Electrical Safety Certificates for Landlords in Washington
Check your records right now. If your EICR is more than five years old or you don't have one, you're breaking the law as a landlord. Book a registered electrician in Washington today.
In the First 10 Minutes
An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is the document that proves your rental property's fixed electrical installation has been professionally tested and assessed. Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, every private landlord in England must have one in place and renew it at least every five years. Pull out your tenancy files now and find yours.
Check the date on the certificate. If it was issued before 2021, or you can't locate one at all, you need to act today. Also check who signed it - the inspection must have been carried out by a qualified and competent person, typically someone registered with a recognised scheme such as NICEIC, NAPIT, or Stroma Certification. A certificate from an unregistered person won't satisfy your legal obligations.
Washington landlords who've recently taken over a tenanted property should be particularly careful here. An inherited tenancy doesn't come with an automatically valid EICR. The legal responsibility sits with you from the moment you own the property, regardless of what the previous owner did or didn't provide.
While you're looking through your paperwork, check whether you've given your current tenant a copy. You're required to provide it within 28 days of inspection, and to any new tenant before they move in. Local authorities can also request a copy and expect it within 7 days. Failing to comply with any of this can result in a civil penalty of up to 30,000 pounds.
Within the First Hour
Once you've confirmed you need an EICR, start looking for a registered electrician. Search the NICEIC or NAPIT registers online to find electricians working in the Washington and wider Tyne and Wear area. When you call, ask directly whether they're registered, whether they carry out EICRs on rental properties, and whether they can issue the completed certificate on the day.
Get at least two or three quotes before committing. Pricing depends on the size of your property and the number of circuits that need testing. For a one or two-bedroom flat in Washington, you'd typically expect to pay between 100 and 150 pounds. A three or four-bedroom house usually runs from 150 to 250 pounds. Larger or older properties with more complex wiring can come to 300 pounds or more.
Don't just go with the cheapest quote without checking credentials. Our engineers see a fair number of EICRs done on the cheap that don't hold up to scrutiny when a local authority or insurance claim checks the paperwork. A properly issued EICR from a registered electrician is worth every pound.
Same Day
Letting your tenant know
Once you've booked an electrician, contact your tenant to agree a date and time. You'll need to give reasonable notice before entering - typically at least 24 hours, in writing. Explain that it's a legal inspection required for their safety and yours, and give them a rough idea of how long the electrician will need. Most tenants are cooperative once they understand the legal context.
Preparing the property
Before the inspection, make sure the consumer unit cupboard is accessible and unobstructed. Clear access around sockets, switches, and any visible wiring throughout the property. If there are outbuildings, garages, a detached home office, or garden circuits, tell the electrician in advance - these need to be included in the inspection scope.
Gather any existing electrical documentation you have: previous EICRs, installation certificates from any work carried out on the property, and any completion certificates for additions like electric vehicle chargers or newly installed circuits. The electrician will use these as a starting point for the assessment.
The Inspection Visit
An EICR is a thorough assessment of your property's fixed electrical installation - not a quick visual check. The electrician will test the wiring, inspect the consumer unit, check earthing and bonding arrangements, and test individual circuits for faults, deterioration, or non-compliance with current wiring regulations. The power will need to be off during testing, so warn your tenant in advance.
For a typical two or three-bedroom house, expect the inspection to take between two and four hours. Older properties, particularly those with original wiring or previous DIY electrical work, can take longer. Once testing is complete, the electrician will assign one of three codes to any observations they make:
- C1 (Danger present) - An immediate risk of injury. The electrician will make the installation safe on the spot where possible, but remedial work is required immediately. The property should not be let until this is resolved.
- C2 (Potentially dangerous) - A fault that could become dangerous. Remedial work must be completed within 28 days of the inspection date.
- C3 (Improvement recommended) - Not currently dangerous, but worth addressing. C3 observations alone won't prevent the property from receiving a satisfactory EICR.
If there are no C1 or C2 codes, you'll receive a satisfactory EICR and you're compliant. If there are C1 or C2 issues, the report is marked unsatisfactory and you'll need remedial work completed and confirmed in writing before the certificate is valid for legal purposes.
The Following Week
Once your EICR is in hand, send a copy to your tenant within 28 days of the inspection. Email is acceptable as long as you keep a record that it was sent and received. Any new tenant must have a copy before they move in, not after. File a copy for yourself and make a note of when it expires.
If the report flagged C1 or C2 issues, book the remedial work as soon as possible. Don't rely on having 28 days and then leave it until day 27. Finding an available registered electrician across Tyne and Wear takes time, and popular contractors can be booked out for a week or more. Start making calls the morning after your inspection at the latest.
