Electrical Installation Condition Reports: A Guide for Landlords

Landlords in Scotland have several legal responsibilities to their tenants, and if you are a landlord, it’s important to meet all your requirements. This includes ensuring the electrical safety of the property you are letting.

To do this, you will need to get an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). So what are these, and what do you need to know about them?

What Is an EICR Report?

Private landlords must ensure their properties are electrically safe for tenants, as explained in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006. Part of this involves arranging for a qualified and competent technician to carry out an electrical inspection on their property.

There are two parts to the electrical safety inspection:

• The Portable Appliance Test (PAT), which covers portable appliances that the landlord provides like the TV and fridge.
• The Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), which covers the safety of electrical installations (switches, lighting, sockets).

Will I Be Given an EICR Certificate?

There is no requirement for the electrician to issue an EICR certificate. However, the electrician will issue a report showing the full results of the test and inspection that determines whether it is ‘satisfactory’ or ‘unsatisfactory’.
 

How Are the Electrics Rated in the EICR?

On the day of the inspection, the electrician will arrive at the property and set about carrying out checks of the installations including fittings like sockets and switches.

Following the test, the electrician will produce an EICR document including classifications that indicate whether any problems have been found. These include:

• Code C1 – Dangerous, immediate action required
• Code C2 – Potentially dangerous, action required
• Code FI – Further investigation required
• Code C3 – Improvement recommended

The property can still achieve a ‘satisfactory’ result if C3 codes are present, but all the other codes require action before a ‘satisfactory’ result can be achieved.
 

What If the Report is Unsatisfactory?

If you get an ‘unsatisfactory’ report, do you need to get another full inspection carried out?

No – but you will need to get any work or further investigations carried out usually within 28 days, but sometimes less.

If anything fails the inspection, it will need to be either repaired or replaced. You will need to get confirmation from the electrician that the works have been completed, and this must be kept with the report.
 

How Long Does an EICR Last?

How often does an EICR need to be done?

You need to get an inspection carried out before a tenancy begins and a minimum of every five years after that.
 

Arrange Your Electrical Installation Condition Report

The EICR is an important document for any landlord that ensures the electrical safety of your property for your tenants so you can meet your responsibilities. At Keith Gunn Electrical Solutions, we carry out EICR inspections for landlords in Edinburgh and beyond, so contact us today to arrange yours.