Updated March 2024

In July 2020, new safety rules came into force in England which require landlords to provide tenants entering into a new or renewed agreement with a copy of the property’s Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) or, if it’s a new build, an Electrical Installation Certificate before they move in.

Landlords can be a fined up to £30,000 for failing to provide this information.

Electrical checks have to be completed at least every five years unless the contractor says it needs to be done sooner. Work highlighted on the report is categorised and must be completed as follows:

• Code 1 – Danger present. Risk of injury:
  Any remedial works must be dealt with immediately if found during a tenancy or before a tenancy starts.
  
  
• Code 2 – Potentially dangerous:
  Remedial work must be dealt with ASAP or booked to be done within 28 days or sooner if the report says so.  
    
• FI – Further investigation (FI) required without delay:
  Any remedial works must be dealt with ASAP and within 28 days or sooner if the report says so.
  
  
• Code 3:
  These are improvement recommendations and, though not mandatory, it is advisable to complete the work.

If an existing Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) is five or more years old, landlords must also take action and instruct an EICR in order to satisfy the five year maximum testing period even where the installer originally advised otherwise.

This means that those who had their EICR issued in 2020 will be required to renew their certificate next year. If your EICR is up for renewal in 2025, it’s worth diarising a reminder or arranging an appointment with a qualified contractor to ensure that you are compliant before the five year deadline.

Further information

Contact Savills Residential Lettings