What Happens If You Fail An Electrical Inspection?

You've just had your electrical inspection carried out, and the result has come back as unsatisfactory. If you're wondering what happens if you fail an electrical inspection, you're not alone, it's one of the most common concerns we hear from landlords, homeowners, and business owners across London. The good news is that a failed result isn't the end of the road. It's a starting point, and understanding what it means is the first step toward fixing it.

An unsatisfactory Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) flags issues that pose a risk to safety or fall short of current regulations. For landlords, the consequences can be particularly serious, there are legal obligations with strict deadlines attached. For homeowners and commercial property managers, there are financial and insurance implications worth knowing about. Ignoring the result is never an option, but acting on it promptly keeps you on the right side of the law and, more importantly, keeps people safe.

At Electrical Testing London, our qualified engineers carry out EICRs and remedial work across London and the South East every day. In this guide, we'll walk you through exactly what a failed inspection means, what you're legally required to do, the remedial process involved, and how to get back to full compliance as quickly as possible.

What failing an electrical inspection means

An electrical inspection results in an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), which comes back as either satisfactory or unsatisfactory. When you fail an electrical inspection, it means the engineer has found one or more issues with your electrical installation that require attention. The result isn't a sign that your property is immediately dangerous in every case, but it is a formal, legal record that specific problems exist and that action must follow. Ignoring the report, or sitting on it hoping things sort themselves out, is not an option.

An unsatisfactory EICR is a legal document that records real risks to safety. Treating it seriously protects both you and anyone who uses the property.

What an unsatisfactory EICR actually tells you

The report doesn't simply state "failed" and leave you in the dark. It assigns classification codes to each issue the engineer identified, giving you a structured breakdown of what was found and how urgent each item is. These codes are standardised across the industry, which means any qualified electrician can read your report and understand exactly what remedial work is needed. The two codes that make a report unsatisfactory are C1 (Danger Present) and C2 (Potentially Dangerous). A C3 code means improvement is recommended, but it won't cause the report to come back unsatisfactory on its own.

Here is a breakdown of the EICR classification codes:

What the consequences look like in practice

For landlords, the implications of what happens if you fail an electrical inspection are particularly serious. Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, you must arrange and complete all required remedial work within 28 days of receiving the report, or sooner if the report specifies a shorter deadline. If you fail to comply, the local authority can issue a remedial notice, and continued non-compliance can lead to civil penalties of up to £30,000. You also need to provide written confirmation of the completed works to your tenant and, if requested, to the local authority.

Homeowners and commercial property managers face different but equally real consequences. An unsatisfactory EICR can affect your insurance position, since some insurers will challenge or refuse claims if you were aware of electrical faults and took no action. For commercial premises, health and safety law places a duty of care on employers and building managers to keep the environment safe. Knowingly allowing staff or customers to occupy a space with unresolved C1 or C2 issues creates direct legal and financial liability that no business should be comfortable accepting.

Step 1. Read your EICR codes and risks

Your first action after receiving an unsatisfactory report is to read it carefully from start to finish. Before you call an electrician or start worrying about costs, you need to understand exactly what the report is telling you and how urgent each item is. The engineer will have documented every observation with a classification code, and that code determines the timeline and priority for each piece of remedial work.

Understanding what each code means for you

The EICR assigns a classification code to every observation raised during the inspection. C1 items are the most serious, meaning danger is present right now and the risk of injury exists without immediate action. C2 items are potentially dangerous and require urgent attention, but not necessarily within hours. FI codes mean the engineer needs to investigate further before they can make a full classification. Read through every item on your report, note how many of each code type you have, and write them down so you can discuss the work clearly with your chosen electrician.

C1 codes should never wait. If your report contains one, contact a qualified electrician the same day and restrict access to the affected circuit or area until it is made safe.

Prioritising by risk level

Once you understand what happens if you fail an electrical inspection in terms of codes, you can start ordering the work by urgency. C1 items come first, without exception. These need to be made safe before anything else progresses, and in some cases the engineer will already have taken immediate remedial action on a C1 during the inspection itself, which will be noted in your report.

After C1 items, work through your C2 codes as a matter of urgency, then address any FI observations. Further investigation on an FI item may reveal additional C1 or C2 issues, so do not leave these until last without considering what they might uncover.

Step 2. Make the installation safe and plan fixes

Once you know what each code means, your next task is to take immediate control of the situation before the full remedial work gets scheduled. Step 2 is where you move from reading to acting, and the first priority is making sure nobody is exposed to danger while you organise the repairs. This is especially relevant when you are working through what happens if you fail an electrical inspection that contains C1 codes, since the risk is active from the moment the report lands in your hands.

