How often do you need an EICR?

It depends on the building. As a rule of thumb: rented homes every 5 years (a legal requirement in England), owner-occupied homes at least every 10 years or on change of occupancy, and commercial premises every 5 years. Some settings are far shorter — a swimming pool is yearly.

The common intervals

• Private rented home (England): at least every 5 years, by law, or at change of tenancy if the report requires.
• Owner-occupied home: recommended at least every 10 years, and on change of occupancy.
• Commercial / office: every 5 years.
• Industrial: every 3 years.
• Caravan: every 3 years. Caravan park supply: yearly.
• Swimming pool: yearly.
• Agricultural & horticultural: every 3 years.

These are the intervals in the IET’s guidance. The report itself always sets the next inspection date, and the inspector can recommend sooner if the condition warrants it.

What can shorten the interval

Change of occupancy, a change of use, evidence of damage or deterioration, a known history of DIY alterations, or an installation that’s simply near the end of its life — any of these can pull the next inspection forward. The recommended interval is a ceiling, not a fixed schedule.

Why this matters for electricians

Every rental on your books comes back round every five years. The EICR isn’t one-off work — it’s a recurring appointment with a legal deadline attached, which makes it some of the most predictable work a domestic spark can build a business on. The constraint isn’t finding the jobs; it’s keeping the paperwork on each one down to a single walk-round.