EICR Changes from October 2026: What Electricians and Landlords Need to Know
The competence rules for who can carry out an EICR under a certification scheme tightened on 1 October 2026. The law landlords follow did not change. Here is what that means in practice.
On 1 October 2026, the rules on who can carry out an EICR under an electrotechnical certification scheme changed. Each person doing periodic inspection and testing now needs a relevant Level 3 inspection and testing qualification (such as City & Guilds 2391-51 or 2391-52), at least two years' experience of periodic inspection, and evidence of ongoing CPD. This is an industry competence update, not a new law: landlords' legal duties are exactly the same as they were in September.
This guide explains what an EICR is, what landlords have to do, what actually changed on 1 October, and how to run inspection work as a profitable, well-organised part of an electrical business.
Also this month BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 (Amendment 4) was published on 15 April 2026, and the previous version is withdrawn on 15 October 2026. NICEIC says EICRs from 15 October onwards need to be carried out to Amendment 4. Whatever forms or software you use, check they reflect the current version before you issue reports after that date.
What is an EICR?
An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) records the results of a periodic inspection and test of a fixed electrical installation. That covers the wiring, socket-outlets, light fittings and consumer unit, plus permanently connected equipment such as showers and extractors. The inspector assesses the installation against BS 7671, the IET Wiring Regulations, and records any defects using classification codes.
- C1
- Danger present. Risk of injury. The inspector may make a C1 hazard safe before leaving the property.
- C2
- Potentially dangerous. Remedial work is needed.
- C3
- Improvement recommended. Not a defect that makes the report unsatisfactory, and no remedial work is legally required.
- FI
- Further investigation required without delay. The inspector could not reach a conclusion, and the issue needs investigating.
The report ends with an overall outcome. If any C1 or C2 codes are recorded, the installation is unsatisfactory for continued use and remedial work is needed. A report with only C3 observations can still be satisfactory. Any FI item must be investigated as well. The report also sets the date of the next inspection.
Who needs an EICR? Landlords, the 5-year rule and the 28-day deadlines
Owner-occupiers are not generally required by law to have an EICR, although periodic checks are still good practice. The legal duty falls mainly on landlords. In England, the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require landlords to have the installation inspected and tested by a qualified and competent person at least every five years, and to keep to these deadlines:
| Duty | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Inspection and test | At least every 5 years, or sooner if the report says so |
| Copy to existing tenants | Within 28 days of the inspection and test |
| Copy to new tenants | Before they move in |
| Copy to prospective tenants | Within 28 days of a request |
| Copy to the local council | Within 7 days of a request |
| Remedial or investigative work | Within 28 days, or a shorter period if the report specifies one |
| Confirmation the work is done | Report and written confirmation from the qualified person to the tenant and council within 28 days of completion |
The landlord must also keep a copy of the report until the next inspection is due and give a copy to the next inspector. GOV.UK lists a satisfactory EICR, an Electrical Installation Certificate or a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate as acceptable forms of written confirmation that remedial work has been done.
Current GOV.UK guidance says councils can impose financial penalties of up to £40,000 on landlords who breach specified duties. That figure applies to offences from 1 May 2026; earlier offences fall under the previous civil penalty rules.
Social housing is now covered too
The regulations were extended to the social rented sector in 2025. They apply to social tenancies granted after 1 December 2025, and for social tenancies granted before then, the first inspection must be done before 1 November 2026. Social landlords must also have the electrical equipment they provide checked at least every five years. If you work for housing associations or councils, expect demand this autumn.
Scotland and Wales have their own regimes for rented homes, which also require electrical inspections at least every five years. The details differ, so check the rules for the nation you are working in.
What changed on 1 October 2026
The change comes from the Electrotechnical Assessment Specification (EAS), the industry specification that electrotechnical certification and registration bodies use to assess the businesses they register. The October 2024 edition gave businesses until 1 October 2026 to comply with new competence requirements for periodic inspection and testing.
