EICR Copy Deadlines for Tenants and Councils
An EICR creates more than one paperwork deadline. New, existing and prospective tenants are treated differently, and a council request has a much shorter response time.
New and existing tenants
Give a new tenant a copy of the electrical safety report before they occupy the property. An existing tenant should receive it within 28 days after the inspection and test.
Do not confuse the report date with the deadline for remedial work. If the report requires further investigation or repairs, that is a separate action with its own timing.
Prospective tenants
A prospective tenant can request the report. GOV.UK guidance says the landlord must supply it within 28 days of receiving that request.
Record when the request arrived and when the report was sent. This is particularly useful where several applicants or properties are being handled at once.
Council requests: seven days
A local authority can ask for the report, and the landlord must provide it within seven days. That is not much time to search old inboxes, ask an agent or identify which PDF belongs to the address.
Store the current report against the property and retain it until the next inspection is due or completed, unless a newer report supersedes it.
Evidence after remedial work
Where remedial or investigative work was required, provide the tenant and council with the relevant report and written confirmation from the qualified person within 28 days after the work is completed.
Acceptable evidence depends on the work and may include a satisfactory EICR or other appropriate electrical certification. Use the qualified professional’s documentation rather than writing your own technical confirmation.
Frequently asked questions
Within seven days of the council’s request.
Yes. GOV.UK guidance says it should be supplied within 28 days of their request.
Official sources
Further reading
Related tools and guides
This guide is general information, not legal advice. We review time-sensitive claims against official sources; see our editorial policy. Always check GOV.UK or a professional for your situation.