Receiving an unsatisfactory EICR can be worrying, but it is not a disaster. It simply means that your property\'s electrical installation needs some remedial work to bring it up to current safety standards. The vast majority of unsatisfactory EICRs can be resolved with straightforward, cost-effective repairs. This guide explains exactly what to do next, what remedial work typically involves, and how to get your property back to satisfactory status as quickly as possible.
First: Do Not Panic
An unsatisfactory EICR means there are C1, C2, or FI observations that need addressing. It does not mean your property is about to burn down, and it does not necessarily mean you need a full rewire. In fact, most unsatisfactory EICRs are resolved with targeted remedial work costing a few hundred pounds — not thousands.
The key is to act promptly. Under the Electrical Safety Standards Regulations 2020, landlords must complete remedial work for C1 and C2 observations within 28 days (or sooner if the inspector specified a shorter timeframe). If you are selling the property, mortgage lenders will typically require a satisfactory EICR before they release funds.
If your EICR contains a C1 observation, the electrician should have made the installation safe at the time of the inspection (for example, by isolating the affected circuit). If this was not done, contact your electrician immediately.
Common Types of Remedial Work
Based on our experience carrying out EICRs across Manchester and Stockport, the most common remedial works include:
- RCD upgrades — installing or replacing outdated RCDs with modern Type A or Type S devices
- Consumer unit replacement — upgrading an old fuse board to a modern metal unit with RCD protection
- Earthing and bonding improvements — upgrading or adding earth bonding to gas and water pipes
- Socket replacements — swapping damaged or incorrectly wired sockets
- Circuit additions — separating overloaded circuits or adding new circuits for high-demand appliances
- Cable repairs — repairing damaged or degraded cable sections
- Supplementary bonding — adding bonding in bathrooms and kitchens where required
Who Should Carry Out the Remedial Work?
Remedial work must be carried out by a qualified and competent electrician. Ideally, the same electrician who conducted the EICR should carry out the remedial work — they already know the installation, have identified the specific issues, and can issue the updated certificate efficiently.
At Infrastructure Environmental, we provide a no-obligation remedial work quote with every unsatisfactory EICR. Because we are NAPIT-registered for both inspection and installation work, we can carry out all remedial work and issue your new satisfactory certificate in a single follow-up visit. This saves you time, money, and the hassle of coordinating multiple contractors.
After Remedial Work: Getting Your Satisfactory Certificate
Once remedial work is complete, the electrician will carry out verification testing to confirm that the installation is now safe and compliant. They will then issue an updated EICR (or a separate Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate for smaller jobs) showing that the installation is now Satisfactory.
You must provide a copy of the satisfactory certificate to your tenants within 28 days and retain a copy for your records. If you are a landlord in Manchester\'s selective licensing area, you will also need to submit it to the council as part of your licence compliance.
