Electrical checks between tenancies

Is an electrical check required before a new tenancy?

The Scottish Government’s model private residential tenancy terms say the landlord must carry out a pre-tenancy check to identify work needed for the property to meet the Repairing Standard. The landlord must then maintain the property from the start of the tenancy and throughout it.

For electricity, the Repairing Standard requires the installation, fixtures, fittings and electrical appliances supplied by the landlord to be in a reasonable state of repair and proper working order.

A tenancy-changeover check is therefore broader than looking at an EICR date. It should confirm that existing reports remain current and that nothing since the last inspection—damage, DIY work, water ingress, overheating or a change in layout—has created a new concern.

Do landlords need a new EICR for every tenant?

No. Scottish Government statutory guidance says electrical inspection and testing must be completed before the property is let for the first time and then at intervals of no more than five years. It specifically says the inspection does not have to be completed immediately before a new tenancy or every time a new tenancy starts, as long as it was carried out within the previous five years.

Check both the report date and the recommended date for the next inspection. Also confirm that:

• the report covers the whole installation as intended;
• any recorded limitations are understood;
• C1, C2 and FI observations have been properly resolved;
• later electrical alterations have suitable certification; and
• no subsequent event or visible damage calls the report’s continuing relevance into question.

When may earlier electrical inspection be sensible?

Arrange competent advice rather than relying only on a visual handover check where you find or know about:

• scorching, melting, cracking or unusual heat at an accessory;
• repeated tripping, reported shocks, flickering or intermittent loss of supply;
• water leaks, flooding, fire or building damage affecting electrics;
• new sockets, lights, showers, cookers or other alterations without certificates;
• damaged consumer-unit covers, missing blanks or exposed live parts;
• an unresolved unsatisfactory EICR;
• significant renovation or a changed property layout;
• inspection limitations that excluded an important area; or
• information suggesting misuse or overloading of the installation.

Do not remove consumer-unit covers, dismantle sockets or attempt electrical tests unless you are competent and authorised to do so.

Tenancy-changeover electrical checklist

What can a landlord safely check visually?

A visual check should be non-invasive. Work systematically through every accessible room and record what you can see without taking electrical equipment apart.

Look for:

• cracked, loose or broken sockets and light switches;
• scorch marks, melted plastic or a burning smell;
• loose light fittings or exposed conductors;
• damaged flexes, plugs and cable entries on supplied equipment;
• makeshift wiring, multi-plug chains or fixed extension leads;
• electrical fittings affected by damp, leaks or condensation;
• missing covers or blanks on the consumer unit;
• unexplained alterations compared with the check-in inventory; and
• faults reported by the outgoing tenant or contractor.

If something looks unsafe, stop using the affected item or area where that can be done safely, prevent access if necessary and obtain competent advice. Do not attempt an improvised repair.

What should be checked at the consumer unit?

Without opening the enclosure, confirm that the consumer unit appears secure, its cover and blanks are present, circuits are labelled, and there are no visible signs of overheating or damage.

Where the manufacturer’s instructions provide a user test for an RCD or RCBO, follow the stated process only if it is safe and you understand how to restore the supply. A test button checks the device’s mechanical operation; it does not replace formal electrical testing or prove the whole installation is safe.

Record any tripping history reported by the previous tenant. Repeated tripping should be investigated rather than dismissed by repeatedly resetting the device.

Smoke, heat and carbon-monoxide alarms

Every Scottish home needs the required interlinked smoke and heat alarms. At changeover:

1. confirm the correct alarm coverage for the layout;
2. check each alarm is secure, clean and undamaged;
3. use the test control and confirm all interlinked alarms sound;
4. check replace-by or sealed-battery expiry dates;
5. check carbon-monoxide provision against the property’s appliances; and
6. record the result and tell the new tenant how to test and report faults.

Specialist alarms for deaf or deafblind occupants and existing Telecare equipment require separate consideration. Do not remove specialist devices during a routine changeover.

