Unsatisfactory EICR — What Happens Next?

The overall assessment on an EICR is a binary judgement: Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. The rule is straightforward and absolute.

If any observation on the EICR is classified as C1 (Danger Present) or C2 (Potentially Dangerous), the overall condition of the installation must be recorded as Unsatisfactory. There is no discretion here — a single C1 or C2 is enough. Even if the rest of the installation is in perfect condition, one C2 observation makes the entire report Unsatisfactory.

If the EICR contains only C3 (Improvement Recommended) observations or no observations at all, the overall assessment is Satisfactory. C3 items are advisory — they indicate that the installation does not fully comply with the current edition of BS 7671 but is not dangerous. The installation is safe for continued use.

FI (Further Investigation) observations do not automatically make the report Unsatisfactory, but they indicate that certain parts of the installation could not be fully assessed. If the inspector has reason to believe that the area requiring further investigation may reveal a dangerous condition, they should note this clearly and advise the responsible person accordingly.

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Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, landlords have specific legal obligations when an EICR returns an Unsatisfactory result. These obligations have real teeth — the penalties are significant and local authorities are increasingly willing to enforce them.

As the inspector, you have responsibilities that go beyond simply filling in the EICR form. Your duty of care includes ensuring that the person responsible for the installation is made aware of any dangerous conditions and understands the urgency of remedial action.

When a C1 (Danger Present) observation is identified:

• Immediately advise the responsible person (verbally and in writing) that a danger exists
• If possible, remove the danger or make it safe before leaving the premises — for example, by isolating the affected circuit
• Record on the report that the responsible person has been informed and what immediate action was taken
• If the danger cannot be fully eliminated, specify on the report that immediate remedial action is required

When a C2 (Potentially Dangerous) observation is identified:

• Advise the responsible person that urgent remedial action is required
• Explain the nature of the risk in terms the client can understand
• Provide a written summary of the defects and the recommended remedial actions
• Where possible, provide a quote for the remedial work so the client can act promptly

Documenting your communication with the client is essential. If an incident occurs and you are asked to demonstrate that you acted responsibly, your records of what you told the client, when you told them, and what immediate actions you took will be critical evidence.

Delivering an Unsatisfactory result is one of the more difficult parts of the job. Many landlords and property owners do not expect it, and some will push back — questioning your findings, asking you to change the codes, or simply refusing to act. Here is how to handle these conversations professionally.

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Every C1, C2, and FI observation feeds straight into the Elec-Mate remedial works estimator. It prices the fix — materials, labour…

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Once the remedial work has been identified on the unsatisfactory EICR, the next steps depend on the scope and nature of the work required.

For minor remedial work (replacing an RCD, reconnecting a bonding conductor, securing a loose connection), written confirmation from a qualified person is usually sufficient. This takes the form of a letter or document referencing the original EICR, listing the specific observations that have been addressed, confirming the work done, and recording any relevant test results to verify the repair. In Elec-Mate, you can generate this remedial confirmation document directly from the original EICR.

For significant remedial work (consumer unit replacement, rewiring of circuits, major changes to the earthing arrangements), additional certification is needed:

• If new circuits are installed as part of the remedial work, an EIC is required for the new circuits
• If alterations are made to existing circuits without new circuits, a Minor Works certificate covers each alteration
• A full re-inspection EICR may be appropriate if the remedial work was extensive enough to warrant re-assessing the overall condition of the installation

The remedial work must be completed by a competent person — not necessarily the same person who carried out the original inspection, although in practice it often is. The person completing the remedial work provides the written confirmation that the landlord needs to satisfy the regulations.

An unsatisfactory EICR has real consequences for insurance, and this is often the argument that motivates reluctant clients to act on the remedial work.

Most building and landlord insurance policies include conditions requiring the insured to maintain the property in a safe condition and to comply with all applicable regulations. An unsatisfactory EICR is documentary evidence that the electrical installation has identified defects. If those defects are not addressed and an electrical incident subsequently occurs — a fire, a shock injury, or worse — the insurer may refuse to pay the claim.

The logic is straightforward: the insurer provided cover on the basis that the property would be maintained safely. The unsatisfactory EICR proves the policyholder knew about the defects. Failure to act on those defects can be treated as a breach of the policy conditions, voiding the cover entirely — not just for the electrical incident, but potentially for the entire policy.

Some insurers now require evidence of a satisfactory EICR before providing or renewing cover. This is becoming increasingly common for landlord insurance, commercial property insurance, and HMO insurance. As an electrician, mentioning the insurance implications to the client can be an effective way to motivate prompt remedial action.

For the electrician, professional indemnity insurance is also relevant. If you issue an EICR and the client subsequently claims that the report was inaccurate, your PI insurance should cover the claim. However, accurate and thorough documentation is essential — a well-completed EICR with clear observations, correct classification codes, and evidence of client notification is your best defence.

Elec-Mate is designed to handle the entire unsatisfactory EICR workflow — from identifying the defects to pricing the remedial work and generating the quote.

Complete Unsatisfactory EICR Workflow

From AI-powered defect coding to automatic overall assessment to on-site remedial quotes — Elec-Mate handles the entire unsatisfactory EICR workflow.

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