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Compliance · Electrical

How often is a fixed wiring inspection (EICR) required?

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  • 14sources
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  • Englandscope
The short answer

For rented homes in England the law sets a maximum of 5 years between inspections. For workplaces there is no fixed legal interval: the usual benchmark is every 5 years for commercial premises and every 3 years for industrial premises, adjusted by the inspector to suit the installation.

Dated deadline

For social housing tenancies granted before 1 December 2025, the first inspection and test under the extended regulations has to be done before 1 November 2026.

The tasks

What to do, and how often

Task How often Who Basis
Inspect and test the electrical installation and obtain a report (EICR) Applies to: Rented homes in England (private and social) Every 5 yearsMaximum of 5 years, or earlier if the previous report sets an earlier date Landlord, using a qualified and competent inspector Law Regulation 3 of the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector and Social Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 requires inspection and testing at intervals of no more than 5 years, or sooner if the last report says so. The regulations were extended to social housing in 2025, which is when they took their current title. SourcesS1S2S3
Periodic inspection and test (EICR) Applies to: Commercial and educational premises, and non-domestic residential premises Every 5 yearsTypical period; the inspector may recommend a shorter interval Competent electrical inspector Guidance No legal interval. The Electrical Contractors' Association gives five years as the typical period for commercial, educational and certain residential premises; IET Guidance Note 3 gives recommended initial frequencies. The inspector sets the next date. SourcesS6S8S5
Periodic inspection and test (EICR) Applies to: Industrial, agricultural and public buildings, sports and leisure facilities Every 3 yearsTypical period; the inspector may recommend a shorter interval Competent electrical inspector Guidance No legal interval. The Electrical Contractors' Association gives three years as the typical period for industrial, agricultural and public buildings and sports and leisure facilities. SourcesS7S8S5
Inspection and test of the electrical installation Applies to: Small non-domestic premises and the common parts of small blocks of flats Every 5 years Competent electrical contractor Guidance Home Office fire safety guidance says the installation should be inspected and tested by a competent person at least every five years. The guides use the word must, but no legislation fixes this interval for workplaces or common parts. SourcesS9S12
Periodic inspection and test Applies to: Swimming pools Every year Competent electrical inspector Guidance Electrical Safety First gives one year as the interval for swimming pools. SourcesS10

Where a row says who or what it applies to, the task is for that case only.

The law

Regulation 4(2) of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 requires electrical systems to be maintained so as to prevent danger, so far as is reasonably practicable. It does not say how often they must be inspected. For rented homes in England, the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector and Social Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 (extended to social housing, and renamed, in 2025) require inspection and testing at intervals of no more than 5 years.

The standard

BS 7671 (the IET Wiring Regulations) sets how periodic inspection and testing is done; Amendment 4 (BS 7671:2018+A4:2026) was published on 15 April 2026. IET Guidance Note 3, Table 3.2, gives recommended initial frequencies of inspection.

Records to keep

  • Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) for each inspection
  • Evidence that C1, C2 and FI observations have been remedied
  • Record of the next inspection date recommended by the inspector
  • For rented homes: proof the report was given to tenants within 28 days

Notes

Outside rented housing, the five and three year figures are recommendations, not law, and they are starting points for new installations: the inspector should set the next inspection date from the condition, use and environment of the installation. Local authority licensing conditions can require shorter intervals.

HSE's test is that installations should be tested often enough that there is little chance of deterioration leading to danger. For social housing tenancies granted before 1 December 2025, the first inspection and test under the extended regulations has to be done before 1 November 2026.

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Quick answers

Questions people ask

Fixed wiring inspection (EICR): which tasks are legal requirements?

1 task on this page rests on legislation: inspect and test the electrical installation and obtain a report (EICR) (every 5 years; rented homes in England (private and social)). The other 4 tasks are recommended by guidance, and are not legal requirements in themselves.

Fixed wiring inspection (EICR): who should carry out each task?

Landlord, using a qualified and competent inspector: inspect and test the electrical installation and obtain a report (EICR). Competent electrical inspector: periodic inspection and test (EICR); periodic inspection and test. Competent electrical contractor: inspection and test of the electrical installation.

Fixed wiring inspection (EICR): what records should you keep?

Keep these records: electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) for each inspection; evidence that C1, C2 and FI observations have been remedied; record of the next inspection date recommended by the inspector; for rented homes: proof the report was given to tenants within 28 days.

Checked on

Sources

Every task and legal statement is supported by at least one source fetched over HTTPS and read on the date shown. Quotes are verbatim and 25 words or fewer. A second, independent verification pass re-fetched every source and re-read the legislation on 5 October 2026. Intervals taken from British Standards were checked against published summaries of those standards by trade bodies and government guidance, because the standards themselves are paid publications.