Isolate hazards before full remedial work begins

Do not wait for a remedial appointment to deal with a C1 risk. Switch off the affected circuit at the consumer unit and restrict access to the area or appliance involved until a qualified electrician has made it safe. If you are a landlord, notify your tenant in writing immediately, explaining what has been found and what you are doing about it. Keep a copy of that communication for your records.

Here are practical steps to take before remedial work begins:

• Switch off any circuit identified as C1 at the consumer unit
• Label the breaker clearly so nobody resets it accidentally
• Inform all occupants of the hazard and the restricted area
• Contact a qualified electrician the same day to arrange emergency work if needed
• Keep a written log of every action you take, with dates and times

Acting on a C1 the same day you receive your report protects both the occupants and your legal position as a property owner.

Build a clear scope of work with your electrician

Once immediate hazards are under control, go through your report item by item with your chosen electrician. Ask them to provide a written quote that lists each observation code, describes the work required to resolve it, and specifies the materials involved. This gives you a clear paper trail and prevents any ambiguity about what the remedial visit will cover. A structured scope of work also helps you compare quotes accurately if you are getting more than one.

Step 3. Complete remedial work and get proof

Once your electrician has a clear scope of work, the remedial work itself can proceed. Understanding what happens if you fail an electrical inspection becomes very practical at this stage: you need the work done by a qualified and registered electrician, and you need documentation at every step. The work and the proof of that work carry equal weight.

Remedial work completed without proper documentation leaves you in the same vulnerable position as not having done the work at all.

What to expect during the remedial visit

Your electrician will work through each observation on your EICR systematically, starting with C1 and C2 items as the highest priority. Any FI observations not yet investigated will also need attention during this visit. Ask the engineer to confirm in writing what was done and which EICR code each repair resolves, so you have a clear record that ties the remedial work directly back to the original report.

Here is what a good remedial visit should confirm before the engineer leaves:

• Every C1 and C2 observation has been addressed
• Any FI items have been investigated and classified
• A certificate has been issued covering the work completed
• The engineer can confirm the installation status in writing

Getting the correct documentation after completion

Once the work is finished, you need two things in writing. First, ask for a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate or a full Electrical Installation Certificate for larger jobs. Second, request a written statement or a new EICR confirming the installation is now satisfactory and that all previously identified issues have been resolved.

Keep copies of everything in a dedicated file for the property. If you are a landlord, you must provide your tenant with the completion evidence and share it with your local authority if requested, all within the 28-day deadline set from the date of the original report.

Step 4. Stay compliant and avoid failing again

Once your installation is confirmed as satisfactory, the work does not stop there. Staying compliant over time requires a straightforward maintenance approach, and building that approach now is far easier than dealing with what happens if you fail an electrical inspection a second time around.

Set up a regular inspection schedule

The most effective way to avoid another unsatisfactory EICR is to book your next inspection before the current compliance period expires. The recommended frequency varies depending on the property type: domestic rentals require an EICR at least every five years, commercial premises typically every three to five years depending on the type of business, and homeowners are advised to arrange an inspection every ten years or on change of ownership. Do not rely on memory alone to track these dates.

Here is a quick reference for standard EICR intervals:

Booking your next EICR before the deadline, rather than at the deadline, gives you time to schedule remedial work without pressure.

Keep records and act on maintenance issues early

Your compliance file for each property should hold every EICR, every remedial certificate, and every correspondence with tenants or local authorities. Store these digitally and keep a physical backup. If you carry out any electrical work between inspections, such as a consumer unit replacement or a new circuit installation, add those certificates to the same file immediately.

Between inspections, report any signs of electrical deterioration, flickering lights, tripping breakers, or burning smells to a qualified electrician promptly. Early intervention on minor faults prevents them from developing into the C1 and C2 observations that cause a report to come back unsatisfactory.

Next steps

Knowing what happens if you fail an electrical inspection gives you a clear path forward rather than a reason to panic. Read your EICR codes carefully, prioritise C1 and C2 observations, isolate any immediate hazards, and get remedial work completed by a qualified and registered electrician who can provide the correct documentation on completion. Once your installation is confirmed as satisfactory, set your next inspection date and keep your compliance file updated throughout.

Taking action quickly is always the right move, whether you are a landlord working to meet the 28-day legal deadline, a business protecting staff and customers, or a homeowner wanting confidence in your property's safety. Do not leave an unsatisfactory result sitting in your inbox.

If you need a qualified EICR or remedial electrical work carried out in London or the South East, get a quote from Electrical Testing London and we will get you back to full compliance.