According to the ECA's summary of the EAS changes, qualified supervisors and employed persons carrying out periodic inspection and testing under their certification must now:
- hold a relevant Level 3 award in the periodic inspection and testing of electrical installations, or an equivalent listed in the EAS qualifications guide
- have at least two years' evidence of relevant periodic inspection and testing experience
- show evidence of ongoing continuing professional development (CPD)
Before this, a firm could rely on a suitably qualified Qualified Supervisor while operatives carried out EICRs on the strength of their experience. That experience-only route has ended. Competence is now assessed for each individual doing the work.
What changed
Electricians under a schemeEach person doing EICRs needs the qualification, two years' evidenced experience and CPD. A business that cannot show this risks having EICR work removed from its registered scope.
What did not change
Landlords and the lawThe regulations, the five-year interval, the 28-day and 7-day deadlines and the penalty regime are untouched by the EAS update.
The same EAS update added competence requirements for low carbon technology work, including EV charging, solar PV and electrical energy storage, also from 1 October 2026. If you install those, check your scheme's requirements for those categories too.
Which qualifications count, and what if you don't have 2391?
The two qualifications most often cited are:
- City & Guilds 2391-51 - Level 3 Award in the Periodic Inspection and Testing of Electrical Installations
- City & Guilds 2391-52 - Level 3 Award in Initial and Periodic Inspection and Testing of Electrical Installations
They are not the only options. The EAS qualifications guide lists equivalents, and some older inspection and testing qualifications may still be accepted. Certification bodies publish their own lists of acceptable qualifications, so check your scheme's current list before you book a course you might not need.
A few common points of confusion:
- An installation diploma is not enough on its own. A Level 3 diploma in electrical installation is a core trade qualification, not an inspection and testing award.
- An 18th Edition certificate is not an inspection qualification. It shows knowledge of BS 7671, not competence in periodic inspection and testing.
- Experience still matters, but it has to be evidenced. Keep copies of EICRs you have carried out and signed, assessment records and employer references.
- Switching scheme does not avoid the requirement. The EAS is used across electrotechnical certification bodies.
If you do not hold a qualifying award yet
Talk to your scheme assessor first. Trainees can generally continue to carry out inspection and testing under appropriate supervision, and some training providers offer assessment routes for experienced workers. In the meantime, you can keep taking installation, Minor Works and fault-finding work while a qualified colleague or subcontractor handles EICRs. If you subcontract, make sure the report is issued by someone who meets the requirements.
What landlords should check when booking an EICR
The law requires a "qualified person", meaning someone competent to carry out the inspection and testing. GOV.UK points landlords to industry guidance on choosing one, including the Electrical Safety Roundtable checklist that NAPIT has highlighted for landlords. Before booking, it is sensible to ask:
- Is the inspector registered with a full scope electrical competent person scheme or registration body that assesses their competence? You can check the Registered Competent Person Electrical register.
- Does the person doing the inspection hold a Level 3 inspection and testing qualification, such as 2391-51 or 2391-52?
- Do they hold public liability and professional indemnity insurance?
- Will you receive the full report, including the schedule of inspections and test results, not just a summary page?
- Will any C1, C2 or FI items come with a clear written quote, so you can meet the 28-day deadline?
Very cheap EICRs that take a fraction of the time a proper inspection needs are a warning sign. An unreliable report can leave you unsure whether you have met your duty. When an existing report reaches its next inspection date, book early: reports from the 2021 rollout for existing tenancies are reaching their five-year point now.
Running EICR work as a business
For qualified inspectors, the October change narrows the field. That is an opportunity, provided the admin around each inspection is under control. Three things make the difference.
Five-year reminder cycles
Every EICR you issue for a rented property sets a next inspection date. Keep that date against the customer and property, not in a diary you might lose. A list of upcoming due dates is a ready-made source of repeat work, and contacting landlords and letting agents a couple of months ahead gives them time to arrange access with tenants.
Quoting remedial work quickly
When a report is unsatisfactory, the landlord's 28-day clock starts. A clear quote for each C1, C2 and FI item, sent the same day, helps them act in time and makes it more likely the remedial work comes back to you. Keep C3 recommendations separate and clearly labelled as optional, so the landlord can see what is legally required and what is advised.
Sharing reports with landlords and agents
Landlords have to pass reports to tenants within 28 days and to councils within 7 days of a request. Agents managing many properties will keep coming back to an electrician who makes reports easy to find. A shared online document library beats re-sending email attachments, and it keeps a clean history for the next inspection.
