Search for “EICR fine” right now and you will see two different numbers: £30,000 and £40,000. Both have been correct at some point — but only one applies to landlords today. Here is the definitive answer, with the actual legislation.
The short answer: £40,000 per breach since 1 May 2026
The maximum civil penalty a local council can impose for breaching the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 is now £40,000 per breach. The government’s own guidance, updated in 2026, states that “local councils may impose a financial penalty of up to £40,000 on landlords who are in breach of specified duties under the regulations.”
Where the £30,000 figure comes from
From June 2020 until this year, the 2020 Regulations set the cap at £30,000, enforced through the civil penalty framework of the Housing and Planning Act 2016. Any article, council page or letting-agent guide written before 2026 will quote £30,000 — and many still rank in Google, which is exactly why the confusion exists.
What changed, and when
Regulation 10 of the Electrical Safety Standards (Amendment) (Extension to the Social Rented Sector) Regulations 2025 raised the maximum penalty from £30,000 to £40,000, aligning electrical safety enforcement with the wider penalty uplift introduced by the Renters’ Rights Act. The timing works like this:
- Offences committed before 1 May 2026: the old regime applies — civil penalties under the Housing and Planning Act 2016, capped at £30,000.
- Offences committed from 1 May 2026: civil penalties fall under the Renters’ Rights Act framework, capped at £40,000.
The same 2025 amendment also extended EICR duties to the social rented sector for the first time.
Why it can be far more than £40,000
The cap is per breach, per property — and the Regulations contain several separate duties. Failing to obtain an EICR, failing to give a copy to your tenant, and failing to complete remedial work within 28 days are all distinct breaches, each attracting its own penalty. A landlord with no EICR who also ignores a remedial notice on a single property could face penalties well beyond £40,000. Across a small portfolio the exposure multiplies again. Our full guide to EICR fines for London landlords in 2026 breaks down the five most common breach patterns.
These are civil penalties — no court required
Councils do not need to prosecute. They issue a notice of intent, you have 28 days to make written representations, and appeals go to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber). In practice most penalties stand, and councils increasingly use them because the money funds further enforcement.
How to stay compliant
The duties themselves have not changed: a satisfactory EICR at least every 5 years by a qualified person, a copy to tenants within 28 days (and before occupation for new tenants), a copy to the council within 7 days of a request, and any C1/C2/FI remedial work completed within 28 days. Our landlord electrical compliance checklist covers every duty in order, and our guide to EICR costs in London explains what you should expect to pay.
Book an EICR before the council writes first
F & A Electrical is NICEIC-approved and carries out EICRs across North and East London, with certificates usually issued within 48 hours. Landlord EICRs start from £140 (labour-only). Call 07407 627542 or email info@faelectrical.co.uk — or see all the areas we cover.
FAQ
Is the EICR fine £30,000 or £40,000?
£40,000 per breach for offences committed from 1 May 2026. The £30,000 cap only applies to offences committed before that date.
Can I be fined more than once for the same property?
Yes. Each duty in the Regulations is a separate breach, and each breach can attract its own penalty up to £40,000.
Does the £40,000 fine apply to social landlords?
Yes. The 2025 amendment extended EICR duties to the social rented sector, with the same enforcement framework.
New for 2026: Renters’ Rights Act 2026: what changed for London landlord electrics — s21 abolition, the £40,000 per-breach penalty and the new enforcement system explained.