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What Happens If an EICR Fails in a Rental Property?

If a rental property fails its EICR, the landlord must carry out remedial work within 28 days or sooner. RCD Electrical provides prompt repairs, retesting, and certification to ensure landlords stay compliant and tenants remain safe in London properties.

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If a rental property fails its EICR, the landlord must carry out remedial work within 28 days or sooner. RCD Electrical provides prompt repairs, retesting, and certification to ensure landlords stay compliant and tenants remain safe in London properties.

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An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is now a legal requirement for rental properties across England, including London. But what happens if your property fails its EICR?

At RCD Electrical, we guide landlords every step of the way—making sure any failed EICR issues are corrected quickly, efficiently, and with full legal compliance. Here's what you need to know if your EICR doesn’t pass.

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What Does It Mean to "Fail" an EICR?

When a property “fails” an EICR, it doesn’t receive a satisfactory rating. Instead, the report identifies one or more issues using specific codes that reflect the seriousness of the faults found:

C1 (Danger present): Immediate risk of injury—requires urgent action.
C2 (Potentially dangerous): Not immediately hazardous, but still unsafe—needs fixing.
FI (Further Investigation): Potential issue suspected—needs more thorough checking.
C3 (Improvement recommended): Not dangerous, no legal obligation to fix, but still advised.

If any C1, C2, or FI codes are present, the property is considered non-compliant, and action is legally required.

Landlord’s Legal Responsibilities After a Failed EICR

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

Carry out remedial or investigative work within 28 days of receiving the report—or sooner if the report specifies it.
Have the work confirmed in writing by a qualified electrician (like those from RCD Electrical).
Provide written confirmation and a copy of the updated report to:
- The tenant(s)
- The local housing authority (if requested)

Failure to comply with these steps can lead to fines of up to £30,000.

What Happens Next?

At RCD Electrical, if your EICR identifies faults, we’ll clearly explain:

What the issues are
Which ones are legally urgent
What repairs are needed
How long it will take
What it will cost

We offer fast remedial services and retesting to help you restore compliance quickly.

Our process:

Quotation and repair – We’ll provide a competitive quote and begin work promptly.
Reinspection – Once fixed, we’ll return and conduct a focused EICR on the affected areas.
Certification – We’ll issue a satisfactory report once everything meets the legal standards.

What If the Remedial Work Isn’t Done?

Ignoring or delaying action after a failed EICR can result in:

Heavy financial penalties
Prohibition notices from local authorities
Legal action in the event of tenant injury or property damage
Difficulty with insurance claims or property sales

For landlords in London, working with an experienced and responsive electrician like RCD Electrical ensures you stay on the right side of the law and maintain tenant trust.