Landlords and lettings

In England, the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector Regulations 2020 require the electrical installation in most private tenancies to be inspected and tested at intervals of no more than 5 years, with a report obtained.

Scotland requires a 5-yearly EICR under the repairing standard, and Wales requires one under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act. Some tenancy types are excluded, so check your own situation.

In England the report must be supplied to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection, to a new tenant before they occupy, to a prospective tenant within 28 days of a written request, and to the local authority within 7 days if they ask for it.

Keep a copy for the next inspection too — the following electrician will want to see it.

Where an England report requires remedial or further investigative work, it must be carried out within 28 days — or sooner if the report specifies a shorter period. You then need written confirmation from the electrician that the work has been done and the installation meets the standard.

That confirmation has to be supplied to the tenants and, on request, to the local authority.

Local authorities can serve remedial notices and, in England, impose financial penalties of up to £30,000 for a breach. They can also arrange remedial work themselves and recover the cost.

There are knock-on effects too: insurers and letting agents commonly require a current report, and missing safety documentation can complicate possession proceedings.

HMOs have had 5-yearly electrical inspection duties for longer, and licensing conditions often add requirements — commonly a fire alarm system to a specified grade, emergency lighting, and appliance testing.

Check the licence conditions issued by your local authority, because they vary between councils and can be stricter than the baseline.

There is no blanket legal requirement in England to PAT test, but landlords do have a duty to ensure electrical appliances they supply are safe at the start of a tenancy and maintained in a safe condition. Testing is the usual way of demonstrating that.

Scotland is stricter: appliance safety checks are expected as part of the repairing standard.

Report it to your landlord or agent in writing and keep the record. You are entitled to ask for a copy of the current EICR — in England the landlord must provide it within 28 days of a written request.

If it is not addressed, the local authority's private housing or environmental health team can inspect and enforce. Where there is immediate danger, isolate the circuit and treat it as an emergency.