EICR for landlords: what it is, when you need one, and what happens if you skip it

Most landlords know they need a gas safety certificate. Many have heard of an EPC. Far fewer can tell you with confidence what an EICR is, when it needs renewing, or what actually happens if they skip it.

Here's the full picture.

What is an EICR?

EICR stands for Electrical Installation Condition Report. It's an assessment of the fixed electrical installations in your property — the wiring, fuse board, sockets, light fittings, and switches — carried out by a qualified electrician.

It's not the same as PAT testing (which covers portable appliances like kettles and hairdryers). The EICR covers the fixed infrastructure: what's inside the walls and behind the panels.

The report grades each item as:

• C1 — Danger present. Requires immediate action.
• C2 — Potentially dangerous. Requires urgent remedial work.
• C3 — Improvement recommended (doesn't fail the certificate, but should be addressed).
• FI — Further investigation required.

A property "passes" if there are no C1 or C2 findings. If there are, you must complete remedial work and have the property re-inspected before re-letting.

When does a landlord legally need an EICR?

Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, every landlord must:

1. Have the fixed electrical installations inspected by a qualified person
2. Obtain an EICR showing the inspection outcome
3. Ensure any C1 or C2 remedial work is completed
4. Supply a copy of the EICR to each tenant before or at the start of their tenancy
5. Renew the EICR at least every 5 years (or sooner if the report recommends it)

Scotland has equivalent requirements under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006. Wales has similar regulations under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016.

For short-let specifically: providing a copy "at the start of a tenancy" means — in practice — having the EICR available at the property and ready to show to any guest or council inspector who asks.

What's the fine for not having a valid EICR?

The local authority can issue a financial penalty of up to £30,000 per breach.

This isn't a theoretical risk. Local authorities in England have actively used these powers since the regulations came into force. A selective licensing scheme or routine inspection is often how landlords get caught — and a £30,000 fine for a document that costs £150–£300 to produce is a painful way to learn.

There is also the insurance implication: most landlord insurance policies require you to maintain a valid EICR. An expired certificate can void a claim — including for incidents completely unrelated to the electrical installation.

How much does an EICR cost?

For a typical 2-bedroom flat: £150–£250. A larger property or one with older wiring may be £300–£400.

If remedial work is needed (C1 or C2 findings), the cost to fix varies wildly depending on what's found — from £50 for a simple socket replacement to several thousand for rewiring aged infrastructure.

How do I find a qualified EICR inspector?

The electrical inspector must be "qualified and competent" — in practice, this means a member of a competent person scheme such as:

• NICEIC
• ELECSA
• NAPIT
• SELECT (Scotland)

Always ask for their scheme membership number and check it on the scheme's website before booking.

What Sorted BNB tracks for you

If you use Sorted BNB, your EICR lives in your compliance dashboard. You enter the issue date, and the system counts down to the 5-year renewal point — going amber at 60 days and red when expired. You can also upload the PDF certificate directly, so it's accessible from your phone when a guest, agent, or council officer asks for it.

No more "I think it's in the filing cabinet" moments.