Blog › HMO EICR
HMO EICR in London: what landlords need for electrical safety and licensing
The law: EICR every 5 years
The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 apply to HMOs as well as single lets. The landlord must:
- have the fixed electrical installation inspected and tested by a qualified person at least every 5 years, or sooner if the report says so;
- give each tenant a copy of the report within 28 days, give new tenants a copy before they move in, and give the council a copy within 7 days if it asks;
- fix every C1, C2 and FI item within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so, and send written confirmation to the tenants and the council.
Councils can fine up to £30,000 per breach. More detail: EICR rules for landlords.
What councils ask for with an HMO licence
A large HMO (5 or more people from 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence. Many London boroughs also run additional licensing for smaller HMOs, and some run selective licensing for single lets. The conditions vary by borough, but the electrical and fire paperwork usually includes:
| Document | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Satisfactory EICR | The fixed wiring is safe, tested within the last 5 years |
| Remedial confirmation | Any C1, C2 and FI items on the last report have been fixed |
| Fire alarm certificate | The interlinked alarm system is installed and tested |
| Emergency lighting certificate | Where required, escape route lighting works |
| Gas safety record | Gas appliances checked in the last 12 months |
| PAT records (if asked) | Appliances the landlord supplies are safe |
Always read your own licence conditions: they set out exactly what your council wants and how often.
Fire alarms and emergency lighting
HMOs carry a higher fire risk than single lets, so councils expect a fire detection system matched to the size and layout of the property. In practice that usually means mains-powered, interlinked smoke and heat detectors with battery backup, covering the escape route, the kitchen and often each bedroom, installed and tested to BS 5839-6. Larger HMOs with longer or more complex escape routes may also need emergency lighting. Smoke alarms on every storey and carbon monoxide alarms by fixed combustion appliances are a legal minimum for all rented homes. We install, test and certify fire alarms and emergency lighting in the same visit as the EICR.
PAT testing in HMOs
No law says landlords must PAT test, but landlords must keep appliances they supply safe, and some councils put PAT testing into licence conditions. With shared kitchens and many tenants, appliances in an HMO get heavy use, so many landlords PAT test every year. We can PAT test on the same visit.
How to pass an HMO EICR first time
- Check the consumer unit. An old fuse board with no RCD protection is the single most common reason HMOs fail. Upgrading it before a licence application saves a second visit.
- Look at every room. Cracked sockets, overloaded extension leads and heaters plugged into adaptors in bedrooms are common C2 items.
- Find the paperwork. Certificates for conversions, new kitchens and bathrooms help the inspector and avoid FI codes.
- Give access to every room. Rooms we cannot enter cannot be tested, which can mean a limitation or an FI on the report.
- Book remedial work straight away. If anything fails, the 28-day clock starts. See the most common reasons London properties fail.
Book an HMO EICR EICR remedial work
We cover HMOs across North, East and West London, including Barnet, Enfield, Haringey, Islington, Camden, Hackney, Waltham Forest, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham, Ealing, Brent, Hillingdon.
Questions HMO landlords ask
Does an HMO need an EICR?
Yes. Every privately rented home in England, including HMOs, needs a satisfactory EICR at least every 5 years under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. Councils also ask for the EICR when you apply for or renew an HMO licence.
How often does an HMO need an EICR?
At least every 5 years, or sooner if the last report says so. Some inspectors recommend a shorter interval for older or heavily used installations, and the next inspection date on the report is the one that counts.
Do I need a fire alarm certificate for an HMO?
Most London councils expect an HMO to have a mains-powered, interlinked fire alarm system suited to its size and layout, and ask for proof that it has been installed and tested. Larger HMOs may also need emergency lighting on the escape route. Check the conditions of your licence, which say exactly what your council wants.
Is PAT testing a legal requirement in an HMO?
There is no specific law that says landlords must PAT test, but landlords must keep any appliances they supply safe, and some councils include it in licence conditions or ask for it. Many HMO landlords PAT test supplied appliances every year as good practice.
What fails an HMO EICR most often?
In the HMOs we test, the most common problems are socket circuits without RCD protection, overloaded or damaged accessories in bedrooms and kitchens, missing bonding, and additions made without certificates when rooms were converted.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Licence conditions differ between councils. Published 31-10-2026 by Energy North Ltd, Bowes Road, London N11 1AB.