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Request EICR Letter Template

Letter template for tenants to formally request an EICR from their landlord, citing the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector Regulations 2020. Free PDF download.

What is it?

A request EICR letter is a formal written communication from a tenant to their landlord (or letting agent acting on the landlord's behalf) requesting a copy of the current EICR for their rental property, or requesting that an EICR be arranged if one has not been carried out within the required five-year period. The letter references the relevant legislation, provides a reasonable timeframe for compliance, and is documented evidence that the tenant has made the request. Which is important if the matter escalates to the local authority.

About this template

Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, landlords are legally required to provide tenants with a copy of the most recent Electrical Installation Condition Report. If your landlord has not provided this, or if you believe the electrical installation in your rented property has not been inspected within the last five years. You have the right to request it. This letter template gives tenants a clear, professional, and legally referenced way to make that request. It cites the specific regulations, sets a reasonable deadline for response, and outlines the next steps if the landlord does not comply.

When to use

  • When you have moved into a rental property and have not been provided with a copy of the EICR
  • When you believe the last EICR was carried out more than five years ago and no new inspection has been arranged
  • When you have concerns about the electrical safety of your rental property and want documentary evidence of its condition
  • When your landlord or letting agent has verbally promised to provide the EICR but has not followed through
  • When you need a documented paper trail before escalating a complaint to your local authority's housing team
  • When you are preparing to raise a formal complaint under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) about electrical hazards

Tips

  1. 1Send the letter by recorded delivery or email with a read receipt so you have proof it was received. If the matter goes to the local authority, you will need to show that you made the request and the landlord failed to act
  2. 2Keep a copy of the letter and all related correspondence. Create a simple timeline of events in case you need to report the matter: local authorities respond more quickly to well-documented complaints
  3. 3Be polite but firm in the letter. Most landlords are not deliberately non-compliant. They may simply be unaware of their obligations. A professional letter often resolves the issue without escalation
  4. 4If your landlord does not respond within 14 days, contact your local authority's private rented sector team or environmental health department. They have the power to issue remedial notices and impose financial penalties on non-compliant landlords
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Frequently asked questions

What is an EICR letter?

An EICR letter is a written request about an Electrical Installation Condition Report. This request EICR letter is the tenant-facing version: it asks the landlord for a copy of the current report, or for an overdue inspection to be arranged, under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. Electricians who need written permission before quoting or attending use the landlord EICR authorisation letter instead. For a blank report form use the EICR template; to raise a live hazard use the report electrical fault letter.

Am I legally entitled to see the EICR for my rental property?

Yes. Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, landlords must provide a copy of the EICR to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection being carried out, and to new tenants before they move in. If you have not received a copy, you have the right to request one. The landlord must also supply a copy to the local authority within 7 days of a request.

What can I do if my landlord ignores my request?

If your landlord does not respond or refuses to provide the EICR, contact your local authority's private rented sector team or environmental health department. They have the power to investigate, arrange for an inspection at the landlord's expense, require remedial work to be completed, and impose financial penalties of up to £40,000 per breach (raised from £30,000 on 1 November 2025). Your documented letter is key evidence for any enforcement action.

Does this letter template work if I rent through a letting agent?

Yes. You can address the letter to your letting agent, who should forward it to the landlord. However, the legal responsibility for electrical safety rests with the landlord, not the agent, unless the agent has explicitly taken on that responsibility in their management agreement. If the agent is unresponsive, you can also write directly to the landlord (their name and address should be on your tenancy agreement) or go straight to the local authority.

Can my landlord increase my rent or evict me for requesting an EICR?

No. Requesting an EICR or reporting a landlord's non-compliance to the local authority is a protected act. Under the Deregulation Act 2015, a Section 21 'no fault' eviction notice cannot be served if the local authority has issued an improvement notice or emergency remedial action notice relating to the property. Any attempt to evict you in retaliation for raising safety concerns could be challenged as a retaliatory eviction.

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