Electrical Safety in Rental Properties

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require private landlords to:

• Ensure the electrical installations in the property are inspected and tested by a qualified and competent person at least every five years.
• Obtain an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) following the inspection.
• Provide a copy of the EICR to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection.
• Provide a copy to new tenants before they move in (or within 28 days of the tenancy starting).
• Provide a copy to any prospective tenant who requests it within 28 days of the request.
• Supply a copy to the local authority within seven days of a request.

The regulations apply to most private rented properties. Social housing landlords have separate but similar obligations. The EICR must be carried out by a qualified person — typically a registered electrician — using the relevant British Standard (BS 7671).

The EICR will classify any defects found using the following categories:

• C1 (Danger present): Risk of injury — the landlord must take immediate remedial action.
• C2 (Potentially dangerous): Urgent remedial action required within 28 days.
• C3 (Improvement recommended): No immediate safety risk, but the landlord should consider improvement.
• FI (Further investigation required): The defect cannot be assessed without further investigation.

Where the EICR contains a C1, C2, or FI outcome, the landlord must complete all required remedial work within 28 days (or the shorter period specified if urgent). After the work is completed, the landlord must provide written confirmation from the electrician that the required work has been carried out, and supply a copy to the tenant.

If your landlord has not provided an EICR or has failed to carry out required remedial work, you should write to them requesting compliance. Keep a copy of your letter.

If the landlord does not respond or comply, report the issue to your local authority's private sector housing team. The local authority can:

• Serve a remedial notice on the landlord requiring them to carry out the work within 28 days
• Carry out the work themselves and recover the cost from the landlord if they fail to comply
• Impose a financial penalty of up to £30,000 for a breach

If you have concerns about immediate electrical safety — for example, sparking sockets, tripped circuit breakers, or a burning smell — do not use the affected circuit and contact your landlord urgently in writing. For an immediate emergency, contact an electrician yourself and seek reimbursement from the landlord if the repair was their responsibility.