Yes. If you let a home privately in England the fixed electrical installation has to be inspected and tested at least every five years, and again before a new tenancy begins. You then have to give a copy of the report to your tenants and to the local authority if they ask for it.
The report grades each finding by how serious it is. If anything comes back as needing urgent attention you have a limited window to get it put right and to show that it has been done. That is the part landlords most often get caught out by, so it is worth booking the test with enough time to deal with anything it turns up rather than the week before a tenancy starts.
Every five years minimum
And again at the start of a new tenancy. The report can specify a shorter interval, and if it does that shorter one applies.
Tenants get a copy
You must supply the report to tenants, and to the council if they request it. Keep it somewhere you can find it.
Act on urgent findings
Anything flagged as needing immediate attention has to be dealt with promptly and evidenced. Leave time for that.
Your questions, answered
What happens if I do not have one?
Local authorities can require the work to be done and can issue financial penalties. In practice the bigger risk is that a problem goes unnoticed in a property somebody else lives in.
Does a holiday let need one too?
The five-year rule is written for standard tenancies, but a holiday let still has to have safe, maintained electrics by law. An EICR is the practical way to show you have checked, and every five years is the usual recommendation.
How much does a landlord EICR cost?
Most rentals around King's Lynn and West Norfolk come in between £150 and £300 depending on size. Several properties booked together works out cheaper per property.
What if it comes back unsatisfactory?
You get the failing items coded and explained. We quote to put them right, carry out the work and retest so your paperwork is straight.
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