BS 7671 Amendment 4: What the 2026 Update Means for Landlords, Homeowners and EICRs

BS 7671 Amendment 4 is the latest update to the 18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations, published as BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 on 15 April 2026. From 15 October 2026 the previous version is withdrawn, so new electrical work and every EICR carried out from that date is assessed against Amendment 4. For most landlords and homeowners, the practical message is reassuring: your existing certificate does not suddenly stop counting, and an older installation does not automatically fail.

Below we explain what the update is, the key dates, what we can say with confidence about the changes, and what it means if you are due an electrical installation condition report.

What is BS 7671?

BS 7671 is the British Standard for electrical installations, published jointly by the IET and BSI. Electricians often call it "the Wiring Regulations" or "the 18th Edition". It sets out how fixed wiring, consumer units, circuits and protective devices should be designed, installed, inspected and tested.

The standard is updated through amendments rather than a full new edition every time. The 18th Edition was first published in 2018, and has since been amended several times. Amendment 4 is the most recent of these.

Key dates at a glance

As we write this in October 2026, the withdrawal date is only a week away. If you book an EICR from 15 October onwards, your report will reference Amendment 4.

What changes in Amendment 4?

We want to be careful here, because a lot of online commentary overstates the changes. At a high level, Amendment 4 includes:

• A new chapter on stationary secondary batteries, which covers battery energy storage such as home batteries often installed alongside solar panels.
• Changes relating to Power over Ethernet, reflecting how data cabling is increasingly used to power devices such as cameras, access points and lighting.
• Changes for medical locations, which matters mainly to healthcare premises rather than ordinary homes.

There are other editorial and technical updates throughout the document, as there are with every amendment. If you are planning specific work, such as adding battery storage or upgrading a consumer unit, ask your electrician how the current requirements apply to your job rather than relying on generic summaries.

What Amendment 4 means for landlords

Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, landlords must have the installation inspected and tested at least every five years by a qualified and competent person, and must meet the standards set out in the current edition of the Wiring Regulations. In practical terms:

• Your current EICR still stands. A report issued before 15 October 2026 remains your record until its recommended next inspection date, or until a change of circumstances means a new inspection is sensible.
• Your next EICR will be against Amendment 4. The inspector will assess the installation against the current standard and code any issues according to the risk they present.
• Remedial deadlines do not change. If a report is unsatisfactory, the usual rule still applies: remedial work or further investigation within 28 days, or sooner if specified, with written confirmation to the tenant and the council within 28 days of completion.

Social landlords now face the same duties, with existing tenancies needing inspection by 1 November 2026. Our social housing EICR deadline guide covers that in detail, and our landlord electrical safety regulations guide explains the full set of private landlord duties.

What Amendment 4 means for homeowners

If you own and live in your home, there is no legal requirement to have an EICR on a fixed timetable. IET guidance recommends an inspection at least every 10 years for owner-occupied homes. An amendment to BS 7671 is not, on its own, a reason to rush out and get a new report.

Where it does matter is when you are having new work done. Any new circuits, consumer unit replacements or rewires carried out from 15 October 2026 will be designed and certified to Amendment 4. That work is also notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations, so use a registered competent person who can self-certify and notify building control. See our pages on consumer unit replacement and rewiring in London for more.

Will an older installation fail an EICR?

This is the question we hear most. The answer is no, not simply because it was installed to an earlier standard. An EICR is a judgement about whether an installation is safe for continued use. Each observation is given a code:

• C1 - danger present, immediate action required
• C2 - potentially dangerous, urgent remedial action required
• C3 - improvement recommended
• FI - further investigation required without delay

Any C1, C2 or FI makes the report unsatisfactory. Many differences between an older installation and the latest standard are recorded as C3, which does not on its own cause a failure. Our article on EICR codes explained goes into this in more depth.

Practical tips if your EICR is due

1. Check your current report's next inspection date rather than reacting to the amendment itself.
2. Use an NICEIC or similarly registered contractor who is working to the current version of BS 7671.
3. Tell the inspector about recent changes, such as solar, battery storage, an EV charger or an extension, so they can inspect those parts properly.
4. Ask for a clear remedial breakdown so you can plan any work within the required timescales.

Book an EICR to the current standard

Polarity Electrics London Ltd is an NICEIC Approved Contractor with more than eight NICEIC-certified engineers working across London and the Home Counties. Our EICRs in London start from £79 for a studio flat up to £149 for a four-bedroom house, with same-day and next-day appointments, a digital certificate emailed the same day, photos of any observations and a clear remedial cost breakdown. There is no call-out charge.

To arrange an inspection, book online or call 0203 908 4790, available 24/7.