Yes – commercial premises must keep electrical systems safe and maintained to prevent danger.
An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is the standard inspection and testing report used to evidence electrical safety compliance for the fixed electrical installation in commercial properties.
Bottom line: The law is high-level (it’s about safety and maintenance). An EICR is the most common, recognised way to prove you’ve met that duty, and it’s frequently required by insurers, managing agents, audits, lease clauses, and due diligence.
Last updated: 2026
Reviewed by: London Safety Certificate compliance team
Key Takeaways
- Commercial premises must keep electrical installations safe and maintained to prevent danger.
- An EICR (fixed wire test) is the standard way to evidence electrical safety compliance for commercial properties.
- There is no single legal test interval for every commercial building; the next inspection date should be set by a competent person based on risk and usage.
- If your insurer, lease, managing agent, or audit requires an EICR, it becomes effectively mandatory for you to operate and remain compliant.
- Keep a compliance pack: EICR + remedials evidence + records, especially for insurance and audits.
Table of Contents
Commercial landlord electrical safety certificate – what’s actually required?
If you’re searching for a “commercial landlord electrical safety certificate”, what you usually mean in practice is:
“What document proves the fixed electrics are safe and compliant?”
For commercial premises, the accepted document is typically an EICR (often called fixed wire testing). It’s used to show you’ve taken reasonable steps to keep the electrical installation safe.
In the real world, you’ll be asked for an EICR when:
- an insurer requests evidence of electrical safety
- a managing agent is running compliance checks
- you’re granting a new lease / renewing a lease
- there’s a change of occupancy or a major fit-out
- you’re preparing for an audit (H&S, facilities, corporate compliance)
- there has been an electrical incident, damage, flooding, or fire risk concern
See our full guide on commercial property EICR requirements.
What the law requires
Commercial duty holders must ensure electrical systems are:
- constructed safely
- maintained so they don’t present danger
- managed so work activities do not create risk
That’s why inspection and testing exists: it’s part of a preventive maintenance plan – to confirm the fixed installation remains safe in use.
Is an EICR “mandatory” for every commercial property?
Think of it like this:
- The legal duty is safety + maintenance
- the EICR is the recognised evidence that you’ve met that duty
So legislation doesn’t say “every commercial building must have an EICR every exactly 5 years”, but it does require electrical installations to be maintained to prevent danger, and inspection/testing is a core part of that approach.
Also: if your insurer / lease / managing agent specifies EICR, then it becomes effectively mandatory for you – because you must comply to operate, insure, or lease the premises.
Who is responsible: landlord vs tenant vs duty holder
This is where commercial property differs from domestic rentals.
- Duty holder responsibility
In commercial settings, the duty holder is the person/organisation with control over the premises and the fixed installation. - Lease responsibility
Many commercial leases push day-to-day responsibility to the tenant, but it depends on:
- what the lease says
- who controls distribution boards / risers / landlord supplies
- who carries out maintenance and repairs
Practical rule:
If you control it, you’re responsible for keeping it safe – and for being able to evidence that with inspection/testing records.
How often should a commercial EICR be done?
There is no single legal interval for every commercial building.
The inspection interval should be set by the competent person and depends on:
- type of premises and electrical load
- age and condition of the installation
- environment (heat, moisture, dust, vibration)
- maintenance quality and history
- results of the last EICR (and whether remedials were completed)
Typical intervals used in practice (guidance, not “law”):
- Offices: often up to 5 years
- Shops/retail: often up to 5 years
- Industrial/manufacturing: often 3 years (sometimes sooner)
- High-risk/leisure/public venues: often 1–3 years
- Change of occupancy: commonly triggers a review / updated testing
Important: Your EICR should state a recommended next inspection date. Follow that date – that’s what auditors and insurers usually check.
What a commercial EICR covers (and what it doesn’t)
A commercial EICR focuses on the fixed electrical installation, for example:
- intake position, switchgear, distribution boards
- protective devices (RCDs/RCBOs where present)
- earthing and bonding
- circuits (lighting, power, fixed equipment supplies)
- signs of overheating, damage, deterioration, poor terminations
- test results and observations coded by risk
It does not replace:
- PAT testing (portable appliances)
- gas safety
- fire risk assessment
- specialist equipment servicing schedules
What happens if the EICR is unsatisfactory?
If the report contains certain observation codes, the overall outcome may be unsatisfactory and remedial works are required.
Common codes include:
- C1 danger present – immediate action required
- C2 potentially dangerous – urgent remedial action required
- C3 improvement recommended
- FI further investigation required
Read the full meanings of EICR codes (C1/C2/C3/FI).
What documents you should keep (compliance pack)
If you want to pass audits and avoid insurance issues, keep a simple “electrical compliance pack”:
- latest EICR (full report + schedules)
- evidence of remedial works completed
- any Electrical Installation Certificates / Minor Works Certificates
- distribution schedules/single-line drawings (if available)
- maintenance records where applicable
- documented limitations and follow-ups (if any areas couldn’t be tested)
See an EICR report example.
How to prepare for a commercial EICR (to avoid limitations)
Most bad EICRs happen because testing access wasn’t planned.
Do this before the visit:
- confirm a shutdown window (where safe isolation/testing requires it)
- ensure DBs/switchgear are accessible (not blocked)
- arrange keys/access permits for locked areas, risers, plant rooms
- provide previous EICR and known issue history
- confirm who is authorising limitations (if unavoidable)
Read about operational limitations in an EICR.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an EICR a legal requirement for commercial property?
Commercial premises must keep electrical systems safe and maintained to prevent danger. An EICR is the standard report used to evidence that duty and is commonly required by insurers, leases, audits, and managing agents.
Is fixed wire testing the same as an EICR?
Yes – in most contexts “fixed wire testing” refers to periodic inspection and testing resulting in an EICR for the fixed installation.
How Long Does an EICR Inspection Typically Take?
It varies. Small offices/units may take a few hours, while larger sites with multiple distribution boards and circuits may require longer or multiple visits.
Who can carry out a commercial EICR?
A competent person with appropriate inspection/testing qualifications and experience for commercial installations.
Landlord or tenant – who is responsible?
It depends on the lease and who controls the installation. In practice, the party with control must ensure the system is safe and can evidence maintenance and inspection/testing.
How often should commercial premises test electrics?
There’s no single legal interval. The competent person should recommend the interval based on risk, environment, usage, maintenance quality, and previous results. Many premises use 3–5 years in practice, with higher-risk sites more frequent.
What happens if the EICR is unsatisfactory?
You’ll need remedials (and sometimes further investigation) before the installation can be considered safe. The report codes (C1/C2/C3/FI) show urgency.
How long does a commercial EICR take?
It depends on building size, number of circuits/distribution boards, access, and whether shutdown is possible. Some sites take a few hours; larger sites may require multiple visits.
Do we need to shut down the building?
Some tests require isolation. If shutdown isn’t possible, limitations must be agreed and recorded, and a return visit may be needed to complete testing.
