Unsatisfactory EICR? What Happens Next and How to Fix It
- Unsatisfactory means at least one C1, C2 or FI observation. It is common and fixable.
- C1 items need immediate action, C2 and FI urgent action. Leaving them is a breach of the duty to maintain and a problem with your insurer.
- Get remedials quoted separately, ideally from more than one contractor, and insist on certification of the completed work.
- Once C1, C2 and FI items are remedied and certified, the installation can be confirmed satisfactory.
A high proportion of commercial EICRs come back unsatisfactory, especially on older installations, and that is the inspection doing its job. The report has found the problems before they found you. What matters now is acting at the right speed, getting the remedials priced fairly, and getting the installation certified satisfactory again with the records to prove it.
What unsatisfactory means
The report has recorded one or more C1 (danger present), C2 (potentially dangerous) or FI (further investigation) observations. It does not mean the whole installation is condemned; it means specific items must be dealt with before the installation can be confirmed safe. Our guide to EICR codes explains each.
General information, not legal advice.
How fast to act
C1: immediately. The inspector will usually have made it safe on the day; the permanent repair should follow at once. C2 and FI: urgently, meaning days or a few weeks depending on the item, not months. An unsatisfactory report left unactioned is evidence that you knew of a danger and did nothing, which is the worst position to be in with the HSE or an insurer after an incident.
Getting the remedials quoted
Ask the inspector for the list of C1, C2 and FI items with locations. Obtain quotes for exactly those items, ideally from more than one registered contractor, and keep the inspection and the remedial contract separate so nobody has an incentive to find work. Quotes should be itemised against the observation numbers on the report. Our guide to EICR costs covers the pricing principles.
Get remedials quoted
Match with registered electrical contractors who cover your area for remedial works and re-certification. No-obligation quotes.
Avoiding over-scoping
- Only C1, C2 and FI are required for a satisfactory verdict. C3s are recommendations you can plan.
- Challenge full rewires proposed on the back of a few C2s. Sometimes justified; often not.
- Ask why for every item, and whether a cheaper compliant fix exists.
- Use registered contractors (NICEIC, NAPIT) who must certify their work.
Certification and the record
Each remedial item should be certified on completion (an Electrical Installation Certificate or Minor Works Certificate as appropriate). With all C1, C2 and FI items certified, the inspector can confirm the installation satisfactory, either by endorsing the original report or by re-inspecting the affected circuits. Keep the original EICR, the certificates and the confirmation together; that bundle is what insurers and buyers want to see.
Getting it done
ComSurv matches you with registered electrical contractors who cover your area for remedial works and re-certification, with no-obligation quotes, so you can get back to satisfactory quickly and at a fair price.
Sources & further reading
- Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 — the duty to maintain
- NICEIC — registered contractors for remedial works
External links open in a new tab. ComSurv is a matching service, not a firm of surveyors, and is not affiliated with these organisations. This article is general information, not legal, surveying or valuation advice; take advice on your specific situation.
