Landlords, is your EICR renewal for 2025 on track?
Posted January 30th 2025
As a landlord, one of the many ways to ensure the safety of your tenants and your property is to comply with electrical safety regulations and keeping your Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) up to date. With renewal deadlines due in April 2025/2026, now is the time to act.
What is an EICR?
An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a formal inspection that assesses the safety and condition of your property’s electrical installation. It identifies any defects, damage, or risks within the electrical system to ensure compliance with the latest safety standards.
How often must the EICR be renewed?
The EICR must be renewed at least every five years under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. If your last EICR was conducted in 2020, you’ll need to renew it in 2025 to stay compliant. To avoid last-minute delays, it’s best to book your renewal early, as demand for qualified electricians is expected to outstrip supply.
Why is EICR renewal important?
Renewing your EICR isn’t just about ticking a box—it’s a legal requirement with serious consequences if neglected. Failing to maintain an up-to-date EICR could lead to:
- Fines of up to £30,000 for non-compliance.
- Potential invalidation of landlord insurance, leaving you unprotected in case of an incident.
- Serious safety risks, such as fire hazards or electrical shocks, putting your tenants in danger.
What does an EICR renewal involve?
The renewal process includes a thorough inspection of your property’s electrical systems by a qualified electrician. They will assess the wiring, circuits, and installations, checking for damage, wear, or overloading, and ensuring compliance with current safety standards.
What are the different EICR grades and what do they mean?
An EICR report categorises issues into different grades based on severity:
- C1 (Danger present): Immediate risk to life (e.g., exposed live wires). These must be rectified immediately, or the power should be cut.
- C2 (Potentially dangerous): Issues that could become hazardous (e.g., an RCD not tripping in time). Must be addressed within 28 days.
- C3 (Improvement recommended): The electrical installations in the property are not immediately dangerous but could develop into a problem in the future.
- FI (Further investigation required): Indicates a possible issue that needs urgent further assessment.
If an installation receives a C1, C2, or FI grade, the property will be given an unsatisfactory report. In such cases, landlords are legally required to complete remedial work within 28 days.
If the report only includes C3 observations or none at all, the property is deemed satisfactory, and no further action is legally required.
How to prepare for your EICR renewal
Book early
Avoid the last-minute rush by scheduling your EICR well in advance. When EICRs first became mandatory in 2020/2021, a last-minute scramble caused delays and added stress for landlords as demand for qualified electricians outstripped supply — avoid these pitfalls by booking your inspection ahead of time.
Hire a qualified electrician
Ensure your inspector is registered with a competent person scheme, such as NICEIC or NAPIT, to guarantee high-quality work.
Keep records
Maintain documentation of previous EICRs, certificates, and any electrical repairs or updates. This helps streamline the process and keeps you organised for future inspections.
What are remedial works?
Remedial work is required when an EICR flags issues that must be corrected to achieve a satisfactory report. These can involve anything from minor fixes to significant electrical upgrades.
- If urgent issues (C1) are found, they must be addressed immediately.
- If other issues (C2 or FI) are identified, they must be corrected within 28 days.
- The electrician may complete some remedial work on the spot or schedule a follow-up visit, depending on the severity of the issue.
Why should you renew your EICR now?
The demand for EICRs is expected to spike in 2025/2026, making it increasingly difficult to secure an electrician for inspections and necessary repairs. However, landlords with 2025 renewal deadlines should not delay. By acting now, you can ensure compliance, maintain tenant safety, and avoid potential legal or financial penalties.
