What Happens After an Unsatisfactory EICR?

Understanding an unsatisfactory result

An EICR records the condition of a fixed electrical installation at the time of inspection, within the stated scope and limitations. It commonly covers the consumer unit, wiring, sockets, lighting circuits and permanently connected equipment. A report becomes unsatisfactory where an observation is classified C1 or C2, and on report forms made before the 2026 amendment also FI. On the BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 model form, FI and C3 sit in the advisory section and do not, by themselves, make the report unsatisfactory. The same report may contain several observations with different levels of urgency, so the overall verdict is only the starting point.

The inspector’s observation schedule should identify the affected circuit or equipment, the classification code, any limitations and the recommended action. If the description is unclear, ask the inspecting electrician to explain what has been tested, what is unsafe or potentially unsafe, and whether anything has already been isolated. The guidance on classification codes in Electrical Safety First’s Best Practice Guide 4, listed in the official sources below, is useful context, but the action at a particular property must be based on the actual inspection findings rather than a generic list of examples.

The original unsatisfactory report is never rewritten. Keep it with the certificate or written confirmation that closes each observation.

Prioritising C1, C2, C3 and FI findings

C1 means danger is present and there is an immediate risk of injury. It requires immediate action to make the danger safe; that may involve isolating the affected part of the installation. C2 means potentially dangerous — urgent remedial action required, even where nothing appears to be failing in everyday use. FI means the inspector could not establish the safety position from the evidence available: older forms said further investigation was required without delay, the 2026 model form says it is advised, and current GOV.UK guidance for rented homes in England still expects landlords to have it investigated. C3 is advisory: improvements may be worthwhile, but C3 alone does not trigger the same statutory remedial requirement. Our guide EICR C1, C2, C3 and FI Codes Explained covers each code in detail.

Treating every observation as an emergency is unhelpful, but so is treating a C2 or FI as something to deal with at the next routine inspection. The key question is what may safely remain in use while the electrician investigates or repairs the defect. A landlord or tenant should not reopen a consumer unit, repeatedly reset protection, remove socket fronts or attempt tests. Where there is active smoke, fire, serious shock risk or another immediate threat, move people to safety and call 999 when appropriate.

An FI is not closed because someone attended. It is closed by a written result, and any new defect it finds starts its own remedial requirement.

The 28-day rule for landlords in England

Under the Electrical Safety Standards Regulations 2020, where the EICR requires further investigative or remedial work, a landlord must arrange for it to be carried out by a qualified person within 28 days, or within the shorter period stated in the report. The statutory 28 days run from the date of the inspection and testing, not from the day the PDF reaches the landlord’s inbox or the date a contractor produces a quotation. A C1 hazard needs an immediate safety response; the 28-day limit is not permission to leave an immediate danger exposed.

Government guidance now covers both the private and social rented sectors, subject to the applicable commencement and transitional arrangements. It also explains the reporting and documentation duties once work is finished. The current GOV.UK guidance for landlords and tenants, listed below, is the appropriate reference when deciding how the rules apply to a particular English tenancy. Separate housing and repairing duties may also be relevant; a satisfactory inspection five years ago would not justify ignoring a new dangerous defect today.

Arranging EICR remedial work

Confirm the observations and scope

Start with the full signed report rather than a screenshot of the summary page. Match every C1, C2 and FI observation to a circuit, location or item of equipment where the report gives that detail. Check whether the inspector made anything safe during the visit and whether there are limits on using parts of the installation. Ask for an explanation if an observation is too vague to quote sensibly. The priority is to address the reported safety issue, not to authorise unrelated upgrades simply because they were mentioned in the same visit.

Arrange a qualified electrician and agree the work

Send the report and inspection date to a suitably qualified electrician, with the property address, tenant’s contact arrangements and any access restrictions. A proper quotation for EICR remedial work should distinguish necessary repairs from optional C3 improvements and should state what further testing or access may be needed. TRACEFORM’s EICR inspection and testing service explains the difference between condition reporting, remedial work and the associated records. Where the report identifies an urgent hazard, make the safety arrangement first; do not wait for a routine appointment slot or a full refurbishment quotation.

