EICR and EPC Reminders for Landlords: Renewal Intervals and Planning Ahead
Gas safety comes round every year, so most landlords remember it. The EICR and EPC are different. Their long intervals (five and ten years) are exactly why they get missed. This guide explains both certificates, when they're due and how to set reminders. For the annual gas cycle, see our gas safety reminder guide.
EICR: the electrical safety report
What the rules say (England)
Under the electrical safety standards for the private rented sector, as explained in the gov.uk guidance, landlords must:
- Have the electrical installation inspected and tested by a qualified and competent person at least every five years
- Get a report (usually an Electrical Installation Condition Report, or EICR) giving the results and the date of the next inspection
- Give a copy of the report to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection
- Give a copy to new tenants before they move in
- Give a copy to the local authority within 7 days if it asks for one
- Carry out any remedial or further investigative work the report requires, within 28 days or sooner if the report says so
Watch the "next inspection" date
Five years is the maximum. The inspector may recommend a shorter interval, and the date on the report is the one to put in your reminders, not simply five years from today.
What to record
- Inspection date and next due date
- The report itself
- Any remedial work, the date completed and written confirmation from the electrician
- The date you gave each tenant a copy
EPC: the Energy Performance Certificate
What the rules say
According to gov.uk, an EPC rates a property's energy efficiency from A (best) to G (worst) and is valid for 10 years. You need a valid EPC when you rent out a property, and you can check whether a property already has one on the gov.uk register.
Rented homes in England and Wales are also subject to minimum energy efficiency standards. Check the current rules for your property before letting.
The 2030 EPC C standard
In its response to the consultation on improving the energy performance of privately rented homes, the government set out decisions including:
- Raising the minimum standard for privately rented homes in England and Wales to the equivalent of EPC C
- A single compliance date of 1 October 2030
- Raising the cost cap to £10,000, with a 10-year validity period for exemptions
Read the full government response for the detail and any changes before you plan works. This is a summary, not advice.
Why a reminder matters
An EPC that expires mid-tenancy doesn't normally need renewing until you next let or sell, but it's easy to discover at the worst moment, such as when re-letting. With the 2030 standard coming, your EPC is also your planning tool, because it tells you how far a property is from band C. A reminder a year or so before expiry gives you time to decide whether to do improvements first.
Setting reminders that work
| Certificate | Interval | Reminder 1 | Reminder 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| EICR | At least every 5 years (or as the report states) | 60 days before | 30 days before |
| EPC | 10 years | 60 days before (consider earlier if planning works) | 30 days before |
Tips:
- Enter the date from the certificate, not from memory.
- Set two reminders, so if the first booking falls through you still have time.
- Attach the document to the reminder, so you're not searching when it fires.
- Record when the tenant got their copy of the EICR.
One place for all of it
When certificates are spread across email, a drawer and a cloud folder, reminders don't help much. You still have to find the document. Keep certificates with each property's inspection reports so the whole picture is in one place. Our compliance dashboard guide shows a simple layout.
Disclosure: we make Landlord HQ for iPhone. Its compliance vault stores Gas Safety, EICR, EPC, HMO Licence and PAT Test records per property and notifies you 60 and 30 days before anything expires. It sits alongside room-by-room inspections and timestamped PDF reports you can email to your tenant. Works offline and syncs via iCloud. Get Landlord HQ on the App Store.
FAQ
How often do landlords need an EICR?
In England, at least every five years, or sooner if the previous report says so.
How long is an EPC valid?
Ten years.
Do I have to give tenants a copy of the EICR?
Yes. Existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection, and new tenants before they move in.
When does the EPC C requirement for rentals start?
The government's consultation response sets a single compliance date of 1 October 2030. Check gov.uk for the latest position.
What if the EICR finds problems?
You must have remedial work done within 28 days, or sooner if the report specifies, and get written confirmation from the electrician.
Sources
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electrical-safety-standards-in-the-private-rented-sector-guidance-for-landlords-tenants-and-local-authorities
- https://www.gov.uk/buy-sell-your-home/energy-performance-certificates
- https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/improving-the-energy-performance-of-privately-rented-homes-2025-update