An unsatisfactory EICR means the inspection identified danger, potential danger or an issue requiring further investigation without delay. Read the individual observations before deciding what work is needed. Some findings can be corrected locally; an unsatisfactory outcome does not automatically mean a full rewire. Immediate hazards and any deadlines must guide the response.
Read your EICR findings in Tonbridge
Start with the observations, classification codes and the parts of the installation they identify. The report should make clear why the overall result is unsatisfactory. Read its schedules and limitations too: an inaccessible area is relevant to understanding what the inspection could establish. Keep a copy of the original report before seeking prices or authorising work.
Ask the inspecting electrician to translate each observation into a practical next step. You need to know which circuit or accessory is involved, whether it can be used and whether further testing is necessary before a repair can be specified. The word unsatisfactory is the starting point for a response, not a complete specification for replacing everything in the property.
Understand C1, C2, C3 and FI
Government guidance describes C1 as danger present, C2 as potentially dangerous and FI as further investigation required without delay. C1 or C2 findings make the report unsatisfactory; an FI finding also needs action. C3 means improvement recommended and does not, on its own, make a report unsatisfactory. See the official explanation of EICR codes.
These codes concern risk and the need for action, not simply how modern a fitting looks. An older installation can differ from the latest design practices without every difference requiring immediate replacement. If an observation is unclear, seek a technical explanation using the report’s evidence. Do not ask another contractor to remove a code purely because a different outcome would be more convenient.
Make dangerous conditions safe immediately
Speak to the inspector before continuing to use anything identified as dangerous. A circuit or item may need to remain isolated until repairs are complete. Keep occupants informed about what cannot be used and prevent an accidental restart. Do not repeatedly reset a protective device or reconnect an accessory to see whether the problem has disappeared.
The correct precaution depends on the defect. The electrician should explain the relevant restrictions and record any measures taken. If you notice smoke or fire, leave the building and call 999. A future repair booking does not make an active emergency safe. Keep a written note of the advice given so a landlord, agent, family member or subsequent contractor does not misunderstand what was left in service.
Practical next steps
- Follow immediate safety advice before using affected circuits again.
- Match repair quotations to the report’s numbered observations.
- Retain completion evidence alongside the original EICR.
Turn the observations into an itemised repair plan
Request a quotation that refers to the report’s observation numbers. Separate required remedial work, investigative work and optional improvements. This makes it easier to compare proposals and see whether a price covers testing, replacement accessories, access work and certification. Where investigation is needed, agree how additional findings will be reported before costs increase.
For example, a defect affecting one damaged accessory may call for a local repair and appropriate testing, whereas widespread cable deterioration can require a broader scheme. The report and further evidence determine the scope. Our electrical repair service is a relevant next step when remedial work is identified. Ask why any proposed full rewire is necessary, what alternatives were considered and which observations it resolves.
Landlords must manage deadlines and evidence
For in-scope rented homes in England, complete required investigation or remedial work within 28 days, or sooner where specified. Obtain completion evidence and supply the required documents. Consult the guidance for the detailed duties and reasonable-steps provisions.
The guidance checked on 19 October 2026 gives a maximum £40,000 financial penalty for specified breaches. This is a ceiling, rather than an average fine or an automatic consequence of an unsatisfactory result. Keep appointment requests, quotations and completion records. If access or third-party work causes difficulty, document your actions and obtain appropriate advice rather than treating the original deadline as optional.
Close the findings with the right paperwork
After the work, obtain the documents appropriate to what was done. Depending on the scope, these may include an installation certificate, a minor works certificate and written confirmation addressing the EICR observations. Ask the contractor to explain how the original report and the new evidence demonstrate that the required issues have been resolved.
A completely new whole-property EICR is not automatically required every time a repair is completed. Equally, an invoice that simply says ‘electrical work’ may not establish what was made safe. Keep the original EICR, repair evidence and any subsequent report together. If investigation reveals a wider wiring problem, review electrical rewiring options against the findings, then agree a proportionate programme that addresses safety and the property’s use.
Keep appliance safety separate from the report’s scope. Electrical Safety First’s 2025 campaign recorded 1,140 accidental electrical fires involving common white goods in England during 2024. That is appliance-fire data, not an EICR failure rate or a count of defective fixed wiring. A repaired installation therefore does not remove the need to act on appliance faults and recalls. See the appliance-fire figures.
Summary
An unsatisfactory result calls for a clear response to the individual findings. Make urgent risks safe, commission the necessary repairs or investigation and keep evidence that the issues were addressed. Tonbridge Electrical Testing can discuss the report and the appropriate next assessment or remedial work without assuming that every outcome requires wholesale rewiring.
