Am I entitled to see the EICR for my rented property?

Yes. Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector and Social Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, your landlord must provide you with a copy of the current EICR. If you are a new tenant, you must receive a copy before you move in. If you are an existing tenant, you should have received a copy within 28 days of the most recent inspection. If you are a prospective tenant, the landlord must give you a copy within 28 days of your written request.

What if my landlord says they do not have an EICR?

If your landlord cannot provide a current, in-date EICR, they may be in breach of the Electrical Safety Standards Regulations 2020. Put your request in writing (email is fine) so you have a record. If the landlord still cannot or will not provide a valid EICR, report the matter to your local council's private rented sector or environmental health team. The council can require the landlord to commission an EICR and can impose a civil penalty of up to £40,000 for non-compliance.

Can I report my landlord to the council about EICR non-compliance?

Yes. Each local authority in England is responsible for enforcing the Electrical Safety Standards Regulations 2020 in their area. You can report your landlord's non-compliance to the council's environmental health team or private rented sector team. Many councils have online reporting forms. Provide any written correspondence you have (your request and the landlord's response), the address of the property, and your contact details. The council may investigate and take enforcement action.

Can I withhold rent because my landlord has not provided an EICR?

No. Withholding rent is not a legally recognised response to a landlord's failure to provide an EICR, and it can put you at serious legal risk. You could be placed in rent arrears, which could be used as grounds for possession proceedings. The correct course of action is to report the non-compliance to the local authority. If you are concerned about your safety, contact your local council and, if necessary, seek independent legal advice from Citizens Advice, Shelter, or a housing solicitor.

Can my landlord evict me for complaining about electrical safety?

Section 21 no-fault evictions were abolished in England on 1 May 2026 by the Renters' Rights Act 2025. Your landlord now needs a Section 8 ground to end the tenancy, so asking for an EICR or reporting unsafe wiring to the council cannot by itself lead to a no-fault eviction. If you are worried about retaliation, get advice from Shelter or Citizens Advice.

What if the EICR shows that my home is unsafe?

If the EICR identifies C1 (danger present) or C2 (potentially dangerous) observations, the EICR is Unsatisfactory. Under the 2020 Regulations, the landlord must complete remedial work within 28 days (or sooner for C1 items). The landlord must provide you with written confirmation that the work has been completed satisfactorily within 28 days of completion. If the landlord does not arrange the remedial work, report this to the local authority, which can arrange for the work to be done and recover the cost from the landlord.

Does the EICR tenant right apply to all rental properties?

The Electrical Safety Standards Regulations 2020 apply to assured and regulated tenancies (assured shorthold tenancies became assured tenancies on 1 May 2026) in the private rented sector in England. Since a 2025 amendment they also cover social housing let by registered providers (housing associations and councils): in force from 1 November 2025 for social tenancies granted from 1 December 2025, and from 1 May 2026 for older social tenancies, which need their first inspection before 1 November 2026. Social landlords must also have the electrical equipment they provide checked at least every 5 years. The regulations do not apply to lodger arrangements where the landlord lives in the same property, student halls of residence, or long leases. Social housing tenants unhappy with their landlord's response can also complain to the Housing Ombudsman.

TENANT RIGHTS GUIDE

Tenant Rights for EICR: Your Electrical Safety Rights

As a private tenant in England, you have legal rights to electrical safety records for your home. This guide explains your right to receive the EICR, what to do if your landlord refuses, how to report non-compliance to the council, council enforcement powers, and the eviction protections available to tenants who raise electrical safety concerns.

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12 min readUpdated 2026-10-28Andrew Moore, Founder of Elec-Mate

Written and reviewed by Andrew Moore, founder of Elec-Mate, against BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, IET Guidance Note 3 and the IET On-Site Guide.

