Nexgen Electrical Innovations
NICEIC
Approved Contractor
Platinum Service Provider
The Complete Landlord's EICR Compliance Guide
Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 — applies to all privately rented properties in England
WHAT IS AN EICR?
An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a formal written assessment of your property's fixed electrical infrastructure — all wiring, sockets, light fittings, switches, and the consumer unit. It is conducted by a qualified electrician and is entirely separate from Portable Appliance Testing (PAT), which covers moveable equipment. A satisfactory EICR provides legal evidence that the fixed installation is safe and fulfils your statutory duty as a private landlord.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR EICR CODES
CodeClassificationMeaningYour Required Action
C1Danger PresentRisk of injury, death, or fire from the installationCease letting — remediate before any new tenant occupies
C2Potentially DangerousMay become dangerous without remediationRemediate within 28 days or shorter period in report
FIFurther InvestigationCannot be assessed without further investigationTreat as C2 — investigate without delay
C3Improvement RecommendedNot immediately dangerous — advisory onlyBest practice to address; not legally required
✓SatisfactoryNo C1, C2, or FI codes present in the reportEICR valid — retain for at least 5 years
PRE-INSPECTION CHECKLIST
Clear and provide safe access to the consumer unit — remove all obstructions
Gather previous electrical certificates and any past EICRs for the inspector
Give tenants at least 24 hours written notice of the inspection visit
Note any known faults — tripping circuits, warm sockets, flickering lights
Verify NICEIC registration at niceic.com before confirming the appointment
WHAT INSPECTORS ASSESS
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Consumer unit: age, condition, and protection devices (fuses vs MCBs)
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Main earthing and bonding to gas, water, and structural steel
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RCD (Residual Current Device) — type, location, and trip-test results
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Fixed wiring condition — old rubber or lead-sheathed wiring flagged
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Sockets, switches, and light fittings — condition and polarity
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Bathroom zone compliance — no sockets within 0.6m of bath or shower
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Circuit labelling accuracy and consumer unit documentation
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Surge protection device presence (recommended, BS 7671:2018 Amd 2)
YOUR 12-STEP COMPLIANCE CHECKLIST — STEPS 1 TO 6
1
Commission a NICEIC Approved Contractor
Appoint a NICEIC-registered electrician and insist on a formal written EICR. A verbal sign-off or letter does not satisfy the 2020 Regulations and provides no legal protection.
2
Receive and review the full EICR report
Review every code in the report: C1, C2, FI, C3, and overall outcome. Any C1, C2, or FI means the installation is not satisfactory and requires action.
3
Act on C1 (Danger Present) immediately
C1 defects represent immediate danger and must be remediated before any new tenant moves in. For existing tenancies, emergency works must begin without delay — same day where possible.
4
Remediate C2 and FI within 28 days
C2 (Potentially Dangerous) and FI (Further Investigation) codes must be addressed within 28 days of the inspection, or within any shorter period stated in the EICR.
5
Obtain written remediation confirmation
After all remedial works are complete, obtain written confirmation from the contractor. This document is a legal requirement — retain it alongside the original EICR report.
6
Supply EICR to existing tenants within 28 days
Provide a copy of the EICR and any remediation confirmation to every existing tenant within 28 days of the inspection date. Failure to do so is a breach of the Regulations.
Nexgen Electrical Innovations · Taplow, Berkshire · London & South East England · nexgen-electrical.co.uk
NICEIC Approved Contractor · Platinum Service Provider
Nexgen Electrical Innovations
NICEIC
Approved Contractor
Platinum Service Provider
YOUR 12-STEP COMPLIANCE CHECKLIST — STEPS 7 TO 12
7
Supply to new tenants before occupation
Prospective tenants must receive a copy of the EICR before they move in. Do not permit occupation until the full report has been provided in writing.
8
Provide to local authority within 7 days
If a local housing authority requests a copy of the EICR, supply the report and any written remediation confirmation within 7 days of receiving the written request.
9
Retain all records for at least 5 years
Keep the EICR, all remediation confirmations, and related correspondence for a minimum of 5 years. These are your primary legal defence if challenged by a tenant or enforcement authority.
10
Commission PAT testing for furnished lets
The EICR covers fixed wiring only. For furnished properties with landlord-supplied appliances, commission Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) and maintain a numeric test register per appliance.
11
Renew the EICR within 5 years
The EICR is valid for a maximum of 5 years. Renew sooner if the report recommends it, at a change of tenancy, or if the installation is old, in poor condition, or has been subject to significant works.
12
Commission a new certificate after major works
A full rewire, consumer unit replacement, or additional circuits requires a new Electrical Installation Certificate — this resets the 5-year EICR cycle from the date of the new certificate.
⚠ PENALTIES FOR NON-COMPLIANCE
Local authorities may impose a financial penalty of up to £30,000 per breach under the Electrical Safety Standards Regulations 2020. Where a landlord fails to act, the council may arrange remedial work and recover the full cost from the landlord. Persistent non-compliance can affect landlord licensing and, in the most serious cases, may lead to criminal prosecution under the Housing Act 2004. Penalties apply per property per breach — a portfolio landlord faces cumulative exposure across every non-compliant property.
HMO LANDLORDS
A current satisfactory EICR is a mandatory Housing Act 2004 licensing condition for HMOs. The compliance file — including EICR, remediation records, and appliance registers — must be available for inspection by the local authority at any time. Higher duty of care and more frequent checks may be required.
FURNISHED LETS
The EICR covers fixed wiring only. For furnished lets, every landlord-supplied appliance on the tenancy inventory must be maintained in safe condition. Commission PAT testing by a qualified contractor and maintain a numeric test register — pass labels alone are insufficient for licensing inspections and insurance purposes.
Book Your EICR Inspection with Nexgen
NICEIC Approved · Platinum Service Provider · London & South East England
Taplow, Berkshire · Serving residential, HMO, and furnished let landlords
nexgen-electrical.co.uk
Download this guide at:
nexgen-electrical.co.uk/landlord-eicr-checklist.pdf
Nexgen Electrical Innovations · Taplow, Berkshire · London & South East England · nexgen-electrical.co.uk
NICEIC Approved Contractor · Platinum Service Provider