From 1 May 2026, the electrical safety requirements that already applied to newer social housing tenancies were extended to existing social housing tenancies granted before 1 December 2025.
Under the amended Electrical Safety Standards Regulations, social landlords must ensure that:
- Electrical installations are inspected and tested by a qualified person at least every five years.
- A report, usually an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), is obtained and provided to tenants.
- Electrical equipment supplied by the social landlord as part of the tenancy is also checked by a qualified person at least every five years.
- Identified electrical safety defects are investigated and remedied within the required timescales.
For existing tenancies brought within the regime on 1 May 2026, social landlords must ensure the initial electrical installation inspection and any required checks of landlord-provided electrical equipment are completed before 1 November 2026.
What should organisations do?
Registered social housing providers should ensure that all properties are captured within an effective electrical safety inspection programme, that outstanding inspections are completed before the transitional deadline, and that EICRs, equipment checks and remedial actions are properly recorded and monitored.
Failure to comply with specified duties can result in financial penalties of up to £40,000.
Further information: GOV.UK – Electrical safety standards in the private and social rented sectors
