Landlord Electrical Safety Certificate — sorted in 48 hours

What it is

What is a Landlord Electrical Safety Certificate?

A Landlord Electrical Safety Certificate is the document a NICEIC-approved electrician issues after they've inspected and tested the entire fixed electrical installation in your rental property. Its formal name is an Electrical Installation Condition Report, or EICR.

Since 1 April 2021, every landlord in England has been legally required to hold a satisfactory EICR for each rental property and to renew it at least every five years — or sooner if the report itself recommends an earlier re-test. Wales follows the same regime. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own near-identical requirements.

Who needs one?

• Every private rental in England and Wales.
• Every new tenancy from June 2020, and every existing tenancy from April 2021 onwards.
• Multi-let properties (HMOs) — with stricter sampling requirements.
• Properties you own under a limited company.

Owner-occupiers and short-stay holiday lets that aren't ASTs technically aren't covered, but most insurers and mortgage lenders now ask for one regardless.

What's actually checked?

A NICEIC contractor will inspect and test:

• The consumer unit (fuse board) and every RCD.
• Every circuit — lighting, sockets, cooker, shower, immersion.
• Earth bonding and continuity.
• A sample of sockets and switches for polarity and insulation resistance.
• Any visible damage, overheating, or DIY interference.

Issues are graded:

• C1 — danger present, immediate action required.
• C2 — potentially dangerous, remedial work needed for a Satisfactory.
• C3 — improvement recommended (not required for compliance).
• FI — further investigation required.

What happens if I don't have one?

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 are written with teeth:

• Local authority fines up to £30,000 per property. Repeat or serious breaches can stack.
• An invalid Section 21 — you can't legally end a tenancy without a satisfactory EICR on file.
• Voided buildings insurance. Most policies require a satisfactory EICR; without one, a claim after an electrical fire may be refused.
• Mortgage covenant breach. Most buy-to-let mortgages require compliance with current letting regulations.

How much does a Landlord Electrical Safety Certificate cost?

A typical 1–3 bed Fylde rental sits between £160 and £280. Larger properties, HMOs, and installations needing C1/C2 remedials cost more — but we quote remedial work up front, before the engineer touches anything. Read our full EICR cost guide.

How long does it take?

A standard 1–3 bed rental takes 2–4 hours on site. You'll have your Landlord Electrical Safety Certificate as a PDF in your GetCerted vault the same evening — shareable with tenants, agents and lenders in one click.

How often do I need to renew it?

At least every 5 years, or sooner if the previous report recommends an earlier date. A new EICR is also strongly recommended at every change of tenancy if the previous one is approaching expiry.

Why landlords use GetCerted

• NICEIC contractors only — no subcontracting to anyone we haven't vetted.
• Fixed prices — your quote is the quote.
• 48-hour booking promise across the Fylde.
• Digital vault + renewal reminders — never miss the 5-year deadline.
• Same-day visits across FY1–FY8 for urgent renewals.

Want it sorted? Tell us about your property and we'll come back right away with a fixed price and the next available engineer slot.