Keep the tenant informed while access is arranged

Tell the occupier what the report means for normal use of the property, which parts of the installation must not be used and when the electrician is expected to attend. If the tenancy is managed by an agent, identify who can authorise the work and who is responsible for providing documents afterwards. TRACEFORM’s landlord electrical services information covers how landlords and agents can coordinate access and repair instructions without asking tenants to investigate unsafe electrical equipment themselves.

The records needed after the work is finished

The original unsatisfactory EICR records what was found on the inspection date. Completing the work does not rewrite that historical report into a satisfactory one. Instead, the landlord should obtain suitable written confirmation from a qualified person explaining what was investigated or repaired and whether the relevant electrical safety standards are now met, or whether further work is still necessary. Depending on the work, acceptable evidence may include an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC), a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate (MEIWC), a satisfactory EICR or other appropriate certification.

For covered rented properties in England, the landlord must provide the existing tenant and the local council with the original report and written confirmation within 28 days after completion of the required investigative or remedial work. This is a separate 28-day window from the deadline to carry out the work. Keep evidence of delivery and retain the documents with the property record. A follow-up full EICR is not automatically required after every repair; the appropriate certification depends on what has actually been done, whether the inspection findings have been resolved and the qualified person’s judgement.

The paperwork should be specific. A general invoice marked “electrical repairs” may not show which EICR observations were closed, what tests were undertaken or whether the installation meets the required standard. Ask the electrician to identify the work completed and any remaining restrictions. A clear document trail helps the landlord, the tenant and any later inspector understand why the earlier unsatisfactory report should not be treated as an unresolved defect.

Further investigation and additional defects

An FI observation is not an instruction to replace equipment on speculation. It means the inspector needs more information before the condition can be assessed properly. For example, access limitations or unexpected test results may prevent a safe conclusion about a circuit. Investigation may show that no repair is needed, or it may reveal a defect that does require remedial work. Record the result of that investigation in writing rather than treating the FI as closed merely because somebody attended.

If further investigation identifies additional investigative or remedial work, the statutory steps must be repeated for that additional requirement. The first visit does not automatically close the observation. Obtain the qualified person’s findings in writing, agree the next action promptly and keep the tenant informed about any continuing safety restriction. A quotation should distinguish what is established by the original EICR from work that can only be scoped after further access or testing.

Delays, disputed findings and council involvement

The deadline should be planned around the inspection date, but complications do occur: specialist parts can be unavailable, a supply-side change may require another organisation, or tenant-specific access needs may affect the appointment. Government guidance recognises that a landlord may be able to demonstrate that all reasonable steps were taken to comply despite genuine practical constraints. That is not a general extension or a reason to leave dangerous equipment in service. Keep appointment attempts, contractor correspondence, access requests and any interim safety measures documented, and seek advice promptly if the deadline is at risk.

If a classification appears mistaken, ask the inspector for the supporting evidence or obtain a qualified second opinion without delaying action on a possible hazard. A disagreement between contractors is not itself written confirmation of compliance. Local councils have enforcement powers where duties are not met, including remedial notices, arrangements for certain urgent work and financial penalties in appropriate cases. The sensible approach is to resolve the risk and preserve a reliable record, not to debate terminology while the electrical condition remains uncertain.

Repairing the defect without unnecessary replacement

An unsatisfactory EICR may identify something localised: an unsuitable protective arrangement, a damaged accessory, inadequate earthing or bonding, or a circuit requiring more detailed testing. Some findings need targeted repair; others may justify more substantial changes. The report is evidence for an assessment, not an automatic instruction to replace the consumer unit or rewire the building. If replacement is proposed, the electrician should explain which observation it resolves and why a narrower remedy would not be suitable. TRACEFORM’s consumer unit replacement service explains the assessment behind that decision.

EICR work also differs from diagnosing a newly reported fault. A planned inspection documents installation condition; electrical fault finding investigates a symptom such as an unexpected loss of power, persistent tripping or unusual heating. If the tenant reports such a symptom before the scheduled remedial visit, it needs a fresh risk assessment. The existing guide Landlord Electrical Emergency Obligations discusses how landlord response duties continue alongside the routine inspection process.