Pennington Choices Blog

Gaining Access to Properties for Electrical Safety Checks

Written by Pennington Choices | Aug 29, 2025 2:11:21 PM

Gaining access to residents’ homes to undertake checks and repairs can be challenging for landlords. Tenants are entitled to privacy and quiet enjoyment, but landlords have a duty to ensure properties are safe. This tension becomes particularly important when arranging electrical safety checks and repairs.

This blog sets out the specific requirements for gaining access for electrical safety checks and how to comply with legislation whilst respecting tenants’ rights.

Why access matters

Electrical safety checks are essential to ensure homes remain safe and installations are in good condition. From November 2025, Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs) will become a legal requirement for social landlords, aligning the sector with private rented homes.

In our recent webinar, Understanding Electrical Safety Requirements in Social Housing, our experts discussed the challenge of gaining access to properties for electrical safety checks.

During the webinar, we asked attendees: What is your organisation’s final escalation method for hard-to-access properties on your electrical safety programme? 51% of respondents answered that they are already using the court injunction route to gain access. Organisations will continue using this route with the upcoming changes to legal electrical safety regulation that will enforce it, but ideally, access should be arranged before reaching that stage.

To find out more about the changes coming into force from November 2025 and further best practices on gaining access, catch up on the full webinar on-demand here.

Landlords' right of access

As a landlord, you have a statutory right to enter properties you let in order to:

  • Assess condition
  • Carry out repairs
  • Undertake statutory inspections, including electrical safety checks

These rights are normally included as express terms in tenancy agreements. To gain access, government guidance makes clear that you should:

  • Make best efforts to engage with tenants
  • Provide clear information on why access is required
  • Explain what the inspection will involve

If tenants refuse access, you can take action by applying for a court injunction, but you must first show you have taken all reasonable steps. This includes keeping an auditable trail of communications and attempts to agree on a suitable time.

Your tenants' rights

Whilst you have rights of access, tenants also hold important protections:

  • The right to privacy
  • The right to quiet enjoyment of their home
  • The right to reasonable notice before entry

This balance means you must carefully document every step taken to arrange access before escalating matters legally.

What if access is denied? 

If a tenant continues to refuse entry, you can apply for a court order to gain access. Before doing so, landlords must show that they have:

  • Made repeated, reasonable attempts to liaise with residents
  • Offered a suitable time frame for undertaking the repairs or the visits
  • Followed a stringent, robust access process

Courts will weigh a landlord’s efforts against a tenant’s rights before granting an order. It's important to note that forced entry should only ever be used in emergencies where there is an imminent risk to people or property.

Preparing for November 2025 

Access is already one of the biggest barriers organisations face, and the introduction of legal EICR requirements will not change that reality. To combat this challenge, landlords need a clear, documented process from when you start inspections, including:

  • Recording every attempt to contact tenants
  • Understanding how you will escalate the process in instances of no access
  • Maintaining a full audit trail to support any court application

Some organisations mirror their gas servicing access process, which is familiar and effective. However, it's crucial to consider that electrical safety injunctions are based on discretionary grounds (for example, damage or repairs needed), as opposed to having mandatory provisions. Courts will therefore exercise discretion, and responses can vary significantly between courts.

FAQs

When will EICRs become a legal requirement for social landlords?

From November 2025. This brings social housing in line with the private rented sector.

How should landlords evidence their attempts to gain access?

Through a clear, auditable trail consisting of letters, emails, phone calls, and records of visits. Courts expect to see this before granting an injunction.

How quickly do courts grant access orders?

It varies. Some courts act quickly, whilst others take much longer. Landlords must factor this variability into their processes.

Can landlords use forced entry?

Only in emergencies, such as when there is a serious and immediate risk to safety or property. It is never acceptable as part of routine inspection access.

Need expert advice on your electrical safety or wider property compliance strategy? Get in touch with our team now for tailored support.