If you are a housing association, council or other registered provider in England, every home let on an existing social tenancy must have had an electrical installation condition report (EICR) by 1 November 2026. As of today, 8 October 2026, that is a little over three weeks away. If you still have properties without a current report, now is the time to book the remaining inspections and plan how you will deal with any remedial work.
This guide explains what the new rules require, which dates apply to which tenancies, the extra duty on equipment you supply, and how to get a large programme of inspections finished quickly without losing control of the paperwork.
The regulations behind the deadline
Private landlords in England have had to follow the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 since 2020. Those rules have now been extended to social housing by The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) (Amendment) (Extension to the Social Rented Sector) Regulations 2025.
In short, social landlords now carry essentially the same electrical safety duties that private landlords already have, plus a specific duty around the electrical equipment they provide. If you are new to the private sector rules, our guide to landlord electrical safety regulations sets out the core framework.
Key dates for social landlords
| Tenancy type | When the duties apply | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| New social tenancies | Granted on or after 1 December 2025 | A valid EICR in place before the tenant occupies, with a copy given to them |
| Existing social tenancies | Granted before 1 December 2025; duties apply from 1 May 2026 | Every installation inspected and tested by 1 November 2026 |
| All tenancies, ongoing | After the first inspection | Re-inspect at least every 5 years, or sooner if the report says so |
The 1 November 2026 date is a hard backstop for existing stock. Homes that were inspected recently by a qualified and competent person may already have a report you can rely on, but it is worth checking that each report is complete, in date and covers the whole fixed installation.
What the duties involve
The obligations mirror the private rented sector rules. For each property you must:
- Have the electrical installation inspected and tested by a qualified and competent person at least every five years, or sooner if the previous report recommends it.
- Give a copy of the report to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection, and to new tenants before they occupy.
- Supply a copy to a prospective tenant within 28 days of a request, and to the local housing authority within 7 days of a request.
- Complete any remedial work or further investigation within 28 days, or sooner if the report specifies a shorter period.
- Provide written confirmation that the work has been done to the tenant and the local housing authority within 28 days of completion.
A report is unsatisfactory if it records any C1 (danger present), C2 (potentially dangerous) or FI (further investigation required) observations. C3 items are recommendations rather than requirements. Our article on EICR codes explained goes into each code in more detail, and what to do after an unsatisfactory EICR covers the remedial process.
The extra duty: equipment you provide
Social landlords must also make sure that the electrical equipment they provide is safe. In practice that means PAT-style checks on landlord-supplied items at least every five years. Think about things like:
- Cookers, fridges, washing machines or other white goods supplied with the home
- Portable heaters or fans left in a property
- Equipment in communal rooms or shared facilities that tenants use
Tenants' own appliances are their responsibility. It is sensible to combine appliance checks with the EICR visit so you only need to arrange access once. Our PAT testing service can be booked alongside the inspection.
Three weeks to go: a practical plan
If you still have gaps in your programme, these steps will help you focus on what matters most.
- Reconcile your asset list. Match every tenanted address against a current EICR. Flag homes with no report, an expired report, or a report with outstanding C1, C2 or FI items.
- Prioritise by risk. Older installations, properties with known faults and homes housing vulnerable residents should go first.
- Plan access early. Access is usually the biggest cause of delay. Give tenants clear notice, offer a choice of slots and keep a record of every attempt to gain entry.
- Agree remedial authority in advance. If engineers can fix straightforward C1 and C2 items on the day within an agreed limit, you avoid a second visit and keep within the 28-day window.
- Centralise the paperwork. You will need to issue reports to tenants within 28 days and respond to council requests within 7. A single digital store of reports and completion confirmations makes this manageable.
How we help with bulk social housing programmes
Polarity Electrics London Ltd is an NICEIC Approved Contractor with more than eight NICEIC-certified engineers and over 5,000 jobs completed. We work across all of London and the Home Counties, including Hertfordshire, Essex, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire.
For housing associations, councils and other registered providers we offer:
- Bulk booking and a landlord portal so you can see what is booked, completed and outstanding across your stock
- Same-day and next-day availability to help close remaining gaps before the deadline
- Digital certificates emailed the same day, with photos and clear observations for each code
- Remedial cost breakdowns so you can approve work quickly and stay within 28 days
- Renewal reminders so the five-yearly cycle does not catch you out again
- No call-out charge, a 12-month workmanship guarantee and £10M public liability insurance
Our standard EICR in London starts from £79 for a studio flat up to £149 for a four-bedroom house. For multi-property programmes, blocks and communal areas we provide a fixed written quote based on your stock list. If your portfolio includes offices, community centres or other non-domestic buildings, see our commercial EICR service.
A note on BS 7671 Amendment 4
From 15 October 2026, the previous version of the Wiring Regulations is withdrawn and inspections are assessed against BS 7671:2018+A4:2026. That does not make existing reports invalid, but inspections carried out from that date will use the current standard. Read more in our guide to BS 7671 Amendment 4 and EICRs.
Book your remaining inspections now
With the 1 November 2026 deadline close, the sooner you send us your outstanding addresses, the more time there is to arrange access and complete any remedial work. Call us on 0203 908 4790 (24/7), email info@polarityelectrics.com, or book online for individual properties. For bulk programmes, get in touch and we will put together a fixed written quote and schedule.
Frequently asked questions
When is the social housing EICR deadline?
For existing social tenancies granted before 1 December 2025, every electrical installation must have been inspected and tested by 1 November 2026. New social tenancies starting on or after 1 December 2025 must have a valid report in place before the tenant moves in.
Which regulations apply to social landlords?
The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) (Amendment) (Extension to the Social Rented Sector) Regulations 2025 extend the 2020 private rented sector duties to social landlords in England, including housing associations and local authorities.
Do social landlords have to test appliances they provide?
Yes. Social landlords must also ensure the electrical equipment they provide is safe, which in practice means PAT-style checks at least every five years. Tenants' own appliances are not covered.
Can you handle a large number of homes before the deadline?
We run bulk EICR programmes across London and the Home Counties with a landlord portal, scheduled bookings and digital certificates emailed the same day. Call 0203 908 4790 for a fixed written quote for your stock.