The rules in one paragraph
The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require every privately rented home to have its electrical installation inspected and tested by a qualified person at least every five years. The landlord must give a copy of the report to existing tenants within 28 days, to new tenants before they move in, and to Leeds City Council within 7 days if asked. Any C1, C2 or FI observations must be fixed within 28 days (or sooner if the report says so), with written confirmation from the electrician. Councils can fine up to £30,000 for non-compliance.
What an EICR actually checks
An EICR is an inspection and test of the fixed wiring — the consumer unit, the cables in the walls, the sockets, switches, light fittings and earthing. It is not a PAT test and does not cover the tenant's appliances or the landlord's white goods (those are a separate, sensible check). The electrician inspects a sample of accessories in every room, dead-tests every circuit for continuity and insulation, live-tests for earth fault loop impedance and RCD operation, and records everything with a code:
- C1 — Danger present. Made safe immediately, fixed urgently.
- C2 — Potentially dangerous. Must be fixed within 28 days.
- C3 — Improvement recommended. Not a failure; does not need fixing to pass.
- FI — Further investigation required. Must be resolved within 28 days.
What a landlord EICR costs in Leeds
Our EICR prices start from £150 for a 1–2 bed flat, £180 for a 3-bed house, £220 for 4-bed and larger, and £260 for an HMO. That includes the full inspection, the report and a plain-English summary. Landlords with several properties in the same area — common in Headingley, Hyde Park, Burley and Kirkstall — can book them on the same day for a lower per-property rate. Full details on our prices page.
The most common reasons a Leeds rental fails
From the inspections we carry out across LS4, LS5, LS6 and LS12, the same faults come up again and again:
- No RCD protection on socket circuits — the single most common C2 in older terraces
- Plastic consumer unit in a cupboard or under the stairs
- Missing or broken earth to lighting circuits, especially in pre-1970 houses
- Damaged or loose sockets and switches in student lets
- Bathroom lighting or extractor fans not rated for the zone
- Outdoor sockets or lights with no RCD and perished cable
- DIY alterations by previous owners: junction boxes under floors, borrowed neutrals, undersized cables
What happens if the report is unsatisfactory
An unsatisfactory report is not a disaster — it is a to-do list with a 28-day deadline. The report says exactly what is wrong and how urgent it is. We quote the remedial work separately, do it, and issue written confirmation that the observations have been rectified. That confirmation, together with the original report, is what the council wants to see. You are free to use a different electrician for the remedials if you prefer; the report is yours.
If you need a landlord EICR in Leeds, our EICR service page explains how we work with landlords and agents, or call to book.
Common questions
Does an EICR cover the tenant's appliances?
No. It covers the fixed installation only. Landlord-supplied appliances should be PAT tested separately.
My EICR is from 2021 — when does it expire?
Five years from the inspection date. A report dated May 2021 expires May 2026 and a new one must be in place before then.
Can I get a C3 fixed at the same time?
Yes, and it is usually worth it while the electrician is there, but a C3 does not stop the report being satisfactory.