Unsatisfactory EICR: what to do next
An unsatisfactory EICR needs action based on its actual observations, not simply another certificate booking. Obtain the complete report, identify any immediate safety instructions and ask what remedial work or investigation is required. For a rented property, track the applicable deadlines and completion evidence as well as the repair appointment.
Loyal Plumbers · Updated
Get help with this problemRead the complete report, not just the result
The cover-page result does not explain every finding. Read the observations, classification codes, schedules, inspection extent and recorded limitations. Check that the address and installation described match the premises you commissioned. A report on one part of a divided building may not cover communal areas or another supply.
If something is unclear, ask the inspector to identify the location and explain the observation in plain language. Keep the full document when seeking a remedial proposal. A cropped photograph of the result page can omit the information another professional needs to understand what was inspected and what remains uncertain.
What the classification codes mean
C1 identifies danger present and calls for immediate action to address the danger. C2 identifies a potentially dangerous condition requiring urgent remedial attention. FI means further investigation is required without delay. A report with C1, C2 or FI observations is unsatisfactory; C3 is an improvement recommendation and does not alone make the result unsatisfactory.
Electrical Safety First’s classification guidance explains the purpose of these codes. A code relates to the assessed condition and context, not just the age or appearance of a component. Do not use an online example to downgrade a finding without the installation being professionally considered.
Deal with immediate safety instructions first
Follow the inspector’s instructions about affected circuits or equipment. If something has been isolated or taken out of use, do not reconnect it yourself to restore convenience. Ask the professional to explain what remains usable and what must happen before the affected part can return to service.
Do not open consumer units, remove socket fronts or test live wiring to verify a report. If you see an immediate hazard or a condition changes after the inspection, arrange urgent electrical help rather than waiting for an administrative deadline. The paperwork and the physical safety of the installation are connected but not interchangeable.
Use current rented-sector rules
In England, current GOV.UK guidance covers both private and social rented housing following the 2025 extension. Where the report requires remedial or investigative work, qualifying landlords must complete it within 28 days or the shorter period stated in the report. Immediate danger should not be treated as permission to wait 28 days.
After completion, the guidance requires the report and written confirmation from the qualified person to be supplied to the tenant and local council within 28 days. Check the current guidance for the applicable tenancy, full duties and social-sector transitional provisions. A generic private-sector checklist written before the changes may omit relevant requirements.
Turn observations into a clear work scope
Ask the quotation to link proposed work to the report’s observation numbers or descriptions. Separate work needed to address C1, C2 or FI findings from optional improvements. This makes it possible to understand the priority and compare another proposal without losing the reason each item was recommended.
An FI finding may require investigation before a permanent repair can be specified. Ask what the investigative stage includes, how findings will be explained and how further work will be authorised. Do not assume a single fixed repair can be priced accurately while the relevant condition is still unknown.
Plan access and interruption
Remedial work may need access to more than the consumer unit and may interrupt power. Confirm tenant or occupier arrangements, the rooms involved and any equipment that cannot simply be disconnected. For managed buildings, determine whether shared areas or another party’s permission are required.
Explain medical-equipment dependencies, security systems and business operations before attendance so safe arrangements can be discussed. If access fails, record the problem and take appropriate steps promptly. A contractor being booked is not the same as the required work being completed.
Check the completion evidence
The qualified person should provide suitable written confirmation or certification for the work completed. GOV.UK lists acceptable forms including an appropriate electrical installation or minor works certificate, a satisfactory EICR or other appropriate electrical certification. The correct documentation depends on the work; a full replacement report is not automatically the only route.
Keep the original report and the completion evidence together, with a clear link between the findings and the work. A general invoice saying electrical repairs may not explain which observations were resolved. Ask about any remaining limitations or recommendations and record who will address them.
If you disagree with a finding
Begin by requesting clarification from the inspector and, where needed, an independent assessment by a suitably competent professional. Provide the complete report and relevant installation history. The aim is to establish the condition and appropriate action, not simply find someone willing to issue a different result.
Do not delay urgent safety action while debating an unrelated improvement recommendation. Keep correspondence and explanations so decisions remain traceable. If the issue becomes a contractual or regulatory dispute, obtain advice suited to that dispute rather than treating a repair quotation as a legal determination.
Arrange help with an existing report
For an enquiry with Loyal Plumbers, provide the postcode, property use and a brief description of the report findings. Mention the full report and the team can arrange a way to share it after contact. Say whether there is an immediate safety restriction, a tenancy deadline or a managing agent coordinating access.
Our service covers London and inside the M25, with 10 active vans and 24/7 availability. The next appointment may be an investigation or a remedial assessment rather than another routine EICR. Its scope should follow the existing findings and the access required.
Questions we get asked
- Does C3 mean the inspection has failed?
- C3 alone does not make the report unsatisfactory. It recommends improvement. C1, C2 and FI require a different response; read the actual observations and professional advice.
- Must I use the original inspector for repairs?
- You can discuss the work with another appropriately competent professional. Provide the full report and agree what investigation, repair and completion evidence are needed.
- Does an unsatisfactory report automatically require a rewire?
- No. The necessary work depends on the observations and any further investigation. Ask for a proposal tied to the findings rather than assuming the result describes one universal repair.
- Can I ignore FI if no definite fault was recorded?
- No. FI identifies a need for further investigation without delay. The uncertainty needs resolving by a competent person; it is not a satisfactory finding.
Sources and further reading
Need help with this in London?
Emergency repairs, investigations and planned installations across London and inside the M25. Tell us what you need so we can agree the next step.
Discuss your job