My EICR failed — what happens next?
A failed (unsatisfactory) EICR means the inspector found at least one C1, C2 or FI code. As a landlord you have 28 days from the report date to complete remedial work and supply written confirmation; as an owner-occupier the timescale is yours but a C1 means part of the system shouldn't be used until it's fixed.
By Joshua Richardson & Benjamin Clurow · Co-Directors, JBRC Ltd · Last updated 8 April 2026
An unsatisfactory EICR doesn't mean your wiring is dangerous — it means at least one defect needs fixing. C1 is immediate danger and must be made safe on the day. C2 is potentially dangerous and must be remedied within 28 days. FI means further investigation. C3 is recommendation only and doesn't make a report fail. Once remedials are complete the contractor issues a Minor Works or Electrical Installation Certificate and updates the EICR to satisfactory.
What the codes actually mean
C1 — Danger present, risk of injury. Common examples: exposed live conductors, missing covers on a consumer unit, a metallic light fitting with a broken earth. The inspector will isolate the offending circuit before leaving the property.
C2 — Potentially dangerous. Common examples: no RCD protection on socket circuits, undersized main earthing conductor, mixed cable types in a circuit, a cracked socket faceplate that's still functional. These are the bulk of failed-EICR remedials.
C3 — Improvement recommended. Examples: no surge protection device, plastic consumer unit (which doesn't fail an EICR but is recommended for replacement). C3s do not make a report fail.
FI — Further investigation required. The inspector couldn't safely test something — usually because access was blocked, a floorboard couldn't be lifted, or a circuit's destination was unclear. FI means the report stands as unsatisfactory until investigated.
Your obligations as a landlord
Under the 2020 Regulations you have 28 days from the report date (or sooner if the inspector specifies) to complete remedials and supply written confirmation to your tenant within 28 days, and to the local authority within 28 days of completion if requested. The clock starts on the inspection date, not the date you read the report.
Remedials must be done by a qualified person and the original contractor (or another NICEIC contractor) must re-issue the report as satisfactory or issue a separate certificate confirming the remedial work. We typically book remedials within 5 working days of issuing an unsatisfactory EICR.
What fair remedial pricing looks like
There's no cap on remedial cost — but a transparent quote should itemise each fault, the labour hours, the parts and the certification. Beware quotes that bundle unrelated 'recommended' work into the headline price. A C2 missing-RCD remedial on one circuit should cost £180–£260, not £600. A full consumer unit replacement to clear multiple C2s is £450–£650 in most homes.
If a different contractor did the original EICR and you feel the remedial quote is inflated, you're entitled to get a second opinion. We routinely re-quote remedials and around 30% of the time the original list contains items that don't actually need replacing — they need re-testing or re-terminating.
What happens next, by code type
Use this as a quick reference for prioritising remedial work and conversations with tenants or insurers.
| Code | Risk level | Action | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Danger present | Isolate immediately, repair | Same day |
| C2 | Potentially dangerous | Schedule remedial | 28 days (landlord) |
| C3 | Improvement recommended | Optional — does not fail the report | No deadline |
| FI | Further investigation | Investigate and re-test | 28 days (landlord) |
Avoiding repeat failures and insurance friction
Most repeat failures we see come from cumulative wear on older installs — typically pre-2008 homes where a previous owner added circuits without consolidating earthing, or where an outbuilding feed was extended off a domestic ring. Fixing the underlying issue once is cheaper than patching every 5 years.
Insurers increasingly request a copy of the latest EICR alongside any electrical-fire claim. An unactioned C2 or unaddressed FI on the report is a common reason for declined or reduced settlements. Keep the satisfactory replacement EICR with your insurance documents, not just the failed one.
If you're selling a Nottingham home with a recent unsatisfactory EICR, your solicitor will see it on enquiries. Buyers price down by roughly 1.5–2× the actual remedial cost out of conservatism. Doing the remedials before listing usually pays back at sale.
For the full service overview, see our EICR / Electrical Safety Certificate in Nottingham page, or browse all industrial electrical services.
Joshua Richardson & Benjamin Clurow
Co-Directors, JBRC Ltd · 30+ combined years (per Checkatrade)
Joshua Richardson and Benjamin Clurow are the joint co-founders and named directors of JBRC Ltd, a Nottingham-based electrical contractor (Companies House #17015285). The business is NICEIC Approved and a NICEIC Part-P Domestic Installer, working across Nottingham, Derbyshire and Leicestershire on domestic rewires, EICRs, EV charger installs, commercial fit-outs and three-phase work.
- NICEIC Approved Contractor
- NICEIC Part-P Domestic Installer
- Co-Directors, JBRC Ltd (Companies House #17015285)
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Got a failed EICR you need cleared this month?
Email us a copy of the unsatisfactory report. We'll send a fixed-price remedial quote within one working day and book the work inside 5 working days.
Or read the full EICR / Electrical Safety Certificate in Nottingham service page.