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Key takeaways

01Tenants in private rented homes in England, and since 2025 in social housing, have the legal right to receive a copy of the EICR within 28 days of the inspection, or before they move in if they are a new tenant.
02Prospective tenants can request a copy of the EICR in writing from the landlord or letting agent, and the landlord must provide it within 28 days of the written request.
03If a landlord fails to provide a valid EICR, tenants should report this to the local authority's private rented sector or environmental health team — the council has enforcement powers including civil penalties of up to £40,000.
04Withholding rent is not an appropriate response to an absent or unsatisfactory EICR and can put tenants at legal risk. There are correct channels — use them.
05Section 21 no-fault evictions ended in England on 1 May 2026 (Renters' Rights Act 2025), so asking for an EICR or reporting unsafe wiring cannot by itself lead to a no-fault eviction.
06The Deregulation Act 2015 provides additional protection from retaliatory eviction where a tenant has raised a legitimate complaint about the condition of the property.

01 · Tenant Rights Guide

Tenants' Right to a Copy of the EICR

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector and Social Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 give tenants specific statutory rights regarding access to the Electrical Installation Condition Report for their home. These rights are enforceable and landlords who breach them face civil penalties.

New tenants — you must receive a copy of the current EICR before you move in. If the landlord cannot provide one (because no valid EICR exists), they are in breach of the regulations before your tenancy has even started.
Existing tenants — after each new EICR inspection, your landlord must provide you with a copy within 28 days of the inspection date.
Prospective tenants — even before signing a tenancy agreement, a prospective tenant can request a copy of the EICR from the landlord or letting agent. The landlord must provide it within 28 days. You should ask to see a copy before committing to the tenancy.

Always request the EICR in writing so you have a dated record of your request and the landlord's response. An email to the landlord or letting agent is sufficient. Keep all correspondence — you may need it if you report the matter to the local authority.

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02 · Tenant Rights Guide

What to Do If the Landlord Does Not Provide the EICR

If your landlord has not given you a copy within 28 days of the inspection (or, if you are a prospective tenant, within 28 days of your written request), or cannot provide one because no valid EICR exists, follow these steps.

Step 1 — put your request in writing — send a written request (email is fine) to your landlord or letting agent asking for a copy of the current EICR. State clearly that you are making the request under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector and Social Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. Keep a copy of the email.
Step 2 — check the deadline — an existing tenant should already have had a copy within 28 days of the inspection; a prospective tenant must get one within 28 days of a written request. If the copy still does not arrive, or the landlord says no EICR exists, proceed to step 3.
Step 3 — report to the local authority — contact your local council's environmental health or private rented sector team. Provide the property address, the date of your written request, and any response from the landlord. Attach your email correspondence. The council has enforcement powers and can investigate.
Step 4 — seek independent advice if needed — if you are concerned about your safety or about your landlord's response, contact Citizens Advice, Shelter, or a housing solicitor. These organisations can provide free or low-cost advice on your rights and options.

03 · Tenant Rights Guide

Reporting Non-Compliance to the Local Authority

The local authority — your borough council, district council, or unitary authority — is the enforcement body for the Electrical Safety Standards Regulations 2020. Reporting your landlord's non-compliance to the council is the correct and legally supported course of action.

Where to report — contact the environmental health team or private rented sector team at your local council. Most councils have an online form for private rented sector complaints. Search for "[your council name] private rented sector complaint" or "[your council name] environmental health housing" to find the right department.
What to provide — the property address, your contact details, a description of the complaint (no EICR provided, EICR is out of date, remedial work not completed), the date of your written request to the landlord, and any written responses from the landlord. The more evidence you can provide, the more effectively the council can act.
What happens next — the council will review your complaint and decide whether to investigate. If they find a breach, they can issue a remedial notice requiring the landlord to commission an EICR or complete remedial work. If the landlord fails to comply with the notice, the council can impose a civil penalty of up to £40,000, or arrange for the work to be done and recover costs from the landlord.

Your identity can generally be kept confidential during the investigation process. Ask the council about their confidentiality policy when you make the report.

