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You’ve just had an EICR inspection on your Solihull property, and the electrician has emailed you a certificate. Now what? If you’re staring at codes like “C2” and “Unsatisfactory” wondering what they actually mean and what you need to do about them, this guide explains everything.

📚 New to EICRs? Read our complete guide to EICRs in Solihull covering legal requirements and what happens during the inspection. Or find out why having an EICR is essential, and check our 2026 pricing guide if you’re booking your first inspection.

What Is an EICR Certificate?

An EICR certificate (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is the official document you receive after your property’s electrical system has been professionally inspected and tested. It’s not just a pass/fail tick-box exercise – it’s a detailed assessment of every circuit, every protective device, and every accessible part of your electrical installation.

The certificate serves as legal proof that your electrical system has been inspected by a qualified electrician, and it’s often required by insurance companies, mortgage lenders, and letting agents. For landlords, it’s a legal requirement under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector Regulations 2020.

The Two Possible Outcomes

Every EICR results in one of two overall classifications:

Satisfactory – Your electrical installation is safe to continue using. There may be minor improvements recommended (coded C3), but nothing that requires immediate action. The installation meets current safety standards.

Unsatisfactory – Your electrical installation has one or more dangerous faults (coded C1 or C2) that require remedial work. The installation does not meet current safety standards and poses a potential risk of electric shock or fire.

If your certificate shows “Unsatisfactory”, don’t panic. It doesn’t mean your house is about to burn down – it means the electrician has identified faults that need fixing to bring the installation up to current safety standards. The individual codes tell you exactly how urgent each issue is.

Understanding the Codes: C1, C2, C3, and FI

Every issue found during the inspection is assigned a code that indicates its severity:

C1 – Danger Present

This is the most serious code. It means there’s an immediate risk of electric shock or fire, and the affected circuit should be disconnected until the fault is fixed.

Common C1 examples we see in Solihull properties:

• Exposed live parts – cables or connections where someone could touch live conductors
• Missing earth connections on metal consumer units or appliances
• Damaged cables with visible copper conductors
• Flood or fire damage to electrical equipment

What you should do: Get this fixed immediately. Most electricians will offer to isolate the dangerous circuit on the spot and can often return the same day or next day to carry out repairs. Don’t use the affected circuit until it’s been made safe.

C2 – Potentially Dangerous

This indicates a fault that isn’t immediately dangerous but could become dangerous if left unresolved. It’s the most common code on “Unsatisfactory” certificates.

Common C2 examples we see in Solihull properties:

• No RCD protection on socket circuits (common in pre-2000s properties)
• Old rubber or fabric-insulated cables that are deteriorating
• Inadequate earthing or bonding arrangements
• Overloaded circuits or undersized cables
• Lack of supplementary bonding in bathrooms
• Missing consumer unit labelling

What you should do: Get this fixed as soon as reasonably practical – typically within 28 days. For landlords, this isn’t optional. You cannot legally let a property with outstanding C2 defects, and you must provide your tenant with a copy of the certificate within 28 days of the inspection.

C3 – Improvement Recommended

This code indicates something that would improve the installation but isn’t a safety concern under current regulations. Think of it as “best practice” rather than “essential”.

Common C3 examples we see in Solihull properties:

• Socket outlets in bedrooms without RCD protection (bedrooms aren’t required to have RCD protection, but it’s recommended)
• Consumer units not meeting current standards but still safe (e.g., metal rather than plastic, but properly installed)
• Lack of surge protection (recommended but not mandatory on older installations)
• Limited socket provision in certain rooms

What you should do: It’s up to you. C3 improvements are worth considering when you’re doing other electrical work or if you’re planning to sell the property (they can add value and avoid questions from buyers’ surveyors). But they’re not urgent, and your certificate will still show “Satisfactory” with C3 codes alone.

FI – Further Investigation Required

This isn’t strictly a defect code. It means the electrician couldn’t fully test something and needs to investigate further before determining if there’s a problem.

