An Electrical Installation Condition Report — a formal inspection and test of a property's fixed electrical installation, recording whether it is satisfactory and listing any defects by code.

How often do landlords need an EICR?

At least every five years for private rented homes in England, or sooner if the report recommends a shorter interval.

What do C1, C2 and C3 mean?

C1 means danger present, C2 means potentially dangerous, and C3 means improvement recommended. C1 and C2 make the report unsatisfactory and must be remedied; C3 is advisory.

How quickly must I fix EICR faults?

Within 28 days of the report (or sooner for C1 dangers), with written confirmation supplied to the tenant.

Electrical safetyLegal requirement

EICR compliance for landlords explained

Understand the Electrical Installation Condition Report, the meaning of C1/C2/C3 codes, and the strict deadlines for remedial work.

Reviewed June 2026 · 9 min read

Validity

Up to 5 years

Remedial deadline

28 days

Danger code

C1 / C2 = fail

Max penalty

£30,000

What is an EICR?

An Electrical Installation Condition Report is a formal assessment of the fixed electrical installation in a property — the wiring, sockets, consumer unit, switches and fixed appliances. A qualified and competent electrician inspects and tests the installation and records whether it is satisfactory or unsatisfactory, listing any observations by code.

When is an EICR required?

Since 1 April 2021 the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations require a valid EICR for all private tenancies. You must obtain a report before a new tenancy and ensure the installation is inspected at least every five years thereafter — or more often if the report specifies.

Validity periods

A satisfactory EICR is normally valid for five years, but the inspecting electrician can recommend a shorter interval based on the condition of the installation. Always check the recommended next inspection date on the report rather than assuming a flat five years.

C1, C2 and C3 observations

Code	Meaning	Action
C1	Danger present — risk of injury.	Make safe immediately; report is unsatisfactory.
C2	Potentially dangerous.	Remedy within 28 days; report is unsatisfactory.
C3	Improvement recommended.	Not a failure; advisable but not required.
FI	Further investigation required.	Investigate; treated as unsatisfactory until resolved.

A report is only 'satisfactory' if it has no C1, C2 or FI items. C3 observations do not make a report fail but represent good-practice upgrades worth budgeting for.

Unsatisfactory reports and remedial works

1Obtain the report and identify any C1, C2 or FI items.
2Arrange remedial work with a qualified electrician within 28 days (sooner for C1 danger).
3Obtain written confirmation that the work has been completed and the installation is now safe.
4Supply that confirmation to the tenant within 28 days, and to the local authority on request.

Typical costs

Property	Indicative EICR cost
1-bed flat	£120–£180
2–3 bed house	£150–£250
4+ bed / HMO	£250–£400+

Remedial works are extra and vary widely — a simple fix may be tens of pounds, while a full rewire can run into thousands. Budget for some remedial work, especially on older installations.