What it’s for
- Serve the EICR to tenants by email within the required 28-day window
- Provide a clear paper trail of electrical safety compliance
- Meet obligations under the relevant electrical safety regulations for your nation: Electrical Safety Standards Regulations 2020 (England), Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 / Repairing Standard, Electrical Safety (Wales) Regulations, or Electrical Safety Standards Regulations (NI) 2024
- Record the date and method of service in your compliance log
- Explain to tenants what the EICR is and what it means for the property
How to use this in TenancyVault
After sending the email:
- Upload the sent confirmation into TenancyVault as proof of service
- Upload the EICR document to your property’s document vault
- Set the next inspection reminder — TenancyVault calculates the due date and sets automatic reminders at 90, 60, and 30 days
- Log “served” on the EICR obligation to confirm service is complete
FAQ
How often is an EICR required?
A 5-yearly EICR is mandatory for private rented properties across all four UK nations, though under different regulations in each. In England it is the Electrical Safety Standards Regulations 2020; in Scotland the Repairing Standard; in Wales the equivalent Welsh regulations; and in Northern Ireland the Electrical Safety Standards Regulations (NI) 2024 (phased in from 2024). For HMOs, check with your local authority as shorter intervals may apply.
Who can carry out an EICR?
An EICR must be carried out by a qualified electrician, registered with a competent person scheme such as NICEIC, NAPIT, or ELECSA.
When must the EICR be given to tenants?
A copy must be given to any existing tenant within 28 days of the inspection, to any new tenant before they move in, and to any prospective tenant who requests it within 28 days of the request.
What if the EICR is unsatisfactory?
If the report identifies Category 1 (immediate danger) or Category 2 (potentially dangerous) issues, you must arrange remedial work within 28 days and provide written confirmation to the tenant.
Can I serve the EICR by email?
Yes, provided the tenant has agreed to receive documents electronically. Retain a record of the sent email and any read receipt or acknowledgement.