Practical guidance for landlords and homeowners
Keep track of electrical changes between inspections
A report is a useful starting point for managing a property. Keep it alongside information about later work, reported faults and any change in how the electrical installation is used.
This guide explains what to notice, what to pass on and when to ask for professional help. It does not provide instructions for testing or repairing wiring.
Start with the latest available information
Find the complete inspection report, rather than relying on a message saying the electrics “passed”. Read the inspection date, address, outcome, stated limitations and recommended next-inspection date. Put any later electrical-work certificates with it.
If you own the home
Note what you know about previous electrical work and what has changed since the last inspection. If records are missing, say so when asking an electrician about an assessment.
If you let the home
Give tenants a clear way to report electrical concerns. Make sure the person managing repairs can find the report and any unresolved actions without relying on the former agent’s recollection.
If you manage several homes
Separate each address and circuit or equipment concern. Record who is arranging access and who can authorise further work, so one property’s repair is not confused with another’s inspection.
Electrical installations deteriorate with use and age; a past report should not be used to dismiss a new concern. Electrical Safety First explains periodic inspection and testing.
Describe a concern without investigating the wiring
An electrician needs a clear account of what you noticed. Give the room, fitting or equipment involved, when the problem began and whether it has happened before. For example, “the kitchen circuit has tripped twice since yesterday” is more useful than guessing which component has failed.
Do not deliberately recreate a fault, remove covers or touch suspect equipment to gather evidence. Note visible changes only from a safe position. A photograph is supporting information, not proof that an installation is safe.
If you think it may be unsafe
Warn people to stay away and switch it off only if you can do so safely. Contact a competent electrician. HSE advises inspection and testing by someone competent to assess an installation’s safety. Read HSE’s electrical safety advice.
Use a handover to check what has changed
At a change of occupant or managing agent, compare the available records with what is known about the property now. Ask about electrical work, recurring problems and any equipment left behind. Record gaps in the information for the person taking over.
A new tenant does not automatically mean a new EICR in England
Government guidance says another inspection is not automatically required where a valid report already exists and no required investigation or remedial work remains outstanding. Check any shorter inspection interval and changes in condition. The new tenant must receive the report before occupation.
A visual check before re-letting is recommended in the guidance, but it does not replace required inspection and testing. Read the current England guidance. For national differences and document deadlines, use the landlord electrical requirements guide.
Keep the handover note factual: what was reported, what documents were available and what still needs clarification. Leave the technical assessment and any safety conclusion to the appropriately qualified person.
Send an enquiry that explains the next step
- Give the property postcode and whether it is your home, a rental or business premises.
- Describe the concern or the reason an inspection has been requested.
- Mention the current report’s date, outcome and outstanding findings.
- List relevant changes, including new equipment or electrical work.
- Provide an access contact and any deadline you have been given.
Keep documents after the visit
Ask what was assessed, what work was completed and what remains outside the agreed scope. File the resulting report or certificate with the earlier records, and make the outstanding actions easy to find.
For a business inspection, use the commercial EICR service so the premises and inspection scope can be considered.
Practical questions between inspections
Can a photograph show that wiring is safe?
A photograph may help an electrician understand a concern, but it cannot establish the condition of hidden wiring or replace the inspection and testing needed for an electrical report. Send only photographs you can take safely without removing covers.
What should a tenant report to the landlord?
Report a suspected electrical fault or damage promptly, explaining where it is and what happened. Mention any existing report reference if you have it. If you think there is danger, keep away from the affected installation and follow the safety guidance above.
Does an appliance check cover the fixed wiring?
No. Checks on an appliance and an inspection of the property’s fixed installation have different scopes. Tell the contractor whether the concern is the appliance, its connection or the wider installation so the right work can be considered.
Where are the current EICR prices and landlord deadlines?
Upkeepone’s domestic EICR service page holds the inspection prices and booking information. The separate landlord electrical safety requirements guide explains document and action deadlines by UK nation. Use those pages when planning a report or checking a legal requirement.
Guidance checked on 7 September 2026. An individual property’s electrical condition needs an appropriate assessment.
Discuss the property with Upkeepone
London, Essex and Kent are the priority areas for electrical enquiries. We also cover Hertfordshire, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Sussex, with other UK locations considered by request.
Attendance is subject to the postcode, installation, access, travel and availability of an appropriately qualified engineer.
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