New reporting tool launched to monitor unsafe electrical installations 

Since the introduction of the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, the volume of Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs) carried out by UK electricians has grown rapidly. These regulations require every privately rented property in England to undergo an EICR at least every five years. The aim is to identify faults or deterioration within electrical installations that could pose safety risks to tenants. 

When a report is completed, copies must be provided to the landlord, tenant, and—if requested—the local authority. Landlords are legally required to rectify any “unsatisfactory” issues flagged in the report within 28 days, ensuring remedial work is prioritised. 

While this regulatory framework has improved electrical safety in the rental sector, there has until now been no centralised way of tracking the wider patterns of unsafe electrical installations discovered across the country. That’s where the new online reporting tool—developed jointly by TrustMark and the Electrical Safety Roundtable (ESR)—comes in. 

Why is a reporting tool needed? 

EICRs have shone a spotlight on the condition of the nation’s electrical infrastructure. But although electricians are uncovering unsafe and non-compliant installations daily, there has been little data collated on the most common faults or the areas most at risk. This lack of visibility makes it difficult for policymakers, industry bodies and safety groups to design targeted solutions. 

By creating a structured reporting tool, TrustMark and ESR hope to build a nationwide picture of unsafe installations. The collected data will highlight trends, help prioritise risks, and influence whether additional legislation or safety campaigns are needed to address ongoing issues. 

How does the tool work? 

The system is designed to be straightforward: 

• Any person—typically electricians conducting an EICR—can submit details of unsafe or non-compliant electrical installations they encounter. 

• Submissions include the type of property, nature of the hazard, and photographic or descriptive evidence of the condition. 

• The tool anonymises the property details but records enough information to build a clear picture of recurring risks. 

The information will be publicly available, creating transparency and allowing government, industry and the general public to understand the scale of unsafe electrics in homes. 

Benefits for electricians and the public 

For electricians, this reporting tool provides a way to raise the profile of recurring safety issues that are too often hidden. It also supports the case for higher standards of training and inspection, including qualifications such as the 2391 course, which focuses specifically on inspection and testing competency. 

For the public, it adds reassurance. Greater transparency means unsafe electrical work can’t be brushed aside, and landlords are under more pressure to address issues quickly. The data also feeds into wider safety strategies that benefit households nationwide. 

Towards better compliance and safer homes 

Unsafe electrical installations remain a persistent risk in the UK housing stock, particularly in older buildings. By combining tighter legal requirements, mandatory EICRs, and now the ability to log unsafe conditions into a central system, the industry is moving towards a more proactive approach to electrical safety. 

This tool is another reminder of the importance of high-quality training. From foundation qualifications like C&G 2365 through to advanced inspection and testing courses, developing competent electricians is key to p reventing unsafe installations before they occur. Safety awareness modules such as Environmental 3 and Environmental 4 reinforce this by ensuring trainees understand the regulatory and environmental context of their work. 

By using the new reporting tool, electricians can contribute to a safer industry and help shape the next wave of policy decisions. In the long run, this collective effort should mean fewer hazards, stronger compliance, and greater protection for tenants across the UK. 

1 – What is the purpose of the new reporting tool for unsafe electrical installations?

The new reporting tool, launched in January 2022 by the Electrical Safety Roundtable (ESR) and TrustMark, aims to monitor and quantify the levels of unsafe and non-compliant electrical installations in UK homes, enabling better understanding of electrical risks and informing potential policy or industry changes to enhance safety standards. It provides a c entralized way to track data from increased EICRs, helping identify trends in hazards like faulty wiring or outdated consumer units. 

2 – Who developed the tool and why?

The tool was developed by the Electrical Safety Roundtable (ESR), a coalition of industry bodies including Electrical Safety First, IET, and RECC, in partnership with TrustMark, the UK government’s quality assurance scheme for trades. It was created to address the lack of centralized data on unsafe installations uncovered by mandatory EICRs since 2020, allowing for evidence-based interventions to reduce electrical fires and shocks, which cause hundreds of incidents annually. 

3 – Who can submit reports into the system?

Anyone can submit reports, including homeowners, tenants, electricians, landlords, and other professionals who discover unsafe or non-compliant electrical work during inspections or maintenance. The tool is accessible via www.reportunsafeelectricalwork.co.uk, designed for easy, anonymous submissions if preferred. 

4 – What kind of information needs to be provided when reporting an unsafe installation?

Submitters must provide details like the type of unsafe work (e.g., faulty wiring, missing RCDs), location (postcode or region), date discovered, and a description of the issue, often from an EICR report, without requiring enforcement actions or personal identification for the reporter. The form is quick and simple, focusing on risk quantification rather than investigation. 

5 – Does the tool record personal or property details of tenants and landlords?

No, the tool does not record personal or property details of tenants or landlords to protect privacy—it collects anonymized data on the nature and location of issues (e.g., regional trends) for analysis, without identifying individuals or specific addresses. This ensures submissions are confidential and focused on aggregate insights. 

6 – How will the data from the tool be used by industry and policymakers?

The data will be analyzed to identify high-risk areas and trends in unsafe installations, informing policy decisions like enhanced regulations or training needs, and shared publicly to drive industry improvements and reduce electrical hazards. It supports evidence-based changes, similar to HSE’s RIDDOR, to prevent fires and shocks. 

7 – Is the information submitted to the tool available to the public?

Yes, aggregated and anonymized data from submissions will be made publicly available on the ESR website to raise awareness of electrical risks and guide safety improvements, but individual reports remain confidential. This transparency helps quantify national safety levels. 

8 – How does this tool link with mandatory Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs)?

The tool is directly linked to EICRs, as it captures data from reports identifying C1/C2/C3 codes (immediate dangers or improvements), allowing electricians and landlords to report findings centrally to track compliance trends post-2020 r egulations. It complements the mandatory 5-year EICR cycle by providing industry-wide insights for better enforcement. 

9 – What benefits does the reporting tool provide for electricians?

The tool benefits electricians by enabling easy submission of EICR findings for industry data, raising awareness of common issues to inform training, and supporting evidence for policy changes that could reduce non-compliant work—ultimately enhancing professional standards and client trust. It also connects to guidance on rectification, aiding remediation efforts. 

10 – How will the tool help improve overall electrical safety in UK homes?

The tool will improve safety by quantifying risks from unsafe installations, enabling targeted interventions, policy reforms (e.g., stricter EICR enforcement), and public education, potentially reducing the 20,000+ annual electrical fires and 1,000+ injuries. By aggregating data, it drives systemic changes for safer homes.