How often does an EICR have to be done?
Short version: rented homes every 5 years by law (England & Wales), owner-occupied homes every 10 years as a recommendation, and commercial premises on a 3–5 year programme set by the dutyholder and insurers.
Rented homes — the legal 5-year rule
Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 (and the equivalent Welsh regulations from 2022), a landlord of a specified tenancy must:
- Have the fixed electrical installation inspected and tested at intervals of no more than 5 years, and sooner if the previous report's Section F recommends it or a new tenancy begins (a report from the last inspection can be used for a new tenant if still in date).
- Give a copy of the report to each existing tenant within 28 days of the inspection.
- Give a copy to the new tenant before they occupy, and retain a copy until the next inspection.
- Supply a copy to the local housing authority within 7 days if requested.
- Where the report is Unsatisfactory, arrange further investigation or remedial work and provide written confirmation within 28 days of the work being requested.
Local authorities can impose corrective action notices with financial penalties of up to £30,000 for breach of the regulations. Scotland: landlords must have the electrical installation inspected and tested every 5 years under landlord registration duties.
Owner-occupied homes
No law requires a periodic inspection of your own home. Electrical Safety First's guidance is every 10 years, or on change of occupancy — sooner for older installations, homes never inspected, or installations under heavy demand. It is also the sensible thing to do before selling, and most buyers' solicitors will ask for it.
Commercial, industrial and public buildings
Businesses answer to the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989: electrical systems must be maintained so far as reasonably practicable to prevent danger. There is no fixed statutory interval — dutyholders set a programme from risk assessment, with insurers and trade guidance typically landing on:
| Premises type | Typical interval |
|---|---|
| General commercial offices / retail | 5 years |
| Industrial and manufacturing | 3 years |
| Buildings open to the public (leisure, entertainment, education) | 1–3 years depending on use |
| Locations with a risk of fire/explosion or external influence (e.g. petrol stations, swimming pools) | 1 year or as specified |
When else a re-inspection is due
- The date in Section F of the previous report — the binding date for that property.
- Change of occupancy or use of the premises.
- After damage or events — flood, fire, lightning, water ingress, rodent damage to cables.
- After additions or alterations — major new work should be certified (EIC), but a whole-installation condition check is often worthwhile alongside it.
- Outstanding C1/C2/FI items — after remedial work, inspectors often recommend an earlier follow-up to verify completion.
Keep the dates straight across a portfolio
If you manage several properties, the due dates stagger quickly. Our free next EICR due date calculator turns the last inspection date and tenancy type into the statutory deadline and a recommended booking window, and the generator keeps a per-client archive with each report's recommended next date.