EICR codes explained: C1, C2, C3 and FI

An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) records anything the electrician finds wrong with the fixed wiring, using four codes: C1, C2, C3 and FI. Any C1, C2 or FI makes the report unsatisfactory, and as a landlord you then have a legal deadline to put it right. C3 items are recommendations only.

What each code means

If the report has no C1, C2 or FI items, it is satisfactory, even if it lists several C3s.

Common examples of each code

The examples below are typical of how electricians tend to code common faults. They are only a guide. The final code is always the inspecting electrician’s professional judgement, based on the installation in front of them and the current edition of BS 7671.

Typical C1 (danger present)

• Exposed live parts that can be touched, such as a cracked socket or switch with wiring showing.
• A missing cover on a consumer unit that leaves live parts accessible.
• Evidence of burning or overheating at an accessory.

Electricians will often make a C1 safe before they leave, for example by isolating the circuit or replacing a broken socket.

Typical C2 (potentially dangerous)

• No RCD protection on sockets likely to be used to power equipment outdoors.
• Missing or inadequate earthing, or missing main protective bonding to gas and water pipes.
• Signs of significant damage or deterioration to cables.

Typical C3 (improvement recommended)

• An older installation that met the rules when it was installed but doesn’t fully meet the current edition.
• Missing labels or out-of-date documentation at the consumer unit.
• No RCD protection on circuits where its absence isn’t judged to be potentially dangerous.

Typical FI (further investigation)

• A circuit that can’t be traced or tested properly.
• Test results that suggest a problem the electrician couldn’t pin down during the inspection.

Deadlines for landlords

England

Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020:

1. If the report shows any C1, C2 or FI, you must have the remedial work or further investigation done within 28 days of the inspection, or sooner if the report gives a shorter period.
2. If the further investigation finds more work is needed, that work must be done too.
3. Get written confirmation from the electrician that the work is complete and the installation now meets the standard.
4. Send that confirmation, with the report, to the tenant and to the local council within 28 days of the work being completed.

The council can impose a civil penalty of up to £30,000 per breach, and can arrange the work itself and recover the cost.

You must also give a copy of the EICR to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection, and to new tenants before they move in.

Wales

In Wales the EICR rules sit in the Renting Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) (Wales) Regulations 2022. The key difference is the 14-day copy rule: you must give the contract-holder a copy of the report within 14 days of the occupation date or of a later inspection, and give them confirmation of any remedial work within 14 days of receiving it. If the requirements aren’t met, the home is treated as unfit for human habitation.

Scotland

In Scotland, electrical safety is part of the Repairing Standard. You need an EICR plus PAT testing of appliances you supply, at least every 5 years. Problems are enforced through the First-tier Tribunal rather than a fixed 28-day rule.

What it costs to fix

The EICR price covers the inspection only. Remedial work is quoted separately. Small fixes such as replacing a socket are often done on the day. Bigger jobs, such as a new consumer unit or adding RCD protection, can cost several hundred pounds. See how much an EICR costs for typical inspection prices.

You don’t have to use the same electrician for the repairs. You can get another quote, but the person doing the work must be qualified and competent, and you still need written confirmation within the deadline.

Disputing a code or getting a second opinion

Coding involves judgement, and two electricians can sometimes code the same fault differently. If you think a code is wrong:

• Ask the electrician to explain it. Ask which regulation or risk the code relates to and why they chose that code rather than a lower one.
• Get a second opinion from another qualified electrician registered with a competent person scheme. Ask them to put their view in writing.
• Complain to the scheme. If you think the inspection was poor, the electrician’s competent person scheme (such as NICEIC or NAPIT) usually has a complaints process.
• Keep to the deadline. A dispute doesn’t pause the 28-day clock. If there is any real danger, deal with it first and argue about the code afterwards.

Be wary of the opposite problem too. A report with lots of C2s and a quote for expensive work from the same firm is worth checking. A second opinion costs far less than an unnecessary rewire.

Keeping track

Once the work is done, keep the original report, the written confirmation and proof that you sent them to the tenant and council. Then note when the next EICR is due. Our free certificate reminders can email you before the date.