Private Rented Sector
Landlord electrical safety duties
The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 apply to almost every private tenancy in England. Paul carries out EICRs to BS 7671:2018 incorporating Amendment 3 (2024) and Amendment 4 (2026) — the currently valid edition of the Wiring Regulations, with Amendment 4 mandatory for new designs from 15 October 2026 — and provides the paperwork councils and letting agents actually ask for.
Checking your electrician is qualified and competent
Important — this is vital
The regulations require a "qualified and competent person" but do not list qualifications. GOV.UK defers to industry guidance — principally the Electrical Safety Roundtable. Before you book an electrician, ask for evidence of all of the following: an unverified contractor can produce an invalid EICR that fails an audit and leaves you liable for the penalty.
Before you book — electrician qualification checklist
Tick each one off. Confirm every item before you appoint anyone — not just Paul.
Competent Person Scheme registration
Registration with a government-authorised scheme (NAPIT, NICEIC, ELECSA, STROMA). Verify it at electricalcompetentperson.co.uk — don't rely on a logo on a van or website.
Current BS 7671 qualification
A qualification in the current edition and amendment of the Wiring Regulations — BS 7671:2018+A3:2024/A4:2026 (City & Guilds 2382 or equivalent).
Inspection & testing qualification
A specific periodic inspection, testing and certification qualification (City & Guilds 2391 or equivalent), not just an installation qualification.
Public liability insurance
At least £2 million public liability cover. Ask for the certificate and check the dates.
Professional indemnity insurance
At least £250,000 professional indemnity cover — this is what responds if the report itself is wrong.
Relevant experience & calibrated instruments
Demonstrable experience of periodic inspection on similar properties, and test instruments with in-date calibration certificates.
What about CPD?
Continuing Professional Development is not named in the GOV.UK guidance and there is no statutory duty on a landlord to check it. It matters indirectly: registration with a Competent Person Scheme such as NAPIT requires ongoing competence — periodic assessment, re-qualification against the current amendment of BS 7671, and calibrated instruments. Confirming current scheme registration is the practical way to verify a contractor is up to date.
Sources: GOV.UK electrical safety standards guidance (private and social rented sectors) and Electrical Safety Roundtable guidance for landlords. Last reviewed August 2026.
What you must do
1. Have the fixed installation inspected and tested at least every 5 years.
The report must be an EICR to BS 7671, carried out by a qualified and competent person.
2. Supply the EICR to a new tenant before they move in.
And within 28 days to existing tenants after each new EICR.
3. Supply the EICR to the local authority within 7 days on request.
4. Complete any remedial or further investigative work within 28 days (or sooner if the report says so).
Codes C1, C2 and FI must all be resolved. Written confirmation from the electrician must be supplied to the tenant and, if requested, the council.
Understanding EICR codes
- C1 — Danger present. Immediate remedial action required.
- C2 — Potentially dangerous. Urgent remedial action required.
- C3 — Improvement recommended. Not a failure but strongly advised.
- FI — Further investigation required.
A report is Unsatisfactory if it contains any C1, C2 or FI. C3s alone do not fail a report but should be reviewed at the next EICR.
Penalties for non-compliance
Local authorities can impose civil penalties of up to £40,000 per breach following the 2025 update to the government guidance (previously £30,000). Multiple breaches can attract multiple penalties on the same property. Councils can also commission remedial works and recover the cost from the landlord.
Social housing — the 2025 extension
The same electrical safety standards are being extended to the social rented sector, with duties commencing from 1 November 2025. Social landlords must arrange an EICR at least every 5 years and, in addition to the fixed installation, carry out in-service inspection and testing (ISIT) (Portable Appliance Testing) of any electrical appliances they supply, at least every 5 years, keeping records available to tenants and the regulator.
Private landlords have no statutory appliance-testing duty, but PAT / ISIT (Portable Appliance Testing) of supplied appliances is still recommended and is often expected by insurers.
Competent Person self-certification
Paul is registered with NAPIT, a government-authorised Competent Person Scheme. That means notifiable electrical work can be self-certified and the correct compliance notification sent to your local building control without the delay or cost of a separate council inspection.