Short answer: no. Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, a satisfactory EICR is valid for up to 5 years from the inspection date, whoever the tenant is. A change of tenancy does not reset the clock and does not by itself require a new report. What the law does require at every change of tenant is that you give the new tenant a copy of the current EICR before they move in. Miss that step and you are in breach even with a perfect report in the drawer — and since 1 May 2026 the civil penalty ceiling is £40,000 per breach. F & A Electrical (NICEIC registered, 9.32/10 from 242 reviews) carries out landlord EICRs across North and East London from £140 labour-only, usually within the week. Call 07407 627542 or WhatsApp.
What the 2020 Regulations actually say about new tenancies
The regulations set two separate duties and landlords often merge them. The first is the inspection duty: every rented property must have been inspected and tested by a qualified person at intervals of no more than 5 years (or sooner if the report says so). The second is the paperwork duty, and it is triggered by people, not by dates:
| Event | What you must do | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| New tenant signs up | Give them a copy of the current satisfactory EICR | Before they occupy |
| Prospective tenant asks for it | Supply a copy | Within 28 days of the request |
| Existing tenant (after a new inspection) | Give them the new report | Within 28 days of the inspection |
| Council asks for it | Supply a copy | Within 7 days |
| Report is unsatisfactory (C1/C2/FI) | Complete remedials and get written confirmation | Within 28 days (or sooner if stated) |
| Report reaches 5 years | New EICR | Before the expiry date on the report |
So at a change of tenancy the checklist is: is the report still within date, is it satisfactory, and has the new tenant been given it in writing before the keys are handed over? Put the copy in the tenancy pack with the gas safety certificate and the How to Rent guide, and keep proof of service. Our landlord compliance checklist has the full list of what goes in that pack.
When you should get a new EICR even though you don’t have to
Legally valid and commercially sensible are not the same thing. We would recommend a fresh inspection at a change of tenancy when any of these apply:
- The report is more than 3–4 years old and the property is a flat or HMO with heavy use. A 5-year report inspected in 2022 has seen three tenancies’ worth of plug-in heaters, extension leads and DIY. A new report at £140 is cheaper than a C2 discovered by the next tenant’s complaint.
- Work has been done since the last EICR — a new kitchen, bathroom, consumer unit or any circuit added. Notifiable work should have its own certificate (an EIC or Minor Works), but the EICR still describes the old installation. Read EIC vs EICR if you are not sure which you hold.
- The outgoing tenant reported anything electrical — tripping, warm sockets, flickering — and it was never traced. See our guide to what counts as a C2.
- You are applying for or renewing an HMO or selective licence. Most London boroughs ask for an EICR less than 5 years old at the date of application, and some officers want one dated within the last 12 months. Our HMO EICR guide covers the borough-by-borough picture.
- The previous report was from a cert-mill. A one-page £60 EICR with a dozen “N/V” (not verified) entries and no schedule of test results is a liability, not a cover. Our who can carry out an EICR page explains what a real one looks like.
- The property is going from a long let to short-term/Airbnb or back again — the rules differ; see EICRs for short lets.
What a new-tenancy EICR costs in London (labour-only)
| Property | Price | Typical time on site |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1-bed / 2-bed flat | from £140 | 1.5–2.5 hours |
| 3-bed house or flat | from £140 | 2.5–3.5 hours |
| 4-bed+ / HMO (up to 6 lets) | from £140–£240 | 3–4 hours |
| Block booking — 4+ units, one building, one visit | £120 per unit | 1.5 hours each |
| Remedial work for C1/C2 items | from £108 | same visit where possible |
| Consumer unit replacement (common C2 outcome on 1990s boards) | from £550 | half a day |
| PAT testing of landlord-supplied appliances | £5 per appliance | added to the EICR visit |
All prices exclude materials. Full breakdown on the EICR cost guide and the remedial cost guide. If the new tenant is moving in this week, ask about a same-day EICR — we hold slots for tenancy-start deadlines.
Timing it right at a void
The best moment for an EICR is the void between tenancies: the flat is empty, every socket is reachable, the power can go off for testing without upsetting anyone, and any remedials can be done before the new tenant’s furniture arrives. Book it for the day after check-out and before the cleaners, so we are not testing round boxes. If the report comes back unsatisfactory you still have the 28-day window, but with an empty flat we can usually fix C2s on the same visit and issue the confirmation immediately, so the tenancy can start on time. Where a fuse board needs replacing we can normally do it within the same week — see fuse board replacement.
See also what to do if a tenant refuses access for the EICR.
Frequently asked questions
Does an EICR expire when a tenant leaves?
No. The report expires on the date written on it (up to 5 years from inspection). A tenant leaving or arriving has no effect on that date.
Do I have to give the new tenant the EICR before or after they move in?
Before. The regulations say before the tenant occupies the premises. Email is fine; keep the sent copy.
Can I use the previous landlord’s EICR if I have just bought the property?
Yes, if it is satisfactory and within its 5 years — the report attaches to the installation, not the owner. Check the schedule of test results is present and that no work has been done since. Our EICR when buying or selling page covers the handover.
Does a new tenancy agreement with the same tenant count as a change?
A renewal or a new fixed term with the same occupier is not a new tenant for the paperwork duty, but you still must give them the new report within 28 days whenever a new inspection is done.
The old report had C3s only. Is that still satisfactory for the new tenant?
Yes. C3 (“improvement recommended”) does not make a report unsatisfactory. Only C1, C2 and FI do. Our C1/C2/C3 guide explains each code.
What if the report expires mid-tenancy?
You must get a new one before the expiry date — the 5-year interval is a hard limit regardless of tenancy dates. The EICR renewal guide explains how to plan it with a sitting tenant.
Landlord EICRs from £140 labour-only across Haringey, Hackney, Islington, Camden, Enfield, Waltham Forest, Newham and Tower Hamlets — see our landlord EICR service, the EICR London page and all areas we cover. Call 07407 627542 or 07500 721453, or WhatsApp a photo of your current report and we’ll tell you whether it is still good.