The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 made EICR inspections mandatory for all existing tenancies from April 2021. That means a significant proportion of first-cycle reports are now reaching their five-year expiry window in 2025 and 2026. The civil penalty ceiling for electrical safety breaches is £30,000 per breach. First-cycle EICRs expiring 2025–2026
Electrical compliance is not only about conducting inspections. The legal obligation extends to the timing of re-inspection, the remediation of defects within prescribed windows, and the correct service of the EICR to tenants and local authorities. Each element carries its own enforcement mechanism, and failure at any stage constitutes a breach even if the underlying installation is safe.
Electrical safety obligations cannot be delegated to an agent or contractor. Responsibility for ensuring the installation is inspected, that tenants receive the report, and that defects are remedied sits with the landlord in all circumstances.
What Do EICR Classification Codes Actually Mean?
When a qualified electrician completes an inspection, each observation is assigned a classification code. The overall outcome, Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory, is determined by the codes present. Understanding what each code means is essential for landlords, because the distinction between C2 and C3, for example, determines whether you are legally required to carry out remedial work within 28 days.
| Code | Meaning | Compliance Obligation |
|---|---|---|
| C1 — Danger Present | An immediate risk of injury exists | Immediate action required — property may need to be taken out of use |
| C2 — Potentially Dangerous | Defect could become dangerous | Remedial work required within 28 days (or sooner if specified) |
| FI — Further Investigation | Investigation required before outcome can be determined | Investigate within the timeframe stated in the report |
| C3 — Improvement Recommended | Not dangerous but improvement advised | No mandatory action — report can still be Satisfactory |
A report is classified as Unsatisfactory if it contains any C1, C2, or FI codes. A C3 alone does not render a report Unsatisfactory, and does not require remediation for compliance purposes — though ignoring a C3 observation indefinitely creates a risk that it escalates to C2 at the next inspection. Landlords sometimes confuse C3 with an obligation to act. It is a recommendation, not a requirement.
What Does an Unsatisfactory EICR Actually Require You to Do?
If an inspection returns a C1 or C2 code, the 28-day remediation clock starts from the date of the report, not from the date the landlord becomes aware of the code. Where the report specifies a shorter remediation window, that window applies. The 28-day default is a ceiling, not a standard.
Once remedial work is complete, landlords must obtain written confirmation from the electrician that the work has been carried out satisfactorily. This confirmation must then be provided to tenants within 28 days of the work being completed, and to the local authority within 7 days if requested. A verbal sign-off from the engineer is not sufficient. The written confirmation should identify the original codes, the work carried out, and confirm the installation is now safe.
The legal maximum is five years, but the electrician may specify a shorter re-inspection date based on the installation's condition. If the report states "re-inspect in three years," that date is the legal deadline — not the five-year default. Always check the report's recommended re-test date, not just when the current certificate was issued.
How Must the EICR Be Served to Tenants?
The distribution requirements are specific and time-bound. Existing tenants must receive a copy of the EICR within 28 days of the inspection. New tenants must receive it before they move in — not within 28 days of the tenancy start. Where a local authority requests a copy, it must be provided within 7 days.
Proof of service should be retained for each EICR issued. An email with the report attached and a delivery confirmation is typically sufficient. The risk in failing to serve the EICR correctly is not merely administrative: local authorities can impose civil penalties of up to £30,000 per breach, and continued non-compliance can result in the council arranging remedial works and recovering the cost from the landlord.
For landlords approaching the five-year renewal window, the sensible approach is to book inspections two to three months before expiry, confirm the existing EICR's re-inspection date (which may be earlier than the five-year maximum), and ensure the replacement report is served to tenants promptly after the inspection is completed.
This article reflects our understanding of the law at the time of publication. It is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Always verify against GOV.UK or seek qualified legal advice before acting.