04 · Tenant Rights Guide

Council Enforcement Powers

Local authorities have significant powers to enforce the Electrical Safety Standards Regulations 2020. Understanding these powers helps tenants appreciate what enforcement action can achieve.

Remedial notices — the council can serve a remedial notice on the landlord requiring them to take specific action (commission an EICR, complete remedial work) within a set timeframe. Failure to comply with a remedial notice is itself a breach attracting additional penalties.
Civil penalties up to £40,000 — each breach of the regulations (failure to obtain an EICR, failure to provide it, failure to complete remedial work) can attract a separate civil penalty of up to £40,000. The council has discretion in setting the penalty amount, taking account of the seriousness of the breach and whether it is a repeat offence.
Work in default — if the landlord fails to carry out required remedial work after a remedial notice, the council can arrange for the work to be done by a qualified electrician and recover the cost from the landlord. The tenant is not charged for this work.
HHSRS powers — separately from the Electrical Safety Standards Regulations, councils can use Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) powers where the electrical installation poses a health and safety hazard. HHSRS Category 1 hazards (including electrical hazards) can lead to Improvement Notices or Emergency Prohibition Orders.

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05 · Tenant Rights Guide

Withholding Rent — Why You Should Not Do This

It is tempting for tenants in a difficult situation with a non-compliant landlord to consider withholding rent as leverage. This is strongly advised against. Withholding rent is not a recognised remedy under the Electrical Safety Standards Regulations 2020 or general housing law, and it carries serious legal risks for the tenant.

Rent arrears — if you withhold rent, you are in arrears. Once you owe more than two months' rent, your landlord can serve a Section 8 notice using Ground 8 (mandatory possession ground). This means a court must grant possession even if the landlord is also in breach of their obligations. The fact that you withheld rent because of an EICR issue is not an automatic defence.
Credit impact — possession proceedings and county court judgments (CCJs) for rent arrears can damage your credit rating for six years and make it difficult to rent privately in future.
Use the correct channels instead — report non-compliance to the local authority. Seek advice from Citizens Advice or Shelter. These organisations can help you exercise your rights without putting your tenancy at risk.

If you are in an emergency situation where you believe your electrical installation poses an immediate danger (C1 level), contact the council's emergency housing line and, if necessary, the emergency services. Do not use electrical appliances or installations you believe to be unsafe.

06 · Tenant Rights Guide

Eviction Protections for Tenants Who Raise Electrical Safety Concerns

Tenants who exercise their rights regarding electrical safety have legal protections against retaliatory eviction. These protections are real and enforceable.

No more no-fault evictions — Section 21 was abolished in England on 1 May 2026 by the Renters' Rights Act 2025. A landlord now needs one of the Section 8 grounds to end a tenancy, so asking for an EICR or reporting unsafe wiring cannot by itself lead to a no-fault eviction.
Council enforcement — if your landlord has not provided an EICR or has not done the remedial work, report it to the council. It can serve a remedial notice, arrange the work itself and recover the cost, and impose a civil penalty on the landlord of up to £40,000.

If you receive an eviction notice after raising electrical safety concerns, seek urgent legal advice. Citizens Advice, Shelter, and local law centres provide free and low-cost housing advice. Do not ignore an eviction notice — even if you believe it is invalid, you must respond correctly to protect your position.

07 · Tenant Rights Guide

For Electricians: Helping Tenants and Landlords

Electricians play a key role in the system that protects tenants' electrical safety. A thorough, accurately documented EICR is the foundation of the entire framework. When an EICR is well-produced and clearly communicated to both landlord and tenant, the regulatory system works as intended.

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Use the Elec-Mate EICR app to produce fully compliant, clearly documented EICRs on site. Each observation is clearly classified (C1, C2, C3, FI), the overall assessment is clearly stated, and the recommended reinspection date is included. Landlords can forward the PDF directly to tenants to meet their 28-day obligation.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Tenant EICR Rights

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