Landlord-provided electrical appliances

Scottish electrical-safety inspection includes in-service inspection and testing—often called PAT testing—of electrical equipment provided by the landlord. The statutory guidance requires this before first letting and at intervals of no more than five years.

The appropriate frequency within that maximum should reflect the equipment, how it is used and the risk. A tenant change does not automatically restart a fixed interval, but it is a valuable opportunity to identify damage and decide whether an earlier formal visual inspection or combined inspection and test is needed.

Maintain:

• an accurate register of supplied electrical equipment;
• formal visual and test records where applicable;
• manufacturer instructions;
• recall and model information; and
• evidence that failed equipment was repaired or replaced.

What about appliances left by the previous tenant?

Decide whether each item will be removed or formally adopted as part of the let. An appliance should not drift into the next tenancy with unclear ownership and no safety history.

If the landlord keeps and supplies the item, add it to the inventory and electrical-equipment register, assess its condition and arrange appropriate inspection or testing before it is provided to the next tenant. If it remains tenant-owned, record that status clearly and avoid representing it as part of the let.

Check for tenant alterations

Compare the property with the original inventory, previous photographs and electrical certificates. Look for added sockets, replacement light fittings, electric showers, outdoor supplies, EV charging equipment or other work that was not arranged by the landlord.

The absence of paperwork does not prove work is unsafe, and an invoice does not prove it was inspected and tested. Ask a competent electrician what inspection and certification are needed. The model Scottish tenancy terms generally require written landlord consent for alterations, but the immediate priority is establishing safety.

How should the handover be recorded?

Use a dated checklist for each tenancy change. Include:

• property address and inspection date;
• name of the person completing the visual check;
• current EICR or EIC date and next-inspection date;
• PAT or in-service equipment record dates;
• alarm locations, test results and expiry dates;
• visible defects and photographs;
• outgoing tenant reports;
• work ordered and any temporary precautions;
• certificates received after repairs; and
• the date each issue was closed.

Photographs support the written record but should not replace it. Use images to show condition and location, avoid photographing personal possessions unnecessarily, and store the record securely.

What should the new tenant receive?

Before handover, provide the electrical and property-safety information required for the tenancy. This should include the current EICR or qualifying Electrical Installation Certificate and current PAT or in-service equipment information, alongside other required property documents.

Also give practical instructions covering:

• how to test smoke and heat alarms;
• alarm expiry dates;
• how to report electrical faults or damage;
• what to do after repeated tripping;
• where the consumer unit is located; and
• any agreed access needed for booked follow-up work.

Before releasing the property

1. Confirm the property meets the Repairing Standard.
2. Check that the EICR or qualifying EIC remains current.
3. Confirm all C1, C2 and FI findings are resolved.
4. Review later electrical work and certificates.
5. Complete the non-invasive room-by-room visual check.
6. Test the interlinked alarm system.
7. Review every landlord-provided electrical appliance.
8. Resolve or make safe any reported defect.
9. Save the dated checklist and photographs.
10. Give the incoming tenant the relevant records and reporting instructions.

Frequently asked questions

Can a check-out inventory replace an EICR?

No. An inventory and visual handover check record visible condition. An EICR is formal inspection and testing of the fixed electrical installation by a competent person.

Should the electricity be switched off between tenancies?

There is no universal rule requiring this. The property may need power for alarms, heating, security or works. Manage the supply according to the property and any known defects. If a circuit is unsafe, follow a competent electrician’s isolation advice.

Does redecoration require another EICR?

Not normally. However, electrical alterations, damaged accessories, penetrated cables or other issues arising during work may require inspection, testing and appropriate certification.

What if the outgoing tenant reports an electric shock?

Treat it as a serious safety report. Prevent further use where this can be done safely and arrange prompt investigation by a competent electrician. Do not rely on a remaining EICR date to dismiss a newly reported fault.

This article is general information for landlords, letting agents and property managers. It is not legal advice or a substitute for formal electrical inspection and testing. Do not open electrical enclosures or attempt repairs unless competent to do so. Obtain advice for the specific property.