One of the most common questions we get asked isn’t what an EICR checks, but how often you actually need one. The honest answer is that it depends on the type of property and how it’s used — there’s no single rule that covers everyone.
Owner-occupied homes
If you own and live in your own home, there’s no legal requirement to have an EICR at all. That said, the standard recommendation is every 10 years, or sooner if the property changes hands, since a change of ownership is a natural point to check the condition of the wiring behind the walls. Buyers increasingly ask for one before completing, so it’s worth having a recent report ready if you’re planning to sell. We’ve covered this in more detail in our guide on electrical safety certificates in Bristol.
If your home has a swimming pool, or you’re running a business from part of the property, the recommended interval shortens to five years.
Rental properties
For landlords, this isn’t a recommendation, it’s a legal requirement. Since April 2021, every rental property in England must have a valid EICR, renewed at least every five years or at every change of tenancy if that comes sooner. A copy has to be given to tenants and, if requested, to the local authority. We go through this in full in why landlords need an EICR certificate, and the full detail is set out in the government’s electrical safety standards guidance for landlords.
Missing this deadline isn’t a paperwork technicality. Local authorities can issue fines of up to £30,000, and it can also affect your ability to serve a valid Section 21 notice if you need to regain possession of the property.
Commercial and business premises
Commercial properties don’t have a single fixed interval written into law, but the Health and Safety Executive expects electrical systems to be maintained in a safe condition, and an EICR is the standard way of demonstrating that. In practice, most commercial premises are inspected every five years, though higher-risk environments such as industrial units, kitchens, or places with heavy public footfall are often inspected every one to three years.
Your insurer may also specify an interval as a condition of cover, so it’s worth checking your policy documents rather than assuming the five-year default applies.
What can shorten the recommended interval
A few things bring the recommended timeframe forward, regardless of property type: a previous EICR that came back with C2 or C3 observations, visible signs of an ageing or overloaded system, a property with a plastic consumer unit that hasn’t been assessed recently, or any recent flooding, fire, or major building work. If in doubt, it’s worth understanding what the classification codes on your last report actually mean, since a report full of C3 observations is a good early warning sign even if it technically passed.
What happens if you let it lapse
For homeowners, an expired EICR isn’t an emergency, but it does mean you’re inspecting blind — any developing fault has had longer to get worse. For landlords, letting the certificate lapse is a compliance breach the moment the five-year (or tenancy-change) deadline passes, whether or not anything is actually wrong with the wiring. If your last report flagged issues, it’s also worth reading what happens if your EICR comes back unsatisfactory, since some faults need addressing within days rather than waiting for the next scheduled inspection.
Booking an EICR
Whatever category your property falls into, the inspection should be carried out by a registered electrician who can issue a proper certificate, not just a verbal opinion. For current pricing, see our guide on what an electrical safety check costs.
If you’re not sure when your property was last inspected, or whether you’re due one now, get in touch. We carry out EICRs for homeowners, landlords and businesses across Bristol and South Gloucestershire, and can advise on the right interval for your situation.
Selling your home? Read do you need an EICR when selling a house.
