Yes. If you rent out a property in England the fixed electrical installation has to be inspected and tested at least every five years, and before a new tenancy where the existing report has run out. The document that proves it is an Electrical Installation Condition Report, or EICR. You must give a copy to your tenants, and to the council within seven days if they ask for it.
This applies to nearly all private rentals, including flats, houses and HMOs. Licensed HMOs sometimes face tighter conditions under the licence, so check the terms your council set. The duty covers the fixed wiring rather than the appliances, so sockets, circuits, the consumer unit and the lighting are all in scope, while a kettle or a washing machine is not.
Every five years minimum
That is the floor. A report can recommend testing sooner, and if it does that shorter interval is what you have to work to.
Copies must be handed over
Tenants get a copy, new tenants get one before they move in, and the council gets one within seven days of asking.
28 days to fix problems
Anything coded C1 or C2 must be put right within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so, with written confirmation afterwards.
Your questions, answered
What if my report is unsatisfactory?
Codes C1, C2 and FI mean the installation is not satisfactory and the listed work must be done within 28 days or the shorter time the report states. You then need written confirmation that it has been completed.
Do I need one between every tenancy?
Only if the existing report has expired or is due. A valid in-date report carries over to a new tenancy, and you just give the new tenant a copy.
Does it cover appliances too?
No. An EICR covers the fixed installation. Portable appliances you supply are a separate check, usually called PAT testing, which can be done at the same visit.
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