What does an unsatisfactory EICR mean?

An unsatisfactory result sounds alarming but is common, especially in older homes. The sections below explain exactly which codes cause it and the steps that follow.

Which codes make a report unsatisfactory

An EICR records each observed issue against a standard classification code from the model report form. The overall result is unsatisfactory if the report contains any of the following:

Classification codes per the model EICR form (BS 7671). Source: Electrical Safety First and NICEIC guidance.

Why C3 does not fail the report

The key distinction is between a safety defect and an improvement. A C3 code means "improvement recommended" — the installation is safe to continue using, but something does not meet the current edition of the wiring regulations or could be made better. Common examples are the absence of RCD protection on a circuit that was compliant when installed, or older-style fittings that work safely.

Because C3 items are not dangerous, a report can be satisfactory and still contain C3 codes. You are not obliged to act on them, though doing so improves the installation. By contrast, C1, C2 and FI all signal that something needs attention before the installation can be considered safe, which is why any of them makes the overall result unsatisfactory.

The logic of the threshold becomes clearer once you see what each code is really saying. C1 means a danger is present right now — exposed live parts, for example — and someone could be hurt today. C2 means there is no danger at this moment, but a single foreseeable fault or failure could make it dangerous, so it cannot be left. FI means the inspector found something that could be a C1 or C2 but could not confirm which without further investigation, so it is treated as serious until resolved. C3 is the only code that describes something neither dangerous now nor one fault away from being so. That is why the pass/fail line sits exactly where it does: the report fails the moment anything crosses from "could be made better" into "could realistically cause harm", and stays satisfactory while every observation is on the improvement side of that line.

What to do after an unsatisfactory result

An unsatisfactory EICR is a list of defined problems with a clear next step: have the coded faults put right. The process is:

• Review the report's observations and codes to understand what was found and how serious each item is.
• Arrange for a qualified electrician to carry out the remedial work. A C1 indicates a danger that should be made safe immediately.
• Obtain written confirmation that the remedial work has been completed and the issues resolved — and, where appropriate, a fresh certificate or report.

For private rented property in England, the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require the landlord to complete any remedial or further investigative work within 28 days of the inspection, or sooner if the report specifies a shorter period, and to supply written confirmation to the tenant and local authority. For owner-occupiers there is no statutory deadline, but C1 and C2 faults are safety risks and should be addressed promptly.

One point worth understanding is how the remedial work is documented, because it affects what you end up holding. Putting right the coded faults is itself electrical work, so it should be certified in its own right — typically with a Minor Works Certificate for small, single-circuit fixes, or an Electrical Installation Certificate where the work is more extensive, such as replacing the consumer unit. Some electricians will also re-inspect and issue a fresh EICR showing a satisfactory result once the faults are cleared, though this is not always necessary if the remedial certificates already evidence the fixes. For a landlord, the written confirmation that the work has been completed is the document the Regulations require you to give the tenant and, on request, the local authority. The practical aim is to be able to show not just that the original report was unsatisfactory, but exactly what was done about it and by whom.

Why an unsatisfactory result is so common in older homes

It is worth keeping an unsatisfactory result in perspective. The standard an EICR measures against is the current edition of BS 7671, and the wiring regulations have tightened considerably over the decades. An installation that was entirely compliant when it was put in can be flagged years later simply because expectations have moved on — most obviously around RCD protection, which is now expected on far more circuits than it once was.

Several recurring issues account for a large share of unsatisfactory results:

• No or insufficient RCD protection on socket circuits or circuits serving outdoors, which is now typically coded C2.
• An ageing consumer unit — for example an old plastic or wooden-backed board — that no longer provides adequate protection.
• Deteriorated cabling, especially older rubber- or fabric-insulated wiring that has hardened or cracked.
• Inadequate earthing or bonding to gas and water services, common in homes that have not been updated.
• Accumulated alterations — extra sockets, outdoor supplies or DIY additions made over the years without being brought up to standard.

None of this means an unsatisfactory result should be ignored. It means the result is a prioritised to-do list rather than a verdict that the property is uninhabitable. The codes tell you which items are genuine dangers (C1), which are urgent but not immediate (C2), and which simply need looking into (FI). Working through them with a qualified electrician turns an unsatisfactory report into a satisfactory one.

Seen in that light, an unsatisfactory result in an older home is better read as a measure of the gap between the property's wiring and today's standards than as a failure in the everyday sense. The same installation that fails a modern EICR may have run for decades without incident, precisely because the standard it is being judged against has risen around it. That does not make the result meaningless — the faults it lists are genuine, and the safety case for fixing C1 and C2 items is real — but it does mean the word "unsatisfactory" should prompt a methodical look at the coded observations rather than alarm. Most older homes can be brought to a satisfactory result by targeting the specific items the report identifies, not by ripping out and replacing everything.

Frequently asked questions

Sources & further reading

• Electrical Safety First — understanding your EICR
• gov.uk — private rented sector electrical safety guidance

Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific property. They are guidance, not a quotation. Legal duties are summarised for guidance — confirm the current position on GOV.UK.