR duties sit alongside the wider “Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation)” rules, which emphasise safe, decent homes and stronger enforcement. A serious electrical defect that a landlord ignores may support a disrepair or fitness claim, local authority enforcement action, or in extreme cases criminal sanctions. Renters should keep copies of any EICR they receive and raise concerns promptly in writing.