When an electrician completes an EICR on a rented property and the overall assessment is Unsatisfactory, it triggers a specific chain of legal obligations for the landlord under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020.
An EICR is classified as Unsatisfactory when the inspector records one or more C1 (Danger Present) or C2 (Potentially Dangerous) observation codes. These codes indicate defects in the electrical installation that pose a risk of injury to the occupants. The landlord cannot ignore an unsatisfactory result — the law requires specific action within specific timeframes.
This guide explains exactly what happens next: the landlord's obligations, the deadlines, how to prioritise defects, how to get the remedial work done, what evidence is needed, and what enforcement powers the local authority has. If you are a landlord who has received an unsatisfactory EICR, or an electrician who regularly carries out landlord EICRs, this guide covers everything you need to know.