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If you rent out a property in Solihull, the law requires you to hold a valid Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). This is not optional guidance — it is a statutory obligation under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, with financial penalties of up to £30,000 per breach.

This guide covers exactly what landlords in Solihull need to know: what the law requires, what an EICR involves, what happens when it fails, and how to stay compliant without the stress.

What the Law Requires

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 place clear duties on all private landlords in England. Specifically, you must:

• Have a qualified electrician inspect and test the fixed electrical installation in your rental property at least every five years
• Obtain a written EICR detailing the condition of the installation and any remedial work needed
• Provide a copy of the report to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection, and to new tenants before they move in
• Provide a copy to the local authority within 7 days of a written request
• Complete any C1 or C2 remedial work within 28 days of the inspection (or sooner if the electrician specifies)

In addition, the regulations apply to all private rented properties in England, including Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). Crucially, HMOs may also face additional licensing conditions from Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, which can specify shorter inspection intervals.

What an EICR Involves

An EICR is a thorough inspection and test of your property’s fixed electrical installation — the wiring, consumer unit (fuse board), sockets, light fittings, earthing, and bonding. It does not, however, cover portable appliances such as fridges or washing machines (that is a separate PAT test).

During the inspection, your electrician will check for deterioration, defects, and damage; confirm whether earthing and bonding meet current standards; assess whether RCD protection is present and working correctly; and identify whether the consumer unit is safe and compliant. Your electrician then records all findings using a standard coding system:

• C1 — Danger present. Immediate action required.
• C2 — Potentially dangerous. Urgent remedial work required.
• C3 — Improvement recommended. Not a failure.
• FI — Further investigation required before a result can be determined.

A Satisfactory result means your electrician found no C1 or C2 codes. An Unsatisfactory result means you need to carry out remedial work. Importantly, C3 observations alone do not make a report unsatisfactory.

For a full breakdown of the inspection process and what each classification means in practice, read our main guide: EICR Solihull — Electrical Installation Condition Reports Explained. For a deeper dive into how EICRs work, what to expect on the day, and how the results affect you, see our comprehensive guide: EICR Solihull: Complete Guide to Electrical Installation Condition Reports.

What Happens If Your EICR Is Unsatisfactory

An unsatisfactory result is common in older properties — and it does not mean your property is uninhabitable. It simply means you need to carry out the specified work. If your inspection returns an unsatisfactory result, here’s exactly what happens next.

You have 28 days from the inspection date to complete all C1 and C2 remedial work. Once you complete it, your electrician will provide written confirmation of everything carried out. You must then share this documentation with your tenants and keep it available for the local authority on request.

Common remedial actions include upgrading to RCD-protected circuits, replacing a non-compliant metal consumer unit with a modern RCBO board, or correcting earthing deficiencies. If your EICR flags that the consumer unit needs replacing, we explain the full process here: Consumer Unit Replacement Solihull — What’s Involved.

How Often Do Landlords Need an EICR?

At minimum, every five years. However, you may need one sooner — for example, if the previous report recommended an earlier inspection, or if a tenancy change means the existing report is approaching its five-year limit. As a result, many landlords commission a fresh inspection at each tenancy change to give incoming tenants a current, in-date report.

For HMOs, check your licence conditions carefully: some specify more frequent inspections than the standard five-year requirement.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Local authorities hold enforcement powers and can impose civil penalties of up to £30,000 per breach. Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council can act following tenant complaints or during routine property inspections. Beyond the regulatory fine, many landlord insurance policies and mortgage products also require a valid, in-date EICR — so non-compliance can affect your cover and raise issues at remortgage.

Using a Qualified Electrician

The regulations require a “qualified person” to carry out your EICR — someone competent to identify defects, assess risk, and specify remedial work. NICEIC assesses registered electricians against national competency standards, and those electricians carry independent insurance-backed guarantees.

Farthing Electrical is NICEIC registered and carries out landlord EICRs across Solihull, Knowle, Dorridge, Shirley, and the wider West Midlands. Where remedial work is needed, we provide a separate fixed quote before anything proceeds — no surprises, no obligation.

Related Reading

• EICR Solihull: Complete Guide to Electrical Installation Condition Reports
• Why It’s Important to Have an EICR Carried Out
• How Much Does an EICR Cost in Solihull? 2026 Pricing Guide
• Understanding Your EICR Certificate: What Does It Actually Mean?
• EICR Failed? What Happens Next for Solihull Homeowners

References

1. UK Government. The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/312/contents/made
2. UK Government. (2020). Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector — Guidance for Landlords, Tenants and Local Authorities. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electrical-safety-standards-in-the-private-rented-sector-guidance-for-landlords-tenants-and-local-authorities
3. NICEIC. Electrical Safety Standards in the Rented Sector. Available at: https://www.niceic.com/specifiers/landlords
4. Electrical Safety First. Landlords — Electrical Responsibilities and Legal Requirements. Available at: https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guidance/advice-for-you/landlords/

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every rental property I own need its own EICR?
Yes. The regulations apply to each property individually. So if you own multiple rental properties, each one needs a valid EICR — one report does not cover multiple addresses.

Can I use an EICR from before I purchased the property?
Only if it is less than five years old and the electrician conducted it to the current standard. In practice, many solicitors and mortgage lenders require a fresh EICR at the point of purchase, so commissioning one as part of pre-purchase due diligence is sensible.

What if my tenant refuses access for the inspection?
You must take all reasonable steps to arrange it. Give at least 24 hours’ written notice and try to agree a mutually convenient time. Document every attempt carefully. If the tenant continues to refuse, seek legal advice — you will not face a penalty for a tenant’s unreasonable refusal, provided you can demonstrate you genuinely tried.

Is an EICR the same as a Gas Safety Certificate?
No — they cover different things entirely. A Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) covers gas appliances and pipework and requires annual renewal. An EICR covers the fixed electrical installation and the law requires it every five years. Both, however, are statutory requirements for private rented properties.

Call 0121 674 4014

Farthing Electrical carries out landlord EICR inspections across Solihull and the West Midlands. NICEIC registered, fixed quotes for any remedial work. Contact us to book your inspection.