EICR Codes Explained: What C1, C2, C3 and FI Mean

Every observation on an EICR carries one of four classifications:

C1 — Danger present. Someone could be hurt right now. Exposed live conductors, a damaged socket with accessible terminals, no earthing where earthing is essential. A competent electrician will normally make a C1 safe before leaving the property, because the risk is immediate.

C2 — Potentially dangerous. No one is in danger this second, but they could be if circumstances change. This is the most common serious code: missing RCD protection on socket circuits, inadequate earthing and bonding, deteriorated cable insulation, a borrowed neutral.

C3 — Improvement recommended. Advisory only. The installation is safe and compliant with the standards that applied when it was installed, but would be better if brought up to current practice. A common example is the absence of RCD protection on a lighting circuit.

FI — Further investigation required. The inspector found something they could not fully assess — a cable disappearing into a wall they cannot trace, a concealed junction box, equipment that cannot be tested without dismantling it.

A report is marked **unsatisfactory** if it contains any C1, C2 or FI observation.

A report with only C3 observations is **satisfactory**. This catches a lot of landlords out: you can receive a report listing several C3 items and still be fully compliant, with no legal obligation to act on any of them.

So the first thing to do with an unsatisfactory EICR is not to panic about the word — it is to look at which codes caused it. One C2 for a missing RCD is a different proposition from three C1s across the installation.

Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, where a report identifies C1, C2 or FI items, you must carry out the investigative or remedial work **within 28 days** — or sooner if the report specifies a shorter period, which it often does for a C1.

You then have to obtain written confirmation that the work has been completed and supply it to your tenants, and to the local authority on request.

C3 items carry no deadline because they carry no obligation. You can address them at your convenience, or not at all.

In practice, treat a C1 as same-day work. The 28 days is a legal backstop, not a sensible timescale for a danger that is present now.

Remedial costs vary enormously because the codes cover such different faults. As a guide for London properties:

• **Replacing a damaged socket or accessory** — usually under an hour of labour
• **Adding RCD protection** — frequently resolved by replacing the consumer unit, from £730 for a metal 18th-Edition board installed and certified
• **Earthing and bonding upgrades** — typically a half-day job
• **Tracing an FI item** — charged by the hour; our electrical diagnostic rate is £99.99 per hour

We quote remedial work separately and only proceed with your approval. Nobody is pressured into repairs on the day of the inspection, and you are free to use your own electrician for the remedial work — the EICR is yours regardless.

Once the work is done, you need written confirmation of completion rather than a whole new EICR. A fresh inspection is only necessary if the original report is being superseded.

For a rented property in England: **at least every five years**, and before a new tenancy begins. The report itself may specify a shorter interval if the condition of the installation warrants it, and if it does, that shorter interval is the one you must follow.

Your EICR is also one of the documents required for the Private Rented Sector Database under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, alongside your gas safety record and EPC. Registration opens from 15 December 2026, region by region.

An EICR in London starts at £77.99 including VAT, with the report issued the same day. We cover all 32 boroughs and the M25 corridor — book online for an instant price or call 07426 409342.