Electrical Safety Test – EICR Checks, Certification & Landlord Requirements

An electrical safety test assesses the condition and safety of a property's fixed electrical installation. For homes and rental properties, this is commonly carried out as an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) by a suitably qualified and competent electrical inspector.

An EICR can identify issues such as electric-shock risks, fire hazards, defective electrical work, overloaded installations and inadequate earthing or bonding. In England's rented sector, landlords are required to have electrical installations inspected and tested by a qualified person at least every five years, subject to any earlier date specified by the previous report.

Through FraserBond.com, homeowners, landlords and property managers can explore electrical safety testing, EICRs, electrical repairs and wider property-maintenance services.

What Is an Electrical Safety Test?

An electrical safety test examines whether the fixed electrical installation is safe for continued use.

Depending on the property and scope, inspection and testing can cover:

• Consumer unit
• Fixed wiring
• Socket outlets
• Light fittings
• Earthing
• Bonding
• Protective devices
• Permanently connected equipment
• Electrical circuits
• Signs of deterioration or damage

For rented properties covered by the current English regulations, government guidance specifically includes fixed wiring, sockets, light fittings, the consumer unit and permanently connected equipment such as showers and extractors.

What Is an EICR?

EICR stands for Electrical Installation Condition Report.

It records the condition of an existing electrical installation following inspection and testing.

The report normally establishes whether the installation is:

Satisfactory

or

Unsatisfactory

It can also identify observations and defects that require remedial work or further investigation.

An EICR should not be confused with an Electrical Installation Certificate issued for certain new electrical installations or alterations.

What Does an Electrical Safety Test Check?

An inspection can identify whether:

• Electrical installations are overloaded
• There are potential electric-shock risks
• Fire hazards exist
• Electrical work is defective
• Earthing is inadequate
• Bonding is inadequate

These are among the specific areas identified in current government guidance for rented-property electrical inspections.

Consumer Unit Inspection

The consumer unit, sometimes called the fuse box, forms an important part of an electrical safety inspection.

An electrician may assess matters including:

• Condition of enclosure
• Protective devices
• Circuit arrangements
• Signs of overheating
• Identification and labelling
• Accessibility
• Earthing arrangements
• RCD protection where relevant

An older consumer unit does not automatically mean that the entire installation is unsafe.

The installation needs to be assessed against the appropriate inspection criteria rather than being condemned solely because it isn't the latest design.

Electrical Wiring Test

Electrical wiring can deteriorate or be damaged over time.

Inspection and testing may help identify:

• Insulation problems
• Incorrect alterations
• Damaged conductors
• Poor connections
• Circuit defects
• Inappropriate DIY modifications

Some problems are visible during inspection, while others can only be identified through electrical testing.

Socket Safety Testing

Sockets may be checked for issues such as:

• Physical damage
• Signs of overheating
• Loose accessories
• Incorrect wiring
• Earthing problems

A socket showing scorching, melting, cracking or persistent sparking should not simply be ignored until the next routine inspection.

Arrange appropriate electrical investigation.

Light Fitting Safety Checks

Fixed lighting forms part of the electrical installation.

Problems can include:

• Damaged fittings
• Loose connections
• Incorrect alterations
• Exposed live parts
• Deteriorated wiring

A lamp or bulb failing is generally a maintenance issue rather than evidence that the entire electrical installation is unsafe.

Repeated electrical faults, however, warrant investigation.

Earthing and Bonding

Earthing and bonding are important protective measures against electric shock.

Government guidance specifically identifies a lack of earthing or bonding as something an electrical inspection should detect.

These arrangements shouldn't be altered or improvised by someone without appropriate electrical competence.

RCD Testing

Residual Current Devices, or RCDs, are protective devices designed to disconnect electricity under certain fault conditions.

During an electrical inspection, relevant protective devices can be tested to determine whether they operate appropriately.

If an RCD repeatedly trips, don't automatically replace it.

Repeated tripping may indicate a fault elsewhere in the circuit or connected equipment that requires diagnosis.

Electrical Safety Test Codes

An EICR uses classification codes to communicate the significance of observations.

C1 – Danger Present

C1 means danger is present and there is a risk of injury.

Immediate action is appropriate.

C2 – Potentially Dangerous

C2 means the condition is potentially dangerous.

Remedial work is required for landlords covered by the English regulations.

C3 – Improvement Recommended

C3 means improvement is recommended.

Importantly, a C3 observation alone does not mean that an EICR must be classified as unsatisfactory.

Government guidance confirms that C3 does not require remedial work for the report to be satisfactory, although implementing the recommendation may improve safety.

FI – Further Investigation

FI means further investigation is required without delay.

The electrician has identified an issue that cannot be adequately classified without additional investigation.

What Makes an EICR Unsatisfactory?

For rented properties covered by the English regulations, government guidance confirms that C1 or C2 observations mean remedial work is required and the installation is considered unsatisfactory for continued use.

An FI observation also requires further investigation.

Therefore:

C1 → Danger

C2 → Potentially dangerous

FI → Further investigation required

C3 → Improvement recommended

A quotation for remedial work should clearly identify which observations are being corrected.

Electrical Safety Test for Landlords

Electrical safety testing is particularly important for landlords.

In England, current regulations require landlords covered by the rules to:

• Ensure electrical safety standards are met
• Have electrical installations inspected and tested by a qualified person
• Arrange testing at least every five years
• Obtain a report, usually an EICR
• Provide required copies to tenants
• Complete required remedial or investigative work

The 2025 amendments extended the electrical-safety regime into the social rented sector as well as the private rented sector.

How Often Do Landlords Need an Electrical Safety Test?

For covered rented properties in England, electrical installations must be inspected and tested at least every five years.

However, the report can specify an earlier date for the next inspection.

Therefore, don't automatically assume every EICR remains valid for exactly five years.

Check:

Date of Inspection → Recommended Next Inspection Date → Property Circumstances

Current government guidance confirms the five-year maximum inspection interval.

Electrical Safety Test for a New Tenancy

A completely new EICR isn't necessarily required every time the tenant changes.

Government guidance states that where the installation was inspected less than five years ago, the existing report remains applicable and doesn't require further investigative or remedial work, another full test isn't required simply because the property is being re-let.

The landlord must provide the new tenant with the most recent report before occupation. A visual inspection between tenancies is recommended as good practice.

Giving the EICR to Tenants

Current English rules require landlords to provide:

• Existing tenant – report within 28 days of inspection
• New tenant – report before occupation
• Prospective tenant – within 28 days of a request
• Local council – within 7 days when requested

The landlord must also retain the report for the next inspection.

What Happens If the EICR Fails?