EICR Failed: What Happens Next for Landlords in England

An unsatisfactory EICR is not a crisis — it is a compliance trigger with a clear sequence of steps and a fixed deadline. Roughly one in three rental property inspections flags at least one C1, C2, or FI observation, so this is a situation most landlords will face at some point.

Step 1: Understand What Failed

Read the observation codes on the report. C1 (Danger Present) means the inspector found an immediate risk of injury and may have made the situation safe on site by isolating the circuit. C2 (Potentially Dangerous) and FI (Further Investigation) flag defects or unknowns that need addressing.

Only C1, C2, and FI codes make a report unsatisfactory. If the report only has C3 (Improvement Recommended) observations, it is satisfactory and no mandatory action is required.

Step 2: Commission Remedial Work Within 28 Days

The day after the inspection date, the statutory clock starts ticking. You have 28 days — or less if the inspector specified a shorter period — to have a qualified electrician complete all remedial work or further investigation identified in the report.

You do not have to use the same electrician who carried out the inspection, but whoever does the work must be a qualified person under the regulations.

If legitimate practical constraints prevent completion within the period, a landlord is not in breach if they can show they took all reasonable steps to comply. Keep records of the communications and arrangements.

Step 3: Collect Written Confirmation

Once the work is finished, the electrician issues a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate (MEIWC) for small repairs, or an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) for larger work like a consumer unit replacement. They also provide written confirmation that the electrical safety standards have been met.

You do not need a completely fresh EICR unless the inspector specifically says so. The original unsatisfactory report plus the MEIWC/EIC and written confirmation together prove compliance.

Step 4: Distribute the Documents

Send copies of the written confirmation and completion certificates to your tenants and the local authority within 28 days of the work being completed. If the council has already sent you a formal written request for the EICR, you have only seven days from that request to supply it.

What If FI Leads to More Defects?

If the further investigation reveals additional C1 or C2 defects that were not visible during the initial inspection, a fresh 28-day remedial window starts from the date the investigation report is completed. Those defects must be remedied within that 28-day period.

What If You Miss the Deadline?

The local authority can serve a remedial notice giving 28 days to comply. If you do not comply with it, the authority can carry out the work and recover its costs; it can also impose a civil penalty of up to £40,000 per breach. Penalties can stack: failure to remediate, failure to supply reports, and failure to inspect are each treated as separate breaches.

The Electrical Safety (EICR) Compliance Guide includes a remedial tracker that maps every step from the unsatisfactory report through to final document distribution, with deadline dates auto-calculated from your inspection date.

See more England guides →