EICR Requirements for Short-Term Lets in Scotland

An Electrical Installation Condition Report is one of the core safety documents Scottish short-term let hosts need to understand.

For most hosts, the practical version is this: if your short-term let has electrical fittings or items, you need electrical safety evidence, and the fixed electrical installation should be inspected at least every five years by a competent person.

Last checked: 21 May 2026 against Scottish Government short-term let guidance and Scottish Government repairing standard electrical guidance.

What an EICR covers

An EICR looks at the fixed electrical installation.

That means the supply, consumer unit, wiring, circuits, switches, socket outlets, and fixed electrical fittings. It is different from a PAT report, which deals with moveable appliances guests can access.

For short-term let compliance, the EICR is the report you keep to show the fixed installation has been inspected and tested.

What Scottish short-term let guidance says

Scottish Government guidance for short-term let hosts says that if you have electrical fittings or items in the premises, you must arrange for an electrical safety inspection by a competent person at least every five years, or more often if directed by the competent person.

The guidance also says the competent person should produce an Electrical Installation Condition Report on fixed installations.

That means the EICR is not just a nice-to-have landlord document. It is part of the evidence that supports short-term let licensing compliance.

How often does an EICR need renewed?

The usual minimum interval is at least every five years.

Scottish Government guidance notes that the minimum standard for electrical safety inspections is at least every five years under BS 7671. However, the competent person may direct a shorter interval if the installation or circumstances require it.

For host admin, do not just record "five years from today" automatically. Check the report itself for the recommended next inspection date.

Who can carry out the EICR?

The EICR must be produced by a competent person.

Scottish Government electrical guidance says the person completing the report should be suitably skilled and competent. It also sets out evidence that can help show competence, such as relevant qualifications, current BS 7671 training, insurance, and professional standing.

In plain terms, use someone who can clearly evidence competence for inspection and testing work in Scotland. Keep their details with the report.

What should hosts keep from the EICR?

Keep more than the front page.

Your compliance record should include:

• Full EICR report.
• Property address.
• Inspection date.
• Recommended next inspection date.
• Name and details of the competent person.
• Any observations or classification codes.
• Evidence of remedial work.
• Confirmation that urgent defects were addressed.
• Date the updated evidence was added to your compliance file.

If a council asks for evidence, you want the report and follow-up work in one place.

What if the EICR finds problems?

Do not file a failed or unsatisfactory EICR and treat the job as done.

Scottish Government repairing standard guidance says electrical installations, fittings, or equipment that fail the electrical safety inspection must be replaced or repaired to comply with the repairing standard. It also explains that C1 and C2 observations must be rectified.

For short-term let operators, the practical question is not just "do I have an EICR?" It is "does the EICR show the property is safe, and can I prove any required work was completed?"

How EICR relates to PAT testing

EICR and PAT are connected, but they are not the same document.

Scottish Government short-term let guidance says hosts should also arrange for a competent person to produce a Portable Appliance Testing Report on moveable appliances that guests have access to, and to date label and sign inspected appliances.

Examples might include kettles, toasters, lamps, televisions, hairdryers, and moveable heaters.

So your electrical safety file should normally include both:

• EICR for fixed installations.
• PAT report and appliance register for moveable appliances.

Should guests see the EICR?

Scottish Government guidance on responsibilities after obtaining a licence says a copy of the EICR should be available within the premises in a place guests can access.

That does not mean leaving a pile of paperwork on the kitchen table. A tidy guest folder or digital guest information pack can work, as long as guests can access the required information easily.

A simple EICR workflow

Use a workflow like this:

• Book inspection with a competent person.
• Save the full report.
• Record the inspection date and next due date.
• Review any observations.
• Complete required remedial work.
• Save remedial evidence.
• Add the EICR to the guest-accessible information pack.
• Set a reminder well before the next inspection date.

The reminder matters because five years is long enough for everyone to forget.

FAQ

Where this fits in the wider checklist

EICR is one part of the electrical safety picture, and electrical safety is one part of the wider Scottish STL compliance picture.

Use the Scottish short-term let compliance checklist to keep it in context with gas safety, fire safety, insurance, EPC, guest information, planning, and licence renewal.