Common FI examples:

• Inaccessible junction boxes or cables hidden in walls
• Circuits where the electrician couldn’t determine the cable route
• Equipment that couldn’t be fully tested without specialist tools
• Areas where access was restricted during the inspection

What you should do: Contact your electrician to arrange the additional investigation. This might involve lifting floorboards, accessing loft spaces, or using specialist detection equipment. The investigation might reveal no problems, or it might uncover faults that require coding.

Understanding these codes helps you see why regular EICRs are vital for home safety – they catch developing faults before they become dangerous.

What Information Is on Your EICR Certificate?

Your EICR certificate contains several pages of technical information. Here’s what you’ll find:

Front page summary – Shows the overall outcome (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory), next inspection date, and details of who carried out the inspection.

Observations schedule – Lists every defect found, with its location, description, and code (C1/C2/C3/FI). This is the section you need to focus on if your certificate is Unsatisfactory.

Circuit schedules – Technical details of every circuit tested, including cable sizes, protective device ratings, and test results for earth fault loop impedance, insulation resistance, and RCD operation.

Tested by section – Confirms the electrician’s qualifications and registration number. Check this against the NICEIC or other scheme provider database to verify credentials.

How Long Is an EICR Certificate Valid?

Your certificate states the recommended date for the next inspection. This is typically:

• 5 years for rental properties (legally required)
• 10 years for owner-occupied homes
• Sooner if the electrician has concerns about deterioration or if you carry out significant electrical work

The certificate itself doesn’t “expire” – it remains a valid record of the installation’s condition at the time of inspection. But if you’re a landlord and you don’t have a valid certificate dated within the last 5 years, you’re breaking the law.

What Happens After You Receive Your Certificate?

If your certificate shows Satisfactory:

• File it safely – you’ll need it for insurance, property sales, or mortgage applications
• If you’re a landlord, provide a copy to your tenant within 28 days
• Diarise your next inspection date so you don’t forget
• Consider addressing any C3 recommendations when convenient

If your certificate shows Unsatisfactory:

• Request a quote for remedial work from your electrician (most will provide this within a few days of the inspection)
• Prioritise any C1 defects – get them fixed immediately
• Schedule C2 remedial work within 28 days
• If you’re a landlord, you cannot legally re-let the property until C1 and C2 defects are resolved
• Once repairs are complete, you’ll receive an updated “Satisfactory” certificate

What If You Disagree With the Certificate?

If you believe the electrician has wrongly coded something or missed obvious defects, you have options:

Discuss with the electrician – Sometimes there’s a genuine misunderstanding or the electrician can provide photographic evidence you haven’t seen. Most reputable electricians will talk through their findings and explain their reasoning.

Request a second opinion – Another qualified electrician can review the findings (though be aware you’ll typically pay for their time to review and possibly re-test specific circuits).

Contact the scheme provider – If your electrician is NICEIC registered, you can raise concerns with NICEIC who will investigate. This is a formal complaints process and can take several weeks.

Important: Don’t ignore genuine safety concerns just because you disagree with the severity. If multiple electricians confirm the same defect, it’s probably genuine.

Related Reading

• EICR Solihull: Complete Guide to Electrical Installation Condition Reports
• Why It’s Important to Have an EICR Carried Out
• How Much Does an EICR Cost in Solihull? 2026 Pricing Guide
• EICR for Landlords in Solihull: Complete Compliance Guide
• EICR Failed: What Happens Next for Solihull Homeowners

Get Your EICR Certificate in Solihull

Understanding your EICR certificate means you can make informed decisions about your property’s electrical safety. Whether you’re a landlord ensuring compliance or a homeowner maintaining your property, the certificate provides a clear roadmap of what needs attention.

📞 Call us: 0121 674 4014

📧 Email: info@farthingelectrical.co.uk

🔗 Book your EICR inspection

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