  1. Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector and Social Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, regulation 3: Duties of landlords in relation to electrical installations etc. ↗

    legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) · Revised text, as amended in 2025 to cover the social rented sector · read on

    “at intervals of no more than 5 years”

    Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector and Social Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, regulation 3: Duties of landlords in relation to electrical installations etc., legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)

    Supports: Legal maximum of 5 years for rented homes

  2. Electrical safety standards in the private and social rented sectors: guidance ↗

    Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (GOV.UK) · Published 1 November 2025 · read on

    “inspected and tested by a qualified person at least every 5 years”

    Electrical safety standards in the private and social rented sectors: guidance, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (GOV.UK)

    Supports: Government guidance on the five year duty

  3. Electrical safety standards in the private and social rented sectors: guidance ↗

    Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (GOV.UK) · Published 1 November 2025 · read on

    “The original 2020 regulations were updated in 2025 to include the social rented sector”

    Electrical safety standards in the private and social rented sectors: guidance, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (GOV.UK)

    Supports: The 2020 regulations were extended to social housing in 2025

  4. Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, regulation 4: Systems, work activities and protective equipment ↗

    legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) · Revised text as shown on 5 October 2026 · read on

    “all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, such danger”

    Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, regulation 4: Systems, work activities and protective equipment, legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)

    Supports: The legal duty to maintain electrical systems so as to prevent danger

  5. Electrical safety: frequently asked questions ↗

    Health and Safety Executive · Page as shown on 5 October 2026 · read on

    “Electrical installations should be tested often enough that there is little chance of deterioration leading to danger.”

    Electrical safety: frequently asked questions, Health and Safety Executive

    Supports: HSE: no fixed interval for workplace installations

  6. The Employer's Legal Duties to maintain Safe Electrical Installations ↗

    Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA) · Undated guide, as shown on 5 October 2026 · read on

    “five years for commercial, educational and certain residential premises (not domestic)”

    The Employer's Legal Duties to maintain Safe Electrical Installations, Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA)

    Supports: Typical five year period for commercial premises

  7. The Employer's Legal Duties to maintain Safe Electrical Installations ↗

    Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA) · Undated guide, as shown on 5 October 2026 · read on

    “three years for industrial, agricultural and public buildings, sports and leisure facilities”

    The Employer's Legal Duties to maintain Safe Electrical Installations, Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA)

    Supports: Typical three year period for industrial premises

  8. Inspection and Testing FAQs (BS 7671 guidance) ↗

    Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) · Page as shown on 5 October 2026 · read on

    “It’s important to note that these are recommendations and not legal requirements”

    Inspection and Testing FAQs (BS 7671 guidance), Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)

    Supports: IET: Guidance Note 3 Table 3.2 frequencies are recommendations, not law

  9. A guide to making your small non-domestic premises safe from fire ↗

    Home Office (GOV.UK) · Updated 20 January 2025. Guidance issued under article 50 of the Fire Safety Order · read on

    “must be subject to inspection and test by a competent person at least every five years”

    A guide to making your small non-domestic premises safe from fire, Home Office (GOV.UK)

    Supports: Home Office fire safety guidance: at least every five years in small non-domestic premises

  10. Periodic inspection and testing ↗

    Electrical Safety First · Page as shown on 5 October 2026 · read on

    “1 year for a swimming pool”

    Periodic inspection and testing, Electrical Safety First

    Supports: Electrical Safety First: annual inspection for swimming pools

  11. Understanding BS 7671:2018 + Amendment 4:2026 IET Wiring Regulations update ↗

    NICEIC · Page as shown on 5 October 2026 · read on

    “officially titled BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, was published on 15 April 2026”

    Understanding BS 7671:2018 + Amendment 4:2026 IET Wiring Regulations update, NICEIC

    Supports: BS 7671 Amendment 4 was published on 15 April 2026

  12. A guide to making your small block of flats safe from fire ↗

    Home Office (GOV.UK) · Updated 20 January 2025. Guidance issued under article 50 of the Fire Safety Order · read on

    “The electrical installation in the common parts must be subject to inspection and test by a competent person”

    A guide to making your small block of flats safe from fire, Home Office (GOV.UK)

    Supports: Home Office fire safety guidance: common parts of small blocks of flats, at least every five years

  13. Electrical safety standards in the private and social rented sectors: guidance ↗

    Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (GOV.UK) · Published 1 November 2025 · read on

    “Ensure electrical installations are inspected and tested by a qualified person before 1 November 2026.”

    Electrical safety standards in the private and social rented sectors: guidance, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (GOV.UK)

    Supports: Transitional deadline for social tenancies granted before 1 December 2025

  14. Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector and Social Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, regulation 3E: Transitional provision for certain tenancies granted before 1st December 2025 ↗

    legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) · Inserted in 2025; in force 1 May 2026 · read on

    “applies in relation to specified tenancies that were granted before 1st December 2025 under which the landlord is a registered provider”

    Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector and Social Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, regulation 3E: Transitional provision for certain tenancies granted before 1st December 2025, legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)

    Supports: The transitional rule applies to social tenancies granted before 1 December 2025

Electrical
Portable appliance testing (PAT)How often is PAT testing required? Every few yearsNo fixed interval LawGuidance Lightning protection systemsHow often should a lightning protection system be tested? Six-monthlyAnnual British StandardGuidance

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