Landlord electrical safety guide · Checked 7 September 2026
Check the report, deadline and paperwork
Electrical safety duties depend on where the rented home is and the type of tenancy. Start with the country and current report, then check what must be done and who needs a copy.
This guide focuses on landlord requirements. For the inspection process and Upkeepone’s domestic prices, visit our EICR service page.
England: the inspection and document checklist
For tenancies within the regulations, arrange inspection and testing by a qualified person at intervals no longer than five years, or sooner where the report requires it. Obtain the results and next-inspection date, normally in an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR).
| Recipient | When to supply the report |
|---|---|
| Existing tenant | Within 28 days of the inspection and test. |
| New tenant | Before they occupy the property. |
| Prospective tenant | Within 28 days of a written request. |
| Local housing authority | Within seven days of a written request. |
Retain the report and give it to the next inspector. Read the original regulation 3 duties (PDF); the current England guidance includes subsequent changes.
Check whether the tenancy is covered. The England rules have specified exclusions, including some arrangements where the tenant shares accommodation with the landlord. A property being rented does not make every letting arrangement identical.
England: follow through on required work
Required investigation or remedial work must be completed within 28 days of the inspection, or the shorter period specified in the report. Obtain the qualified person’s written confirmation. Supply it with the original report to the tenant and local authority within 28 days of completion. Repeat the process if further work is required.
Use the report’s urgency and instructions when arranging the work. Do not treat 28 days as permission to leave an immediate danger unresolved. Read the government’s remedial-work guidance.
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Use the rules for the property’s location. England’s document deadlines should not be copied into another nation’s tenancy file.
Wales
Under the fitness-for-human-habitation rules, electrical testing is required every five years or at the shorter interval in the report. Give the contract-holder the current EICR within 14 days of occupation, or within 14 days of an inspection carried out during occupation. Separate written confirmation requirements apply to investigative and remedial work.
Scotland
For private rented homes, the Repairing Standard requires an electrical safety inspection before first letting and at intervals of no more than five years. The inspection covers the installation and landlord-provided electrical equipment, with periodic inspection and testing and in-service equipment checks. Keep and supply the relevant reports.
Northern Ireland
The 2024 private-tenancy regulations require installation checks at least every five years, or sooner where specified. The new-tenancy start date was 1 April 2025 and existing tenancies had until 1 December 2025 to comply. HMOs remain under the HMO licensing scheme.
Keep a usable record for each property
A folder labelled only “electrical certificate” can conceal missing follow-up evidence. Keep the documents together under the property address so the next person managing the tenancy can see what happened.
- The full report, including schedules, scope and limitations.
- Its next-inspection date and any earlier action deadline.
- Written confirmation and certificates for follow-up work.
- When and how each required copy was supplied.
- Access arrangements, correspondence and outstanding actions.
Plan backwards from your deadline
Allow time for access, the inspection, the report and any work the findings may require. Tell the inspector about previous alterations and give them the existing documents rather than only the first page.
For a portfolio, keep a separate due date and action list for each address. If a letting arrangement or an access dispute is unclear, seek advice specific to that tenancy.
Questions landlords ask
Does a new tenancy always require a new EICR in England?
No. A change of tenant does not automatically require another inspection if the existing report remains valid and no required investigation or remedial work is outstanding. Check its next-inspection date and any change in the installation’s condition, then give the new tenant the report before occupation.
Does this guide cover business premises?
This guide concerns rented homes. A shop, office or other business premises needs a separate assessment of its electrical safety duties and inspection scope. Use Upkeepone’s commercial EICR page for a business enquiry.
Which date should I give Upkeepone when requesting an inspection?
Give the next-inspection date on the current report, your intended letting date and any shorter action deadline already specified. Include the report’s outcome and explain whether access must be arranged through a tenant or managing agent.
Can I treat a quote request as proof of compliance?
No. Keep the actual inspection report, any required follow-up evidence and records of supplying the documents. An enquiry or appointment confirmation does not establish the condition of the electrical installation.
The tenancy-change answer follows the government’s current England guidance. This is general guidance; it does not determine an individual property’s legal status or electrical condition.
Electrical inspection enquiries
London, Essex and Kent are Upkeepone’s priority areas for regular electrical enquiries. Hertfordshire, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Sussex are also covered; other UK locations are considered by request.
Attendance depends on the postcode, installation, access, travel and availability of an appropriately qualified engineer. Send the property details so attendance can be checked.
