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19+ Years Industry Experience
Dedicated customer & tech support
Easy 3 step booking process
Specialising in EICR surveys and related property services.
Over 19 years experience providing property surveys for all building types.
Contact us for free quotes and impartial advice.
This tool provides general guidance based on current UK regulations. It is not a substitute for professional legal advice. Regulations vary by country and may change. If in doubt, consult a qualified electrician or legal professional.
An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a formal inspection of a property’s fixed electrical wiring. It assesses safety against BS 7671 (the IET Wiring Regulations) and identifies any defects, deterioration, or non-compliance with current standards.
For private landlords in England and Scotland, having a valid EICR is a legal requirement. In Wales, there is no standalone EICR mandate for standard private rentals, but the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 requires landlords to ensure properties are fit for human habitation, and an EICR every 5 years is considered best practice.
For homeowners, an EICR is not legally required but is recommended by the IET every 10 years, or at change of occupancy. For commercial premises, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 place a duty on employers to maintain safe electrical systems.
The cost is modest compared to the potential consequences of non-compliance or, more importantly, the human cost of an electrical fault that could have been identified and fixed. See our EICR cost guide for a full pricing breakdown.
England (landlords) — civil penalties up to £30,000 per breach. Local authorities can arrange remedial work themselves and recover the cost, typically at a premium. Banning orders for serious or repeated offences under the Housing and Planning Act 2016.
Scotland (landlords) — enforcement through the First-tier Tribunal. The property may be deemed not to meet the Repairing Standard.
Wales — no specific EICR penalty for standard rentals, but HMO licence breaches carry unlimited fines and rent repayment orders.
Insurance — landlord, home, and commercial insurers increasingly require a valid EICR. Claims related to electrical faults may be rejected or reduced without one.
Homeowners — no legal penalty, but unverified electrical safety. Electrical deterioration develops gradually and can remain hidden for years before causing fire or injury.
For detailed guidance on what happens when an EICR fails and the remedial work process, see our EICR fail guide.
See what landlords, homeowners and businesses say about working with Easy EPC.
If you are a private landlord in England or Scotland with tenanted properties, yes — you are legally required to have a valid EICR. In England, the 2020 Regulations mandate inspections every 5 years. Scotland has equivalent requirements under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014. Wales does not currently have a standalone mandate, but the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 requires properties to be fit for human habitation and EICRs are best practice. Homeowners are not legally required to have one but it is strongly recommended.
For landlords in England, local authorities can impose financial penalties of up to £30,000 per breach and arrange remedial work at your expense. In Scotland, enforcement is through the First-tier Tribunal. For homeowners, there is no legal penalty, but you may be unknowingly living with dangerous electrical faults.
Rental properties: at least every 5 years, or more frequently if specified on the report. Owner-occupied homes: the IET recommends every 10 years. Commercial: typically every 5 years, or every 3 years for higher-risk environments such as kitchens and wet areas.
No. This tool provides general guidance based on current UK regulations but is not a substitute for professional legal advice. Regulations vary by country and may change. If in doubt, consult a qualified electrician or legal professional.
New builds receive an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) on completion, which serves as proof the installation meets current standards. A formal EICR is not required until the certificate expires or the property is let to tenants. See our new builds EICR guide.
Treat as expired and book a new one. Being able to show a valid certificate is your defence against fines; the cost is modest compared to the penalty for non-compliance.
Not legally required while vacant, but most insurers expect a valid EICR. Worth arranging before re-letting or sale to avoid delays.
Book an EICR in your city — from £99.95+VAT
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