From 1 October 2026, the “experience-only” route for EICRs ends. Anyone carrying out periodic inspection and testing must hold a recognised Level 3 qualification (such as City and Guilds 2391) plus two years’ evidenced experience. Landlords and facilities teams should verify competence now and book inspections early to avoid delays.
What is changing for EICRs from 1 October 2026?
From 1 October 2026, competence requirements tighten for periodic inspection and testing and the production of Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs). The industry move is away from “experience-only” and toward a clear minimum standard for the individual performing the inspection. NICEIC’s Electrotechnical Assessment Specification (EAS) updates set out these changes and the effective date.
What is the new requirement in plain English?
If someone is carrying out, or responsible for, periodic inspection and testing, they will need:
- A recognised Level 3 qualification in periodic inspection and testing (for example City and Guilds 2391)
- Two years’ evidenced experience in periodic inspection and testing (documented experience, not just time served)
This matters because an EICR is not a simple “tick box” inspection. It is a safety-critical assessment that can affect compliance, insurance, tenant safety, and business continuity.
Why is the “experience-only” route ending?
There are two big reasons behind the change.
1) EICRs are a high-risk safety document
An EICR is used to identify defects, deterioration, damage, and non-compliances in an electrical installation. If it is inaccurate, the consequences can be serious. That is why the industry is tightening the definition of competence for the individual completing the work.
2) The industry is standardising competence
Historically, some businesses have relied on an “experience-only” model where competence sat at company level or was assumed through time served. The updated EAS requirements shift expectation toward individual competence for the person inspecting and testing.
This is also why clients are increasingly asking not just “are you accredited?”, but “who is doing the inspection and what qualification do they hold?”
Who needs to pay attention to this change?
This is not just a landlord issue. It affects anyone who commissions EICRs and anyone who relies on them to prove compliance.
Landlords and letting agents
If you manage rented property, you already know EICRs are part of staying compliant and protecting tenants. As the October 2026 deadline approaches, the risk is that demand rises and availability tightens for qualified inspectors.
Property managers and commercial clients
Commercial EICRs often involve more complex installations, higher load demand, and more varied alterations over time. You should plan ahead, particularly if you manage multiple sites or have compliance windows that cluster around the same period.
Homeowners planning renovations or a sale
Even if you are not legally required to have an EICR, many homeowners choose to have one for peace of mind, especially prior to major works or property changes. After 1 October 2026, the person carrying out that report will need to meet the updated competence standard.
What should clients do now to stay ahead?
This is where a little planning goes a long way.
1) Book earlier than usual for autumn 2026
As with any compliance change, the risk is a rush. The closer we get to the deadline, the more likely lead times will increase.
2) Ask the right competence questions
When you book an EICR, ask:
- Who will be carrying out the inspection and testing?
- What Level 3 inspection and testing qualification do they hold?
- Can you confirm they meet the experience requirement for periodic inspection work?
This is not being awkward. It is normal due diligence for a safety report.
3) Treat the report as risk management, not admin
An EICR is not only about compliance. It is about identifying hazards before they become failures. For landlords, it is tenant safety and legal duty. For businesses, it is also downtime prevention and insurance reassurance.
What is a Level 3 inspection and testing qualification?
A recognised option widely referenced in the industry is City and Guilds 2391, which covers initial and periodic inspection and testing.
The point is not the badge on the certificate. The point is that the inspector has demonstrable competence in inspection, testing, interpretation of results, and correct coding of observations.
How does this affect EICR quality and outcomes?
Clients often say, “I’ve had EICRs done before, what changes for me?” Here is the practical impact:
More consistency in reports
A properly qualified inspector is more likely to apply consistent judgement and interpretation, especially when dealing with older installations, non-standard alterations, or complex commercial setups.
Fewer surprises at remedial stage
Better inspections tend to produce clearer remedial scopes. That reduces the common frustration of “the report says one thing, then the fix list changes later”.
Better confidence for compliance and insurers
If you ever need to rely on an EICR during an incident investigation or insurance claim, you want to be confident it was produced by someone who meets the industry competence requirements.
What should an EICR inspection involve?
You do not need a long technical breakdown, but it helps to know what “good” looks like. An EICR typically includes a visual inspection and a series of tests across circuits and protective devices. The outcome is a report that categorises issues (for example immediate danger, potentially dangerous, improvement recommended) and provides remedial recommendations. This style of reporting is also reflected on M&E Contrax service pages and FAQs.
If your report feels vague, or doesn’t clearly explain what the issue is and what needs to be done, that is a red flag.
What this means for landlords in Devon
Your current Devon EICR service page already positions EICRs correctly as a landlord and property manager service, tied to safety and legal obligations.
What changes from autumn 2026 is that landlords should:
- Book EICRs earlier to avoid delays
- Check the inspector’s qualification as standard
- Plan remedial work time into tenancy changeovers, rather than leaving it until the last minute
If you manage multiple properties, consider spreading inspections across the year rather than clustering them in one window.
What this means for commercial and facilities teams
For commercial sites, EICRs tend to be more time sensitive because they can impact:
- compliance and audit readiness
- risk registers and facilities reporting
- insurance expectations
- operational continuity
If you have multiple sites, the simplest approach is to map your EICR dates now and identify which ones fall near late 2026. That gives you the chance to plan procurement, access, and scheduling calmly.
Recommended semantic keywords to support SEO and AEO
To help this post rank and to improve AI overview style summaries, these three phrases are worth incorporating naturally across your EICR content:
- periodic inspection and testing
- electrical safety certificate
- commercial EICR
Use them where they make sense, not as repeated phrases. One or two mentions in the right sections is enough.
3 FAQs
Do these changes apply to landlords only?
No. The competence change affects the person carrying out periodic inspection and testing, and applies across domestic and commercial EICR work.
What Level 3 qualification will inspectors need for EICRs?
A commonly referenced route is City and Guilds 2391, which is designed for initial and periodic inspection and testing.
What should I do if I have inspections due in late 2026?
Plan early. Confirm the inspector’s competence, book ahead, and allow time for any remedial work. As demand increases closer to October 2026, availability is likely to tighten.
Book your EICR in Devon with M&E Contrax
M&E Contrax already provides EICR testing in Devon for landlords and property managers, alongside broader electrical services.
If you want to stay ahead of the autumn 2026 change, the simplest next step is to schedule your inspection programme now and confirm competence up front.
