Unsatisfactory EICR in England: C1, C2, C3 and FI Explained

What should you do with an unsatisfactory EICR?

Read the findings and contact the qualified person who produced the report to clarify the action and urgency. An Electrical Installation Condition Report, or EICR, records inspection and testing results. Saving it does not complete the work it calls for.

This guide is for private rented properties in England within the electrical safety regulations. It explains the record and next steps, not how to diagnose or repair an electrical installation yourself.

What do C1, C2, C3 and FI mean?

The government guidance distinguishes these classifications:

C1 and C2 findings require remedial action. FI requires investigation. C3 alone does not require remedial work for a report to be satisfactory, but it is not a declaration that the entire property meets every duty. Read the overall outcome, limitations and all observations together.

If a code, location or description is unclear, ask the report author to explain it. Do not reclassify a finding yourself because it sounds minor.

Which deadline should you record?

For required remedial or investigative work, regulation 3 sets 28 days, or the shorter period specified in the report, starting with the date of inspection and testing. The clock does not start when you open an email or upload the report. See regulation 3(4).

Record urgent action separately from the next routine inspection. A routine interval cannot exceed five years and an earlier date required by the report takes priority. The EICR next inspection date planner helps organise routine dates from your report; it does not calculate whether remedial work is complete or interpret an electrical finding.

Worked example: a shorter deadline and an unanswered finding

Suppose an electrician records a C2 observation and an FI observation, and the report requires action within seven days. Your working note should show that shorter period and the inspection date. It should not replace them with a generic 28-day reminder.

You then receive an invoice describing one repair. Before closing the issue, ask which observation the work addresses and whether the investigation is complete. Keep the FI item unresolved until the qualified person's evidence explains its outcome. Paying an invoice is a separate fact from resolving every finding.

This is a record-keeping example, not a technical assessment or a date calculation for your property.

What evidence should you collect after the work?

Obtain written confirmation from the qualified person of the work and whether electrical safety standards are met or further work is required. Supply that confirmation with the original report to existing tenants and the local housing authority within 28 days of completion. Further investigation can lead to further work rather than closing the matter. These steps are set out in regulation 3(5) and (6).

Keep a small record for each observation:

• the original observation reference and location;
• the electrician's explanation and required action;
• the appointment and actual completion dates;
• the document confirming what was done;
• any remaining question or further work; and
• when the report and confirmation were supplied, to whom and by which method.

Retain the original report so the follow-up evidence can be understood. Avoid renaming an old unsatisfactory report “passed” because a later file has arrived.

This free editable record helps organise findings and evidence. It is not an electrical certificate and cannot confirm that work meets the required standard.

Keep the original report and tenant copy together

The regulations require a copy of the inspection report for existing tenants within 28 days of inspection and testing, and for a new tenant before occupation. Other requests and retention duties also apply; check the full regulation for your circumstances.

For practical organisation, keep a copy of the message or other delivery record beside the exact report supplied. If you cannot establish what was sent, leave that question open. The tenant documents guide covers the wider tenancy file.

Common questions

Does every C3 need to be fixed before the report can be satisfactory?

No. C3 is an improvement recommendation. Check the complete report for other findings, limitations and its stated outcome, and discuss recommended improvements with the electrician.

Does an FI finding mean I can wait until the next inspection?

No. FI identifies investigation that needs attention without delay. Ask what must be investigated and follow the report's required timescale. It is not a routine renewal reminder.

Do I always need a completely new EICR after repairs?

Ask the qualified person which written confirmation is appropriate. Government guidance recognises different forms of electrical certification after work. Keep the evidence connected to the original observations; an invoice alone may not establish the required outcome.

What if the report is missing its next inspection date?

Ask the author to clarify it. Do not assume five years or fill in a date simply to complete the file. Record the missing information and the request you have made.

What should I do first if I only have ten minutes?

Read the overall outcome and findings, act on any urgent safety instruction, and identify the first unanswered question for the electrician. Save the report and note that next action. Use the England records checklist to keep it connected to the property file.

This guide is general information, not electrical or legal advice. Applicability and the required response depend on the property, report and circumstances.