Landlord EICR rules: what changes on 30 November 2026

Short answer: A draft amendment to England's 2020 electrical safety rules for rented homes is set to take effect on 30 November 2026 if Parliament approves it. It updates the wiring standard to BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 and confirms that you don't need a new inspection before a new tenancy if the current report is under five years old and its "next inspection" date hasn't passed. (legislation.gov.uk)

By TrueDeed Editorial · Last reviewed 6 November 2026 · This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked by our editors against primary sources. It is general information, not legal advice. TrueDeed is independent and not affiliated with government.

What changed (dated)

• Checked 6 Nov 2026: the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector and Social Rented Sector (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 is on legislation.gov.uk as a draft that has not yet been made as a statutory instrument. The draft text would come into force on 30 November 2026. The "Made" date is blank. It is not law yet. (source)
• 4 Nov 2026: A separate GOV.UK factsheet sets out proposed tougher enforcement of energy-efficiency (MEES) rules for private landlords through the Energy Independence Bill. (source)

What the amendment says, in plain English

The current rules (S.I. 2020/312) require private landlords in England to have the electrical installation inspected and tested by a qualified person before a tenancy starts. If made, the draft would:

1. Update the standard. "BS 7671: 2018" becomes "BS 7671:2018+A4:2026" (the IET Wiring Regulations).
2. Clarify the pre-tenancy test. You already meet the requirement if an inspection took place no more than five years before the tenancy and the report is "still current", meaning the date it gives for the next inspection hasn't passed. This also covers a report from an inspection carried out outside these regulations, as long as a qualified person did it and you were given the report.
3. Remove "further investigative work" references. According to the explanatory note, this follows changes to the wiring regulations. A saving provision keeps the old investigative-work rules for any inspection completed before 30 November 2026.
4. Social housing: registered providers get a similar clarification for checks on electrical equipment they supply.

The draft's explanatory note says no full impact assessment was produced because no significant impact is expected.

What it does not change

The draft does not amend the duties in regulation 3 of S.I. 2020/312 to keep the electrical safety standards met while the home is let, to inspect at intervals of no more than five years, or to give a copy of the report to tenants and, on request, the local council. GOV.UK's electrical safety guidance still describes those duties. The draft's own changes are the wiring-standard update, the pre-tenancy clarification, and the removal of "further investigative work" wording, described above.

What to do now

• Landlords: Find your latest EICR. Note its inspection date and its "next inspection" date. If either falls before a planned new tenancy, book an inspection. Keep copies ready for when England's PRS Database opens in your area (from 15 Dec 2026).
• Tenants: You can ask for a copy of the current report. Check the "next inspection" date on it.
• Electricians: Expect landlords to ask which edition of BS 7671 a report follows. Put the next-inspection date clearly on every report.
• Letting agents: Use the next-inspection date, not just the report date, as the trigger in your compliance tracker.

Also coming: energy-efficiency penalties (proposed)

The 4 Nov factsheet proposes a maximum civil penalty of £30,000 for breaching the private rented sector energy-efficiency regulations. It also proposes bringing HMOs into scope. These are Bill proposals, not current law. (source)