After remedial work is completed, you need written confirmation from the electrician that the faults have been resolved. This could be a completion certificate or a signed letter. Keep it alongside your EICR and have it ready to provide to your tenant and local authority on request.
If you're unsure whether a particular fault flagged in your report requires immediate action or can wait for a scheduled visit, the Voltrade GoFIX tool can help you triage electrical issues by severity and gives you a clearer picture of what needs urgent attention.
Long Term
An EICR lasts five years, but the period between inspections isn't time to ignore the electrics. Good ongoing maintenance makes your next EICR smoother and reduces the chance of expensive remedial work coming out of nowhere. Set a calendar reminder now for four years from the date on your current certificate - that gives you a full year's run-up to arrange the next inspection without any last-minute pressure.
Respond to any electrical issues your tenant reports promptly. A tripping circuit or a sparking socket that gets logged and ignored for months is how manageable problems become costly ones. Keep a simple written record of any faults reported and what was done about them. This demonstrates responsible property management and creates a useful paper trail if questions arise later.
When you make changes to the property - adding a circuit for an EV charger, rewiring a kitchen, installing new lighting in a bathroom - use a registered electrician who issues the appropriate completion certificate. Unregistered electrical work can create problems at your next EICR and, in some cases, doesn't comply with Part P of the Building Regulations.
If you have multiple rental properties, stagger the inspection dates where you can. Facing three or four EICR renewals in the same month is expensive and time-consuming. A bit of planning early on avoids that situation entirely.
Timeline Questions
How long does it take to get an EICR booked in Washington?
Most registered electricians working in Washington can typically offer an appointment within one to two weeks, though busier contractors may be booked out further during peak periods. If you're facing a local authority notice or need to get a new tenancy started quickly, explain the urgency when you call. Some electricians will prioritise urgent cases, occasionally with a small premium on the standard fee.
What happens if I don't have a valid EICR as a landlord in England?
Local housing authorities have the power to arrange an inspection themselves if a landlord fails to comply, and can charge the cost back to them. They can also issue a financial penalty of up to 30,000 pounds. Beyond the legal exposure, an invalid EICR can create problems with your landlord insurance policy, and could leave you personally liable if an electrical fault causes injury or property damage to your tenant.
Does an EICR cover a newly rewired property?
If your property has been fully rewired recently, the electrician should have issued an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) on completion of the work. This is different from an EICR and demonstrates that a new installation meets the current wiring regulations. An EIC on a newly rewired property is typically accepted in place of an EICR until the five-year renewal falls due, but check with your local authority if you're unsure how they interpret this.
Can a tenant refuse access for the EICR inspection?
A tenant can decline access, but landlords are not automatically in breach of the regulations if they can show they've taken reasonable steps to arrange the inspection. You'll need written evidence that you requested access with proper notice, and that the tenant refused. If access is consistently refused, you may need to seek legal advice on how to proceed. Document every attempt carefully in case you're later required to demonstrate compliance to your local authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an EICR cost for a rental property in Washington?
Costs depend on property size and age. A one or two-bedroom flat typically comes to between 100 and 150 pounds. A three or four-bedroom house usually runs from 150 to 250 pounds. Larger or older properties with more circuits can reach 300 pounds or above. Always get quotes from at least two NICEIC or NAPIT registered electricians and check what's included before you book.
How often do landlords in England need to renew their EICR?
The legal requirement under the 2020 Regulations is at least every five years. However, your current EICR may specify a shorter interval - check the "next inspection recommended" field on the certificate. Older installations or those with known faults sometimes carry a recommendation for inspection in three or four years rather than five. Always follow the certificate's own guidance, not just the five-year default.
What's the difference between an EICR and a PAT test?
An EICR covers the fixed electrical installation built into the property - the consumer unit, wiring, sockets, and switches. A PAT test (Portable Appliance Test) covers moveable appliances such as fridges, washing machines, or lamps. Landlords in England are legally required to have a valid EICR. PAT testing of appliances you supply to tenants is commonly recommended but is not a mandatory requirement under the same regulations.
Do the EICR rules apply to all types of rental property in Tyne and Wear?
Yes. The Electrical Safety Standards regulations apply to all private rented residential properties in England, including flats, houses, and HMOs. Tyne and Wear landlords with mixed portfolios need valid EICRs across all their properties. Houses in Multiple Occupation may also face additional electrical safety requirements under separate HMO licensing rules, so check with your local authority if any of your properties fall into that category.
```Reviewed by Thomas Waite - technical reviewer at voltrade. This article is intended as general guidance and should not replace a professional on-site assessment. All Voltrade engineers are independently qualified, insured, and vetted.