East London has one of the highest concentrations of privately rented housing in the country. If you're a landlord in Stratford, East Ham, Hackney, Ilford, Walthamstow or any of the surrounding areas, getting a valid EICR is not optional — it's a legal requirement. Here's everything you need to know.
What is a landlord EICR?
An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is a formal inspection and test of the fixed electrical wiring in your rental property. It covers the consumer unit (fuse board), all wiring, sockets, light fittings and switches. At the end you receive a written report with a pass or fail outcome and a schedule of any faults found.
Is it a legal requirement?
Yes. Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, all landlords of privately rented residential properties in England must:
- Have a valid EICR carried out by a qualified electrician
- Ensure the EICR is renewed at least every 5 years
- Provide a copy of the EICR to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection
- Provide a copy to new tenants before they move in
- Provide a copy to the local authority on request within 7 days
- Complete any remedial work identified within 28 days (or a shorter period if specified in the report)
These regulations apply to all private residential tenancies — not just HMOs or newer builds. If your property was built in 1930 or 2020, the requirement is the same.
What are the fines for not having an EICR?
Local authorities can impose civil penalties of up to £30,000 per property for non-compliance. They can also arrange for the remedial work to be carried out themselves and recover the cost from the landlord. In addition, if a tenant suffers harm due to a faulty electrical installation that you failed to inspect, the legal and civil liability implications are serious.
Local councils across East and South East London — including Newham, Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Redbridge, Barking & Dagenham, and Lewisham — have active enforcement teams. We regularly carry out EICR inspections for landlords who have received formal notices.
What if the EICR comes back unsatisfactory?
If the report has any C1 (danger present) or C2 (potentially dangerous) observations, you receive an Unsatisfactory result. You then have 28 days from the date of the inspection to have all C1 and C2 items remedied and a satisfactory further inspection completed.
C3 (improvement recommended) observations do not make a report unsatisfactory — but they should be addressed at your next opportunity.
We can carry out minor remedial work on the same visit as the EICR. For larger work we provide a separate fixed quote.
How much does a landlord EICR cost in East London?
Our landlord EICR pricing in East London:
- Studio flat: from £165 + VAT
- 1-bedroom flat: from £185 + VAT
- 2–3 bedroom property: from £195 + VAT
- HMO / larger properties: priced on survey — call for a quick quote
Same-day certificate issue is available for an extra £40 + VAT. If remedial work is needed we quote separately before starting, with no obligation.
How long does a landlord EICR take?
A 1-bedroom flat typically takes 2–3 hours. A 3-bedroom house takes around 3–4 hours. We'll confirm a timescale when you book. We can usually offer same-week appointments for landlords across East London.
Common EICR findings in East London rental properties
Having carried out hundreds of EICR inspections across East London, the most common findings we see are:
- Missing or inadequate RCD protection — older consumer units often lack the RCD protection now required under the 18th Edition Wiring Regulations
- Old rubber or fabric-covered wiring — common in Victorian and Edwardian properties in areas like Hackney, Walthamstow and West Ham
- DIY electrical work — uncertified additions, unsafe connections, wrong cable sizes
- Missing earthing — particularly in older properties where the original earthing arrangements don't meet current standards
- Overloaded sockets and dangerous extensions — common in HMOs and multi-occupancy properties
Areas we cover for landlord EICRs
We are based in the Royal Docks (E16) and carry out landlord EICR inspections across all of East and South East London, including: