REMEDIATION GUIDE

EICR Remediation Work: C1, C2, C3 and FI Explained

When an EICR comes back Unsatisfactory, landlords must act fast. This guide explains every observation code — C1, C2, C3 and FI — what legally must be fixed and by when, typical remediation costs, how to get quotes, and whether you must use the same electrician.

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13 min readUpdated 2026-05-18Andrew Moore, Founder of Elec-Mate

Written and reviewed by Andrew Moore, founder of Elec-Mate, against BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, IET Guidance Note 3 and the IET On-Site Guide.

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Key Takeaways

  • 1C1 (danger present) observations require immediate remedial action — the inspector may recommend disconnecting the affected circuit on the day of inspection.
  • 2C2 (potentially dangerous) observations make the EICR Unsatisfactory and must be remedied within 28 days under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020.
  • 3C3 (improvement recommended) observations do not make the EICR Unsatisfactory and are not legally required to be addressed within 28 days — but addressing them is good practice and prevents future C2 classification.
  • 4FI (further investigation required) observations must be investigated promptly — the inspector cannot classify the observation further until the investigation is complete. The EICR will be Unsatisfactory if FI items remain unresolved.
  • 5Remediation must be carried out by a qualified person and confirmed in writing. The written confirmation must be provided to the tenant and to the local authority within 28 days of completion.
  • 6The most common and costly remediation item is consumer unit replacement to provide RCD protection, typically £600 to £1,200.
01 · Remediation Guide

Understanding C1, C2, C3 and FI Observation Codes

When an EICR inspector identifies a defect or departure from BS 7671, they classify it using a standardised observation code. These codes determine whether the EICR is Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory and what action is required. Understanding the codes is essential for landlords, tenants, and property professionals who receive or act on EICR reports.

  • C1 — Danger Present — "Risk of injury; immediate remedial action required." C1 is the most serious classification. The inspector records C1 where the installation presents an immediate risk of electric shock, fire, or burns. A single C1 observation makes the entire EICR Unsatisfactory. The inspector may recommend immediate disconnection of the affected circuit. Examples: live exposed conductors, missing consumer unit covers, severely degraded cable insulation with exposed cores.
  • C2 — Potentially Dangerous — "Urgent remedial action required." C2 is recorded where the installation does not present an immediate danger but could do so if left unaddressed. A C2 makes the EICR Unsatisfactory. Under the 2020 Regulations, landlords must complete remediation within 28 days. Examples: absence of RCD protection on socket-outlet circuits, inadequate earthing, overloaded circuits.
  • C3 — Improvement Recommended — "Improvement recommended." C3 does not make the EICR Unsatisfactory and is not legally required to be addressed within 28 days. C3 items are typically non-compliances with the current edition of BS 7671 that do not present a danger — for example, absence of arc fault detection (AFDD) which is recommended but not required for existing installations, or cable routes that are not marked but are not damaged.
  • FI — Further Investigation Required — "Further investigation required without delay." FI is recorded where the inspector cannot assess the condition of part of the installation during the inspection — for example, because cables are concealed and inaccessible, or because test results suggest a fault that cannot be located without further investigation. FI makes the EICR Unsatisfactory. The investigation must be completed and the affected observations reclassified as C1, C2, C3, or cleared.

An EICR is assessed as Satisfactory only if it contains no C1, C2, or FI observations. The presence of C3 observations alone does not make an EICR Unsatisfactory. An EICR is Unsatisfactory if it contains one or more C1, C2, or FI observations.

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02 · Remediation Guide

What Must Be Fixed and By When

The remediation obligations for landlords under the Electrical Safety Standards Regulations 2020 are clear and legally enforceable. Different observation codes carry different timescales.

  • C1 — immediately — the 2020 Regulations require remediation within 28 days, but C1 observations represent immediate danger and should not be left that long. Where the inspector recommends disconnection of the affected circuit, act on that recommendation immediately. Arrange emergency remedial work as soon as possible. Do not allow tenants to use the affected circuit until it is made safe.
  • C2 — within 28 days — the 28-day clock starts from the date of the EICR, not from when the landlord receives the report. Arrange remediation promptly; 28 days is not much time if specialist work is needed or contractors are busy.
  • FI — promptly, then reclassify — FI items should be investigated as soon as possible. Until they are resolved and reclassified, the EICR is Unsatisfactory, which means the landlord is not compliant with the 2020 Regulations.
  • C3 — no legal deadline — C3 items are not legally required to be addressed within 28 days and do not make the EICR Unsatisfactory. However, they should be addressed at the next convenient opportunity to prevent deterioration.

Once remediation is complete, the landlord must obtain written confirmation from a qualified electrician that the work has been satisfactorily completed. This confirmation must be provided to the tenant within 28 days of the work being finished, and to the local authority within seven days if requested.

03 · Remediation Guide

Common EICR Remediation Work

The following types of remediation work are the most commonly required following an Unsatisfactory EICR in a domestic rental property.

  • Consumer unit replacement — the most common remediation item. Where an older consumer unit lacks RCD protection on socket-outlet circuits (required under Regulation 411.3.3 of BS 7671), the entire consumer unit is typically replaced with a modern dual-RCD or RCBO board. This satisfies the requirement and also modernises overcurrent protection.
  • Main protective bonding — the main earthing terminal must be connected to all incoming metallic services (gas, water, oil). Missing or undersized bonding conductors are a common C2. The remediation involves installing correctly sized bonding conductors (typically 10mm² for a TN-S or TN-C-S supply) from the main earthing terminal to the gas and water meter pipework.
  • Supplementary bonding in bathrooms — where a bathroom has exposed metalwork (metal baths, pipes, waste fittings) that is not covered by the main bonding, supplementary bonding conductors (typically 4mm²) must be installed between simultaneously accessible metal parts.
  • Cable repairs and replacements — damaged, overheated, or deteriorated cables must be repaired or replaced. For small sections, a splice in an accessible enclosure is acceptable. For longer runs or cables showing widespread deterioration, replacement is required.
  • Correcting amateur additions — non-professional additions to the electrical installation (DIY sockets, junction boxes not in accessible positions, non-standard cable types) are commonly found in older rental properties and must be corrected by a qualified electrician.
04 · Remediation Guide

Typical Remediation Costs (2026)

The cost of EICR remediation varies significantly depending on the work required, the region, and the property. The costs below are indicative for 2026. Labour rates are typically higher in London and the South East.

  • Consumer unit replacement (standard house) — £600 to £1,200. This is the most commonly required and most costly single remediation item. The price includes the new consumer unit, installation, testing, and an Electrical Installation Certificate.
  • Main protective bonding (gas + water) — £150 to £400. Depends on the length of bonding conductor runs and ease of access to the meter locations.
  • Supplementary bonding (bathroom) — £100 to £300 per bathroom. Typically involves installing bonding conductors to bath, basin, and pipe connections.
  • Cable repair (short section) — £100 to £300. Replacing a damaged section of cable in an accessible location. More complex repairs with difficult access or chased cables cost more.
  • Additional circuit (from consumer unit) — £200 to £500 per circuit. Adding a dedicated circuit for a cooker, EV charger, or to separate an overloaded ring main.
  • Full rewire (2-bed house) — £3,000 to £6,000. Rarely required purely as EICR remediation but sometimes the most cost-effective option when an installation has multiple serious defects. Includes new consumer unit, all circuit wiring, sockets, and lighting.

Always obtain at least two quotes for significant remediation work. The 28-day deadline creates urgency, but you are still entitled to compare prices and ensure quality.

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05 · Remediation Guide

Getting Quotes for Remediation Work

The 28-day deadline creates time pressure for landlords, but it is still worth getting at least two quotes for significant remediation work — especially for a consumer unit replacement costing £600 to £1,200 or more.

  • Get the quote on the day of the EICR — the electrician who carries out the EICR is already on site, already understands the installation, and is best placed to quote for remediation immediately. This avoids the need for a second site visit and can significantly reduce the total time taken. Many electricians offer competitive pricing for combined EICR and remediation work.
  • Use registered electricians — for remediation work on a rental property, use an electrician registered with a competent person scheme (NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, or equivalent). This ensures the completed work is self-certified under Part P and that you receive proper documentation (EIC or Minor Works Certificate) for your records.
  • Provide the EICR to each electrician quoting — share the full EICR with any electrician providing a remediation quote. This ensures they quote for all items identified and prevents disputes about scope later. The electrician should confirm in writing which observations they are addressing.
06 · Remediation Guide

Same or Different Electrician for Remediation?

There is no legal requirement to use the same electrician who carried out the EICR for the remediation work. Both options have advantages and disadvantages.

  • Same electrician — advantages — they already know the installation. They can start the remediation immediately after the inspection (if the work is straightforward). No need for a second site visit. They are accountable for both the inspection findings and the remediation.
  • Different electrician — advantages — you may get a more competitive price. An independent electrician carries out a second-opinion check on the work. For significant remediation work (consumer unit replacement, partial rewires), competitive quotes can save hundreds of pounds.
  • Documentation requirements — whichever electrician carries out the remediation, you must obtain written confirmation that the work has been done satisfactorily. For notifiable work (consumer unit replacement or new circuits), this will be an Electrical Installation Certificate. For minor work (replacing a socket, adding a bonding conductor), a Minor Works Certificate is appropriate.

After remediation is complete, the EICR is not automatically updated. If you want a new Satisfactory EICR to show full compliance, you must commission a new inspection of the installation. Some landlords choose to do this immediately after remediation; others rely on the written confirmation from the remediation electrician until the next scheduled EICR.

07 · Remediation Guide

For Electricians: Winning the Remediation Work

Electricians who carry out EICRs are in the best possible position to win the remediation work. The landlord needs to act within 28 days, they trust you because you found the defects, and you already understand the installation. Providing a clear, professional quote on the day of the EICR is the single most effective way to win follow-on remediation contracts.

Quote on Site, Win the Work

Use the Elec-Mate quoting tool to produce a professional remediation quote while you are still on site. Landlords under 28-day pressure will almost always accept a professional same-day quote from the inspector rather than going through the process of finding and briefing a different electrician.

Document Remediation Correctly

After completing remediation, use Elec-Mate to produce the correct documentation — EIC for notifiable work, Minor Works Certificate for smaller jobs. Send the PDF directly to the landlord from site. The landlord has 28 days from completion to provide this to the tenant and local authority.

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