How HiveSuite handles EICRs
HiveSuite is job management software for UK trades. Its compliance certificate builder includes a pre-built EICR template designed around BS 7671:2018 (the 18th Edition), alongside templates for Electrical Installation Certificates, Minor Works, Domestic Visual Condition Reports and PAT testing.
Issue the report from the job
Open the scheduled inspection and issue the EICR from it. Customer, site address and engineer details carry across, and repeating sections suit circuit schedules. Signatures can be captured on screen.
Numbered, branded PDFs
Each issued document gets its own document number and a saved snapshot against the job, and generates a PDF with your business branding.
Next-inspection-due dates
Record the next inspection due date on each report, and pair it with recurring jobs in HivePlanner so the next visit is already in the diary.
Sharing through the customer portal
Choose whether a report stays internal or appears in the landlord's branded customer portal, alongside their quotes and invoices. You can still download the PDF and send it however you like.
Quote remedial work and get paid
Quote the C1, C2 and FI follow-up work from the same customer record, convert the quote to an invoice when the work is done, and take card payments through Stripe if you want to, or use your usual payment methods. Team members see their assigned inspections in HiveCrew, the team member view of HiveSuite, available as a native Android app and an installable Progressive Web App on iOS.
See how it fits the rest of an electrical business on our software for electricians page, or read about compliance management software if you also handle fire, emergency lighting or other periodic inspections. Gas engineers can read our guide to gas safety certificate software.
Every plan includes every feature, from Solo at £34.99 per month (1 admin, 2 team members), prices include VAT. HiveSuite provides the template and workflow; the inspector remains responsible for the inspection, the results and the report's accuracy.
EICR frequently asked questions
What changed with EICRs in October 2026?
From 1 October 2026, the updated Electrotechnical Assessment Specification (EAS) requires anyone carrying out or responsible for periodic inspection and testing under an electrotechnical certification scheme to hold a relevant Level 3 inspection and testing qualification, have at least two years' evidenced experience of periodic inspection and testing, and show ongoing CPD. Experience alone is no longer enough. It is an industry competence requirement, not a change in the law.
Do landlords have new legal duties from October 2026?
No. Landlords in England still follow the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, as extended to the social rented sector. They must have the electrical installation inspected and tested by a qualified and competent person at least every five years and meet the deadlines for sharing reports and completing remedial work. The October 2026 change affects which electricians can carry out EICRs under a certification scheme, not what landlords must do.
Can I still carry out EICRs without a 2391 qualification?
Under a certification scheme, you need City & Guilds 2391-51, 2391-52 or an equivalent qualification listed in the EAS qualifications guide, plus the experience and CPD evidence. Older inspection and testing qualifications may count if they appear on the list, so check your scheme's published list before booking a course. A Level 3 installation diploma or an 18th Edition certificate on its own is not an inspection and testing qualification.
Does a C3 code make an EICR unsatisfactory?
No. GOV.UK guidance says C3 means improvement recommended and does not require remedial work for the report to be satisfactory. C1 (danger present) or C2 (potentially dangerous) makes the report unsatisfactory, and any FI (further investigation required without delay) must also be carried out by the landlord.
How long does a landlord have to fix EICR faults?
Remedial or further investigative work must be completed within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so. The landlord then has 28 days from completion to give the tenant and the local council written confirmation from the qualified person who did the work, along with the report.
What is the maximum fine for landlords who do not comply?
Current GOV.UK guidance says local councils may impose a financial penalty of up to £40,000 on landlords who breach specified duties under the regulations. For offences committed before 1 May 2026, the earlier civil penalty rules under the Housing and Planning Act 2016 apply.
Does HiveSuite include an EICR template?
Yes. HiveSuite includes a pre-built EICR template designed around BS 7671:2018 (the 18th Edition). You issue it from the job, each report gets its own document number, you record a next-inspection-due date, and you can generate a branded PDF and publish it to the customer portal. It is included on every plan from £34.99 per month including VAT.
Issue your next EICR from the job.
Start a free trial, open an inspection job and issue an EICR with the pre-built template. Record the next inspection due date and share the report with the landlord through the portal.
30-day free trial. No credit card required. All features on every plan.