EICR for London landlords and homeowners

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 were extended to social housing in 2025. According to the government guidance, landlords must:

• have the electrical installation inspected and tested by a qualified person at least every 5 years
• give existing tenants a copy of the report within 28 days of the inspection
• give new tenants a copy before they move in
• give a prospective tenant a copy within 28 days of them asking
• give the council a copy within 7 days of it asking
• complete remedial or further investigation work within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so

Councils can fine landlords up to £40,000 for breaches. Some tenancies are excluded, including lodgers who share with the landlord and long leases of 7 years or more.

Since 15 October 2026, EICRs must be carried out to BS 7671:2018+A4:2026. NICEIC's guide sets out the codes:

| Code | Meaning | Effect on the report | |---|---|---| | C1 | Danger present, immediate action needed | Unsatisfactory | | C2 | Potentially dangerous, urgent action needed | Unsatisfactory | | C3 | Improvement recommended | Does not fail the report | | FI | Further investigation advised | No longer fails the report on its own |

The FI change is new. Under the previous version an FI made the report unsatisfactory. Now only C1 and C2 do.

Hackney and Wandsworth are flat boroughs: the Valuation Office Agency counts 82% of homes in Hackney and 72% in Wandsworth as flats or maisonettes, many in converted Victorian terraces. In a converted house each flat usually has its own meter and board, while the hall lights and door entry run on a separate landlord supply. An EICR for a flat covers that flat's installation. The communal supply is a separate installation that whoever runs the building should look after.

Common findings in older rentals include missing RCD protection on socket circuits, missing bonding to gas and water pipes, and old wiring in loft or floor voids. Electrical Safety First recommends owner occupied homes are inspected at least every 10 years.

An EICR goes faster and gives a clearer result when the inspector can reach everything. Before the visit:

• Make sure the consumer unit and the meter can be reached. In a block, check who holds the meter cupboard key.
• Tell tenants the power will be off at times during the visit, and agree access to every room, including lofts and outbuildings with electrics.
• Find the last EICR and any certificates for work since, such as a new consumer unit or a new circuit. These help the inspector see what has changed.
• Move furniture away from the board and from a sample of sockets if you can.

The inspector cannot test what cannot be reached. Areas that could not be inspected are listed as limitations on the report, and a report with many limitations is less useful to you, your tenants and the council.

After the visit, read the observations section. Under Amendment 4 it is split in two: C1 and C2 items that affect the outcome, and C3 and FI items that do not. Our posts on EICR codes and on what to do if a report is unsatisfactory explain the next steps.