Updated 26 October 2026 · 3 min read · By Elec Comply Ltd, NICEIC Approved Contractor No. 616773000
In short
- Any C1, C2 or FI makes the whole report Unsatisfactory.
- A C3 is a recommendation. On its own it does not fail the report.
- Landlords must have C1, C2 and FI items dealt with within 28 days of the inspection, or sooner if the report says so.
- Once the work is done, you need written confirmation from a qualified person and must send it, with the report, to your tenants.
How an EICR is graded
An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) records the condition of the fixed wiring: the consumer unit, circuits, sockets, switches and fixed equipment. The inspector checks the installation against the current wiring regulations, BS 7671, and tests each circuit.
Anything that falls short is written up as an observation, with its location and a code. The overall result is either Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory, and it depends entirely on the codes given.
The four codes
| Code | Meaning | Report result | What you need to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Danger present. There is a risk of injury now. | Unsatisfactory | Make safe immediately, then repair. |
| C2 | Potentially dangerous. Urgent remedial action is required. | Unsatisfactory | Repair within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so. |
| FI | Further investigation required without delay. Danger cannot be ruled out. | Unsatisfactory | Investigate within 28 days, or sooner, and fix whatever is found. |
| C3 | Improvement recommended. Safe, but not to current standards. | Does not fail the report | Optional. Worth planning, especially at the next refurbishment. |
Welwyn Hatfield Council's enforcement policy, like other councils', treats C1, C2 and FI as the codes that require a landlord to act, and C3 as an improvement that does not require remedial work.
C1: danger present
A C1 means someone could be hurt now, for example by live parts that can be touched through a broken accessory. The inspector should make the danger safe before leaving, usually by isolating the circuit or the item, and will tell you straight away.
Because a circuit may be switched off, a C1 normally needs a repair visit as soon as possible, not at the end of the 28 days.
C2: potentially dangerous
A C2 is not dangerous at this moment but would become dangerous if a fault occurred. Common examples are an unreliable earthing arrangement or missing protective bonding.
FI: further investigation
An FI means the inspector found something that could not be fully assessed during the inspection, such as a test result that suggests a hidden fault. It still makes the report unsatisfactory. The investigation has to be carried out, and anything it finds put right, within the same deadline as a C2.
C3: improvement recommended
A C3 flags something that met the rules when it was installed but would not today, such as an older consumer unit or circuits without the RCD protection a new installation would have. You do not have to act on a C3, but they are a sensible list to work through when you next refurbish.
A good inspector codes what they find, not what generates work. If you are unsure whether a code is justified, ask the inspector to explain the observation and the regulation behind it.
What landlords must do after a coded report
- Read the observations and note any C1, C2 and FI items.
- Have a qualified person carry out the repairs or investigation within 28 days of the inspection, or the shorter period in the report.
- Get written confirmation that the work is done, normally a Minor Works certificate or an Electrical Installation Certificate.
- Send that confirmation, together with the original report, to your tenants and to the local council within 28 days of the work being completed.
Our guide to what to do after an unsatisfactory EICR covers each step, and we can quote for the remedial works from your report.
Common Questions
Does a C3 mean my property failed?
No. A C3 is a recommendation. Only C1, C2 or FI codes make a report Unsatisfactory.
Can I let a property with an unsatisfactory EICR?
The remedial work must be completed within 28 days of the inspection, or sooner if the report says so, and you must be able to show written confirmation that it has been done.
Do I need a whole new EICR after the repairs?
Not usually. The original report and the written confirmation of the work together show the installation now meets the standards.
Sources
- Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, regulation 3 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Welwyn Hatfield Council: electrical safety standards enforcement policy
- Electrical safety standards in the private and social rented sectors: guidance (GOV.UK)
This guide covers England and is general information, not legal advice. Links open in a new tab.