Since April 2021, every private landlord in England has been legally required to hold a valid Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) for their rental properties. For Cheshire landlords, the stakes are high — local authorities can issue financial penalties of up to £30,000 per property for non-compliance. And enforcement is increasing.
The Legal Framework: What the Law Actually Says
The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 came into force for new tenancies in June 2020 and for all existing tenancies from April 2021. The regulations require landlords to:
- Ensure the electrical installation is inspected and tested at least every 5 years by a qualified person
- Obtain a written report (the EICR) and supply a copy to each tenant within 28 days
- Supply a copy to the local housing authority within 7 days of a request
- Carry out any remedial work identified as C1 or C2 within 28 days (or sooner if specified)
Failure to comply with any of these requirements can trigger enforcement action. Our EICR inspection service covers the full Cheshire area and we can get you compliant quickly.
How Much Are the Fines?
The maximum financial penalty is £30,000 per property. This is not a one-off fine for the portfolio — it applies to each individual property that is non-compliant. A landlord with five properties, all without valid EICRs, could theoretically face penalties totalling £150,000.
In practice, local authorities tend to issue lower penalties for first-time non-compliance where the landlord cooperates and gets the work done quickly. But the power to issue the full £30,000 fine exists and is being used more frequently as councils increase enforcement activity.
Important: Section 21 Notices
A landlord who has not complied with the EICR regulations cannot serve a valid Section 21 notice to regain possession of their property. This means non-compliance doesn't just risk a fine — it can prevent you from ending a tenancy when you need to.
How Do Councils Find Out?
Enforcement typically starts in one of three ways:
- 1Tenant complaint. A tenant contacts the council's housing team to report that they haven't been given an EICR or that electrical faults haven't been fixed.
- 2Proactive inspection. Some councils in Cheshire and Greater Manchester run proactive licensing and inspection schemes that require landlords to demonstrate compliance.
- 3Electrical incident. If there is an electrical fire or injury at a rental property, the council will investigate compliance as part of the response.
EICR Inspections Across Cheshire
We carry out EICR inspections for landlords across the full Cheshire area. Whether you have a single buy-to-let or a large portfolio, we can work around your tenants and provide reports quickly. We cover:
What Happens After an Unsatisfactory EICR?
If your EICR comes back as "Unsatisfactory" — meaning C1 or C2 issues were found — you must carry out the remedial work within 28 days and obtain written confirmation from the electrician that the work has been completed. You then need to provide this confirmation to your tenant and to the local authority if requested.
POES UK carries out all remedial work identified in our EICR reports. We can often complete straightforward remedial work on the same day as the inspection, meaning you can get a satisfactory outcome quickly and avoid any enforcement risk.
Don't Wait for a Complaint
The best time to get your EICR sorted is before a tenant complains or a council inspector comes knocking. If your certificate is due for renewal — or if you've never had one — get in touch with our team today. We cover the full Cheshire area and can usually book inspections within a few days.
For more on your obligations as a Cheshire landlord, read our complete landlord electrical compliance checklist for 2026 and our guide to what every Cheshire landlord must know about EICR certificates.
Get Your EICR Sorted Today
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