An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) records the condition of the fixed electrical installation in a home. For many private rented properties in England, landlords are expected to obtain a report from a competent person on a repeating cycle — commonly discussed as typically up to every five years, or sooner if the report itself recommends an earlier inspection.
Exact duties, who counts as competent, remediation timeframes, and what you must give tenants or a local authority sit in official guidance. Treat the timelines below as orientation for your filing system, then confirm the live rules on GOV.UK for your address and property type.
The usual answer for private rented England
In day-to-day landlord conversation, “how long does an EICR last?” often means “when do I need the next one?” For many private rented homes in England the working assumption is a five-year maximum cycle from the report date — unless the electrician states a shorter next inspection interval, or your property type (for example some HMOs) is treated differently.
Do not rely on a blog summary alone. Open the report you hold: the next inspection recommendation on the document is the date that should drive your diary, even when it is earlier than five years.
What can shorten the next due date
- The report recommends an earlier re-inspection than the default cycle.
- The overall assessment is unsatisfactory and remediations (plus any follow-up report or sign-off) change what you need on file.
- Major electrical work, a change of use, or local licensing conditions that set a tighter timetable.
- A new tenancy or portfolio review where you cannot find a current report for that address.
What to keep on file
- Full EICR PDF or scan, named with postcode and report date.
- Issue / report date and the next-due (or “valid until”) date.
- Overall result (for example satisfactory / unsatisfactory).
- Electrician or firm details and any reference number.
- Dated notes and invoices for remedial work, plus any completion confirmation.
- A note of when (and how) a copy was provided if current rules require it.
Practical rhythm
- Book a competent person with lead time before the due date.
- Read the overall assessment as soon as the report arrives.
- If unsatisfactory, list the coded observations, book remediations, and file proof of completion against the same property.
- Set reminders well before the next inspection (many landlords use 90 / 30 / 14-day windows).
- Keep a copy outside a single email inbox — inboxes get wiped; expiry dates do not.