What landlords should tell the electrical inspector about a powered garden office, shed or outbuilding before booking an EICR. This guide is written for practical decision-making and links to the sources used for verification.
The building at the end of the garden is easy to miss
A tenant uses a garden office supplied from the house consumer unit. The last EICR only lists the flat. Does the report cover the office? Do not infer the answer from the report date alone. Government guidance describes the rented-sector check as an inspection of the fixed electrical installation in the premises. The boundary of the rented premises, the circuits and any stated inspection limitations all need to be understood.
A fixed supply, sockets, lighting and a small consumer unit in an outbuilding are not the same as a tenant plugging a temporary device into an indoor socket. Neither is a plug-in appliance check a substitute for assessing fixed wiring. The qualified inspector should confirm what is within the commissioned inspection and document any exclusions.
Give the inspector a route map
Before booking, tell the provider whether the tenant has use of the garden office, whether it has its own consumer unit and how it is supplied from the main building. Share any installation certificate from when the circuit was added. Give safe access to both ends of the supply, including keys and any locked electrical cupboards.
NICEIC notes that garden buildings can have buried or ducted supplies and that their installations may need separate distribution equipment. Exposed garden routes bring weather and mechanical-damage risks. A qualified person—not a photo or an old inventory—must decide what inspection and testing is appropriate for the actual installation.
- Identify every powered outbuilding included in the tenancy
- Find the supply circuit and any outbuilding consumer unit
- Provide previous electrical installation certificates
- Agree access and any limits before the visit
Read the completed report's scope, not just its verdict
When the EICR arrives, check the installation address, description, circuit schedule and limitations. If the garden office was expected to be covered but is not mentioned or was inaccessible, ask the inspector to clarify what was examined and what follow-up is needed. A 'satisfactory' result for the house should not be presented as proof about an uninspected outbuilding.
For England's relevant rented homes, the installation must be inspected and tested by a qualified person at least every five years, or sooner if the report requires. If there is damage, water ingress or an unsafe condition, do not wait for the next routine cycle; ask a competent electrician for advice promptly.
Book with the full scope in view
CertifyEPC can arrange an EICR enquiry for a London rental property with a garden office or other powered outbuilding. Describe it when requesting a quote so the inspector can confirm scope, access and any additional specialist work before attendance.
Research and verification
Authoritative sources
Use these primary and specialist sources to check the current rule and read further.
Requirements can change and unusual properties may need specialist advice. Check the latest official source and the facts of the property before relying on a compliance conclusion.
