Fixed-wiring fires reached 2,575 in England in the year to March 2026, the highest figure in the published series, according to a fresh review of MHCLG fire data that puts electrical checks back in focus for landlords.
The count for fires linked to wiring, cabling, plugs and mains installations was 13 percent higher than five years earlier, while fires linked to faulty appliances fell by 2 percent over the same period. The contrast is important: the greater risk identified by the new analysis sits in systems tenants cannot readily see or test.
Landlords already have a legal duty to keep electrical installations safe and to arrange an Electrical Installation Condition Report at least every five years in most private rented homes in England. With the latest annual figures now in the public domain, a current certificate and prompt remedial work are practical safeguards rather than paperwork to defer.
MHCLG data puts the figure in context
The 2,575 figure concerns fixed electrical installations, not the wider total of dwelling fires. Landlord Knowledge’s report on a £7,500 West Suffolk electrical-safety fine showed how enforcement can follow when required checks and remedial action are not in place. The new fire analysis adds a safety reason to the compliance case.
MHCLG recorded 26,180 dwelling fires in England in the year ending March 2026, up 2.8 percent on the previous year. Its detailed release says 23,795 were accidental dwelling fires. Cooking appliances remained the largest specified ignition category, but the review of the installation data draws attention to the condition of the fixed system behind sockets, lights and consumer units.
The data should not be read as proof that rented homes are driving the rise: the national series covers all dwellings and does not identify tenure in this breakdown. That limitation matters. It does, however, make the five-year EICR cycle and the duty to act on a report’s findings more significant for a landlord who has delayed an inspection.
What landlords should check after an EICR
An EICR is not a one-off substitute for maintenance. Landlords should retain the report, give a copy to the tenant and make sure any observation requiring remedial work is properly resolved. Landlord Knowledge’s maintenance-triage guide sets out how to record and prioritise repair reports, which can help make sure warning signs such as repeated tripping, burning smells or damaged fittings are not left in an inbox.
The official figures also show why it is unwise to treat the issue as purely seasonal. The broader rise in fires during the year was heavily affected by outdoor fires during hot, dry weather, but dwelling-fire numbers also increased. A planned inspection programme is more reliable than waiting for a tenant to spot a fault.
MHCLG’s detailed fire statistics for England cover the period from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. They record 254 fire-related fatalities across all types of fire, although fatalities in dwelling fires fell year on year.
What this means for landlords
- If an EICR is due: book a qualified inspector before the five-year point rather than relying on a previous tenant’s report.
- If a report flags work: arrange and document remedial work promptly, then keep the completion evidence with the certificate.
- Watch for: repeat circuit trips, damaged sockets, burning smells and loose fittings reported by tenants.
- When changing tenants: give the incoming tenant the current EICR and make sure the property file records when the next inspection falls due.
- Bottom line: the national data does not separate rented homes, but it leaves little room to treat electrical checks as a low-priority task.
Editor’s view
The headline is not a reason to panic, and the figures do not identify landlords as the source of the increase. But fixed wiring is easy to overlook precisely because it is hidden. A current EICR and evidence that its findings were dealt with remain among the most defensible records a landlord can hold.
Author: Editorial Team – UK landlord & buy-to-let news, policy, and finance
Published: 16 September 2026
Sources: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government fire statistics
Related reading: West Suffolk keeps £7,500 landlord electrical safety fine
