Electrical safety report

Introduction

All landlords are required to get an electrical safety check of the fixed electrical parts of a let property and give their tenants the report (free of charge). The rules differ depending on its location.

England

If you let property in England on an assured tenancy agreement, you must comply with the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. These state you must get an Electrical Installation Condition Report (unless you have a licenced house in multiple occupation) and give it to your tenants.

The following is a summary of the government guidance on what you should do to comply with the regulations:

• The property's fixed electrical parts must be tested at least every 5 years. This includes its wiring, fuse box, plug sockets and light fittings and other permanently connected electrical equipment. It doesn't include removable electric items, like white goods and televisions, which require portable appliance testing (PAT testing).
• The electrical parts must comply with building regulations British Standard 7671 (which came into effect on 1 January 2019).
• The person doing the testing must be qualified and competent to do it. You should check if they're a member of one of the electrical safety industry's competent person schemes. You should also ensure that they give you written confirmation that they have a British Standard 7671 qualification, adequate insurance and are suitably competent to perform the test.
• The Electrical Installation Condition Report will set the date of the next inspection and you must keep a copy of it to give to the next person conducting an inspection.
• You must give each tenant a copy of the report within 28 days of the inspection.
• Prospective tenants must receive a copy of the current report before they move in.
• The property's local authority should be given a copy of the report within 7 days of any request for it.
• If the report shows that remedial or further investigative work is necessary, this must be completed within 28 days or any shorter period as specified in the report.
• Written confirmation of the completion of the remedial work must be given to the tenant and the local authority within 28 days of the completion date.

Local authorities enforce the new regulations and can impose civil penalties up to £30,000.

Wales

The Renting Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) (Wales) Regulations 2022 requires landlords to get an Electrical Condition Report and then give it to their contract-holders.

The following is a summary of the requirements:

• The property's fixed electrical parts must be tested at least every 5 years. This includes testing any installation supplying electricity that's in the landlord's control. This is likely to include wiring, fuse box, plug sockets and light fittings and other permanently connected electrical equipment. It doesn't include removable electric items, like white goods and televisions, which require portable appliance testing (PAT testing).
• The electrical parts must comply with building regulations British Standard 7671 (which came into effect on 1 January 2019).
• The person doing the testing must be competent enough to do it and must be a member of one of the electrical safety industry's competent person schemes. You should get written confirmation that they have a British Standard 7671 qualification, adequate insurance and are suitably qualified to perform the test.
• The Electrical Condition Report will set the date of the next inspection. You should keep a copy of it to give to the next person conducting an inspection.
• New contract-holder's must be given a copy of the most recent report within 7 days of the occupation date. If the report requires investigatory or remedial work to be carried out, you must give written confirmation of the required work within this time. If the electrical safety inspection is carried out after the occupation date, you must give the contract-holder a copy of the electrical condition report within 7 days of the date the inspection was completed. If any necessary investigatory or remedial work is required, you must give the contract-holder written confirmation within 7 days of being notified about it.

Failing to comply with these requirements will mean your property is treated as if it were unfit for human habitation, and you cannot give a contract-holder a notice of possession until the failure has been rectified.

See the government guidance: Fitness of homes for human habitation: guidance for landlords for more information.

Scotland

A qualified person must carry out electrical safety inspections at least every 5 years to ensure that the electrical installations and appliances meet the repairing standard (i.e. are in a reasonable state of repair and proper working order). This person will provide 2 reports:

• An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) - for any fixed installations
• A Portable Appliance Test (PAT) for items that are more than one year old on the test date - includes washing machines and other white goods, TVs, DVD players, toasters and kettles

The EICR must be carried out by a suitably qualified electrician registered with a body such as NICEIC, the Electrical Contractors' Association of Scotland (SELECT) or a member of the National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers (NAPIT). The PAT could be done by someone with the required training, including a landlord.

You must:

• Give the tenant a copy of the last inspection report (which must have been carried out within the previous 5 years) before the start of the tenancy.
• Give the tenant a copy of any record of inspection carried out during the tenancy.
• Keep a copy of the record for 6 years.

The record of the inspection must include details such as the date of the inspection, address of the property inspected, name and address of the landlord or their agent, name, address and qualifications of the person carrying out the inspection, description of each installation, fixture, fitting and appliance inspected, defects identified and any action taken to remedy a defect. In addition to the repairing standard, there is a requirement (the Tolerable Standard) that electrical wiring components are adequate and safe.

Northern Ireland

If you let a property under a private tenancy agreement, the Electrical Safety Standards for Private Tenancies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 states you must ensure that every electrical fixed installation in the property is inspected and tested (unless you have a licenced house in multiple occupation). You must also get a written report (usually an Electrical Installation Condition Report) of the results to give to your tenants.

The following is a summary of the requirements, which apply from 1 April 2025 for new tenancy agreements, and 1 December 2025 for existing tenancies:

• The property's fixed electrical cables and fixed electrical equipment must be tested at least every 5 years (or earlier intervals if the report requires it). This will include wiring, fuse box, plug sockets, light fittings and other permanently connected electrical equipment. It doesn't include removable electric items, like white goods and televisions, which require portable appliance testing (PAT testing).
• The fixed electrical parts must comply with building regulations British Standard 7671 (which came into effect on 1 January 2019).
• The person doing the testing must be qualified and competent to do it. You should check if they're registered with a recognised electrical trade body or a member of one of the electrical safety industry's competent person schemes. Also, get written confirmation that they have a British Standard 7671 qualification, adequate insurance and are suitably competent to perform the test.
• The report will set the date of the next inspection. You must keep a copy of it to give to the next person conducting an inspection.
• Yous must give each existing tenant a copy of the report within 28 days of the inspection.
• New tenants must receive a copy of the current report before they move in.
• Prospective tenants must receive a copy of the report within 28 days of receiving a request for it.
• The property's local authority should be given a copy of the report within 7 days of any request for it.
• If the report shows that remedial or further investigative work is necessary, this must be completed within 28 days or any shorter period as specified in the report.
• Written confirmation of the completion of the remedial work must be given to the tenant and the local authority within 28 days of the completion date.

Local authorities enforce the new regulations. Breaches will result in a criminal penalty, which can be for a fixed amount and up to an unlimited fine.

See the government guidance for more information.