COMPLIANCE GUIDE

Landlord Electrical Safety Checklist: UK Legal Requirements for Rented Properties

Every landlord in England must comply with electrical safety regulations. This checklist covers the 5-year EICR, smoke alarm and CO alarm requirements, PAT testing, record keeping, and the penalties for non-compliance.

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12 min readUpdated 2026-05-18Andrew 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

  • 1The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require landlords to have the electrical installation inspected and tested at least every 5 years by a qualified person, and to provide the EICR to tenants within 28 days of the inspection.
  • 2Since October 2022, the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 require at least one smoke alarm on each storey with a habitable room, and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers). Alarms must be tested at the start of each new tenancy.
  • 3While PAT testing is not a specific legal requirement for landlords, the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 and the general duty of care under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 mean landlords should ensure all electrical appliances they supply are safe.
  • 4Landlords must keep records of all EICRs, remedial works, alarm testing, and PAT testing (where applicable) for at least the period between inspections. These records must be provided to tenants and to the local authority on request.
  • 5Local authorities can issue improvement notices and, for non-compliance with the 2020 electrical safety regulations, impose financial penalties of up to £30,000 per offence.
01 · Compliance Guide

Landlord Electrical Safety: A Complete Checklist

Landlords in England have specific legal obligations for electrical safety in rented properties. Since July 2020, the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 have required landlords to ensure their electrical installations are inspected and tested at least every 5 years.

Combined with the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022, the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, and general health and safety duties, landlords must maintain a comprehensive approach to electrical safety. Failure to comply can result in financial penalties of up to £30,000 per offence.

This guide provides a clear checklist of landlord electrical safety obligations: the 5-year EICR requirement, smoke and CO alarm rules, PAT testing guidance, record-keeping requirements, and the penalties for non-compliance.

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02 · Compliance Guide

5-Year EICR Requirement

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require landlords to:

  • Inspect every 5 years — have the electrical installation inspected and tested by a qualified person at intervals of no more than 5 years (or more frequently if the previous EICR recommends it).
  • Provide to tenants within 28 days — supply a copy of the EICR to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection, and to new tenants before they occupy the property.
  • Remediate within 28 days — if the EICR identifies C1 or C2 observations, carry out remedial work within 28 days (or sooner if specified). Provide written confirmation of completion to the tenant and local authority.
  • Provide to the local authority on request — supply a copy of the EICR to the local housing authority within 7 days of a request.

The EICR must be carried out by a person who is qualified and competent. In practice, this means a registered electrician who is a member of a competent person scheme such as NICEIC, NAPIT, or ELECSA.

03 · Compliance Guide

Smoke Alarms (2022 Regulations)

Since October 2022, the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 require:

  • At least one smoke alarm on each storey — every storey that contains a habitable room must have at least one smoke alarm. A "habitable room" includes bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and studies — essentially any room used for living, sleeping, or cooking.
  • Test at start of each tenancy — the landlord must check that each alarm is in working order on the day a new tenancy begins. After that, the tenant is responsible for ongoing testing and battery replacement.
  • Battery or mains powered — there is no requirement for mains-wired alarms under these regulations, but mains-wired alarms with battery backup are recommended as they are more reliable and eliminate the risk of flat batteries.

Best practice: While the regulations allow battery-only alarms, electricians should recommend mains-wired, interlinked smoke alarms with battery backup. These are more reliable, activate all alarms when one detects smoke, and meet the higher standards expected for HMOs and new-build properties.

04 · Compliance Guide

Carbon Monoxide Alarms

The same 2022 regulations require carbon monoxide alarms in specific locations:

  • Required in rooms with fixed combustion appliances — this includes gas boilers, gas fires, wood-burning stoves, open fires, and oil-fired boilers. Gas cookers are excluded.
  • Positioned correctly — follow the manufacturer instructions. Typically at ceiling level or high on a wall, at least 1m away from the combustion appliance, and in a location where the alarm can be heard from bedrooms.
  • Tested at each tenancy start — same obligation as smoke alarms. The landlord must confirm the CO alarm is working at the start of each new tenancy.
05 · Compliance Guide

PAT Testing for Landlords

While there is no specific legal requirement for landlords to carry out formal PAT (Portable Appliance Testing), the duty of care is clear:

  • Landlord-supplied appliances — if you provide appliances as part of the tenancy (cooker, washing machine, fridge-freezer, microwave, kettle), you have a duty to ensure they are safe. Annual visual inspection and PAT testing is the recommended approach.
  • Furnished properties — furnished lets with multiple appliances (lamps, heaters, extension leads) have a higher risk and PAT testing is strongly recommended annually.
  • HMOs — for licensed HMOs, the licensing conditions may include a requirement for PAT testing of landlord-supplied appliances. Check with your local authority for specific HMO licensing conditions.

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06 · Compliance Guide

Record Keeping and Compliance

Good record keeping is essential for demonstrating compliance and protecting yourself against enforcement action or litigation:

  • Current and previous EICR reports (keep for at least 10 years)
  • Certificates for remedial work carried out following EICR observations
  • Records of smoke alarm and CO alarm installation and testing dates
  • PAT testing records (if appliances are supplied)
  • Copies of EICR and certificates supplied to tenants (with dates)
  • Correspondence with tenants about electrical safety issues
07 · Compliance Guide

Penalties for Non-Compliance

  • EICR non-compliance — local authorities can issue remedial notices, arrange repairs at the landlord's cost, and impose financial penalties of up to £30,000 per offence under the 2020 regulations.
  • Smoke/CO alarm non-compliance — failure to comply with the 2022 alarm regulations can result in a penalty charge of up to £5,000.
  • Banning orders — repeated non-compliance can result in a banning order under the Housing and Planning Act 2016, preventing the landlord from letting properties.
  • Criminal prosecution — in the most serious cases, landlords can face criminal prosecution under the Housing Act 2004 for failures that create a serious risk to tenants.
08 · Compliance Guide

For Electricians: Landlord Safety Services

Landlord electrical safety is a reliable, recurring revenue stream. Properties need an EICR every 5 years, alarm testing at every tenancy change, and remedial work when faults are found.

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