EICR Codes Explained: C1, C2, C3 and FI for Landlords

An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) can run to a dozen pages of schedules and test results. Most landlords skip straight to one question: did it pass? The answer depends on the observation codes the inspector recorded. This guide covers England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own rules.

The four codes at a glance

Rule of thumb: one C1, C2 or FI anywhere on the report makes the overall result unsatisfactory. C3s on their own still give a satisfactory result.

Examples

These show the kind of finding that tends to get each code. The final call is always the inspector's judgement.

• C1: exposed live conductors in a damaged socket, or a broken accessory with live parts within reach.
• C2: no main protective bonding to incoming gas or water pipes; no RCD protection on sockets likely to supply equipment outdoors; signs of overheating at terminals.
• FI: a circuit that could not be traced, or a test result that points to a fault the inspector could not find in the time available.
• C3: a plastic consumer unit under a wooden staircase or on the only escape route, with no signs of overheating. Or no surge protection, where the inspector's risk assessment says it would help.

What landlords in England must do, and by when

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

1. Have the installation inspected and tested at least every five years by a qualified and competent person. If the report gives a shorter interval, follow it.
2. Give a copy of the report to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection.
3. Give a copy to new tenants before they move in, and to prospective tenants within 28 days of a request.
4. Give a copy to the local council within 7 days if it asks for one.
5. Complete any remedial work or further investigation within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so.
6. Get written confirmation that the work is done, and send it with the report to the tenant and the council within 28 days of completion.

Councils can impose financial penalties of up to £40,000 per breach. The rules have also been extended to social housing.

C3s: do you have to fix them?

Legally, no. A satisfactory report with only C3s meets the requirement. In practice, C3s are a useful to-do list. Many are cheap to fix when you are already doing other work, and a C3 left to get worse can become a C2 at the next inspection. Note that BS 7671 Amendment 4 (2026) applies to all EICRs issued from 15 October 2026.

Keeping EICRs organised

The five-year cycle is the risk. It is long enough that nobody remembers when the last one was done. Things that help:

• Store every report against the property, not in an email folder.
• Record the next inspection date from the report itself, which may be sooner than five years.
• Keep the written confirmation of remedial work with the original report. A council will ask for both.

When your electrician issues the EICR through CertBox, they can send you a link the moment it is done. Add it to the property in your landlord account, along with any later Minor Works certificates for the repairs, and the expiry is tracked with everything else. You get a weekly email of anything due in the next 60 days.

For electricians: a faster EICR

CertBox's EICR form lets you record observations, codes and schedules of test results on site, free. Downloading or sending the finished report needs Pro, the 14-day trial or a one-off payment. Every certificate carries a QR code, so landlords, agents and councils can check it has not been altered, without ringing you.

Frequently asked questions

Can a landlord let a property with an unsatisfactory EICR?

You should not. The landlord must make sure the electrical safety standards are met while the property is let, and an unsatisfactory report shows they are not. Complete the remedial work and get written confirmation (within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so) before a new tenancy starts.

Does the same electrician have to fix the problems?

No. You can use any qualified and competent electrician for the remedial work. You need written confirmation that it is done, usually a Minor Works certificate or an Electrical Installation Certificate, depending on the work.

Is an EICR a "certificate"?

Strictly, it is a report, which is why it is called a condition report. Everyone calls it a certificate anyway.

Sources

Checked against these on 2026-10-20.

• Electrical Safety First, Best Practice Guide 4 (EICR coding)
• Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, regulation 3
• Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, regulation 11
• GOV.UK: Electrical safety standards in the private and social rented sectors, guidance
• SI 2025/1043 (extension to social housing)
• NICEIC: BS 7671 Amendment 4

Corrected and updated 2026-10-20. This article is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Always refer to the relevant standards and consult qualified professionals for definitive requirements.