EICR for landlords in Leicestershire: what the law requires
Short answerPrivate landlords in Leicestershire, as everywhere in England, must have the electrics in a rented home inspected and tested by a qualified person at least every five years, give tenants the report (EICR) within 28 days, and give the council a copy within 7 days of a written request. Urgent faults (C1, C2 or FI) must be fixed within 28 days or sooner, and an EICR for a 2 to 3 bed house typically costs £150 to £250.
If you let a house or flat in Market Harborough, Leicester or anywhere else in Leicestershire, the rules on EICRs for landlords are the same as across England. They come from the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. Who enforces them depends on where the property is, which is where the Leicestershire part comes in.
This guide covers what an EICR is, how often you need one, the deadlines, what the codes mean, who enforces the rules locally, and what you can expect to pay.
What is an EICR?
An Electrical Installation Condition Report is a formal inspection and test of the fixed electrical installation: the consumer unit, wiring, sockets, switches, light fittings and permanently connected equipment such as an electric shower. It isn't a test of plug-in appliances (that's PAT testing, which isn't legally required by these regulations, though it's often advised for appliances you supply).
The inspector records any defects with a code:
| Code | Meaning | What you must do |
|---|---|---|
| C1 | Danger present, risk of injury | Fix immediately; the inspector will usually make it safe on the spot |
| C2 | Potentially dangerous | Remedial work within 28 days (or sooner if stated) |
| FI | Further investigation required | Investigate within 28 days (or sooner) |
| C3 | Improvement recommended | Not required by law, but worth considering |
A report with any C1, C2 or FI is unsatisfactory. Only C3s (or no codes) means satisfactory.
How often do landlords need an EICR?
At least every five years, or sooner if the last report says so. An inspector may recommend a shorter interval for an older installation.
The rules applied to new tenancies from 1 July 2020 and to all existing ones from 1 April 2021. If your first EICR was done in that rush before April 2021, it has now passed or is reaching its five-year date, so check your paperwork.
A change of tenant doesn't reset the clock or require a new EICR, as long as the current report is in date.
The deadlines, in one place
Under the 2020 Regulations you must:
- Existing tenants: give them a copy of the report within 28 days of the inspection.
- New tenants: give them a copy before they move in.
- Prospective tenants: give a copy within 28 days of a written request.
- The council: give a copy within 7 days of a written request.
- Remedial work: complete it within 28 days of the inspection, or sooner if the report says.
- After remedial work: get written confirmation from a qualified person that the work is done, and give it to the tenant and the council within 28 days of completion.
- Keep a copy of the report to give to the next inspector.
Who counts as "qualified and competent"?
The guidance says the inspector must be qualified and competent to inspect and test to the current wiring regulations (BS 7671). The simplest way to be confident is to use an electrician registered for inspection and testing with a government-authorised scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT. You can check on the cross-scheme register; our guide on how to check an electrician is registered explains how.
Which properties are covered?
Most private tenancies in England where the tenant lives in the property as their only or main home and pays rent, including HMOs. Some arrangements are excluded, for example lodgers who share the home with the landlord. If you're unsure about your tenancy type, check the government guidance or ask your agent.
Social landlords are now covered too: the same five-yearly testing was extended to social housing in England, starting with tenancies from 1 December 2025.
Who enforces it in Leicestershire?
Enforcement is by your local housing authority:
- Market Harborough and the surrounding villages: Harborough District Council. Its housing civil penalties policy specifically lists breaches of the 2020 electrical safety regulations as offences that can attract a civil penalty.
- Leicester: Leicester City Council.
- Elsewhere in the county: your district or borough council (for example, Oadby and Wigston, which publishes landlord guidance on the Renters' Rights Act).
If a landlord fails to comply, the council can serve a remedial notice and can arrange the work itself and recover the cost. It can also impose a financial penalty, up to £30,000 per breach according to council guidance.
The Renters' Rights Act and EICRs
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 didn't change the five-year EICR rule. In practice it does affect how you manage access, because section 21 "no-fault" evictions ended from 1 May 2026. Book inspections well before the due date and give tenants proper notice.
What does an EICR cost?
A 2026 survey of electrical firms put the median price for a 3-bed house at around £200 including VAT, with most between about £156 and £264. Broader 2026 guides give £150 to £250 for a 2 to 3 bed house. Larger houses, HMOs, old installations and properties with several consumer units take longer and cost more.
Remedial work is quoted separately. It's normal for an inspector to offer to fix C2 items, but you're free to get another quote. See our EICR cost guide for Market Harborough and consumer unit replacement costs, since an old consumer unit is a common C2 or C3 finding.
Tips for a smooth inspection
- Book early. Aim for a month or two before the due date, so you have time for any remedial work inside the deadline.
- Tell tenants the power will be off for parts of the day while circuits are tested.
- Make sure the consumer unit, sockets and the loft are accessible. Furniture against sockets slows things down.
- Ask for the whole report, including the schedule of test results, not just a summary page.
- Keep a log of dates sent to tenants, so you can prove you met the 28-day deadline.
Booking an EICR in the Market Harborough area
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If the report suggests the wiring is near the end of its life, read our guides on signs your house needs rewiring and rewiring a house while it's lived in, and the typical house rewire cost. More about our electrician.
Typical prices
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| EICR, 2 to 3 bed house | £150–£250 per job | 2026 UK guides; a survey of firms found a median of about £200 inc VAT for a 3-bed. Flats are usually less, larger houses and HMOs more. Remedial work is quoted separately. Exact price from the electrician's quote. |
Frequently asked questions
How often do landlords need an EICR?
In England, at least every five years, or sooner if the previous report recommends a shorter interval. The inspection must be carried out by a qualified and competent person. A new tenancy does not require a new report if the current one is still in date, but every new tenant must be given a copy before they move in.
Is an EICR a legal requirement for landlords?
Yes, for most private tenancies in England since 2020 for new tenancies and April 2021 for existing ones. The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require five-yearly inspection and testing, copies to tenants and the council on request, and remedial work within 28 days if the report is unsatisfactory.
What happens if my EICR is unsatisfactory?
If the report has any C1, C2 or FI codes, you must arrange remedial work or further investigation within 28 days, or sooner if the report says. Then get written confirmation from a qualified person that it is done and give it, with the original report, to your tenant and the council within 28 days of finishing.
What is the fine for not having an EICR?
Councils can impose a financial penalty of up to £30,000 for breaching the 2020 Regulations. In Market Harborough the enforcing authority is Harborough District Council, whose civil penalties policy covers electrical safety breaches. Councils can also serve a remedial notice and carry out the work themselves, then recover the cost from the landlord.
How much does an EICR cost for a landlord?
Most 2026 guides put an EICR for a 2 to 3 bed house at around £150 to £250, with a survey of firms finding a median of about £200 for a 3-bed. Flats are usually cheaper; larger houses, HMOs and older installations cost more. Any remedial work is quoted separately.
Do I need to give my tenant the EICR?
Yes. Existing tenants must receive a copy within 28 days of the inspection, and new tenants before they move in. A prospective tenant who asks in writing must get one within 28 days. The local council can also ask for a copy, which you must supply within 7 days of its written request.