EICR Observation Codes Explained: C1, C2, C3 and What They Mean for Landlords

Your EICR came back with observation codes. Here's what C1, C2, C3, and FI mean — and which ones require immediate action.

<h2What Is an EICR?</h2 <pAn Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a formal assessment of the fixed electrical wiring in your property. Since June 2020, landlords in England must have a valid EICR for every tenanted property, renewed every <strong5 years</strong.</p

<h2Understanding the Codes</h2

<h3C1 — Danger Present</h3 <pThis is the most serious code. It means there is an <strongimmediate risk of injury</strong. The inspector should make the situation safe before leaving — this might mean disconnecting a circuit. You must arrange remedial work <emimmediately</em.</p

<h3C2 — Potentially Dangerous</h3 <pA C2 means there is a risk of injury that isn't immediately dangerous but could become so. You must arrange remedial work and have a satisfactory EICR issued within <strong28 days</strong of receiving the report.</p

<h3C3 — Improvement Recommended</h3 <pA C3 is an advisory note. The installation doesn't meet current standards but isn't dangerous. C3 observations do <strongnot</strong affect the overall outcome — your EICR can still be rated "satisfactory" with C3 codes.</p

<h3FI — Further Investigation</h3 <pAn FI code means the inspector couldn't fully assess part of the installation and further investigation is needed. This might require opening up walls or floors, or testing circuits that were inaccessible. FI codes need to be resolved to complete the report.</p

<h2What "Satisfactory" Means</h2 <pAn EICR is rated <strongsatisfactory</strong if there are no C1 or C2 codes. C3 codes may appear on a satisfactory report and are advisory only. FI codes prevent the report being rated satisfactory — they must be resolved and a satisfactory report issued before the 28-day deadline.</p

<h2Penalties for Non-Compliance</h2 <pLocal authorities can issue fines of up to <strong£30,000</strong for failing to obtain an EICR, failing to complete remedial work, or failing to provide a copy to tenants within 28 days.</p

Sources: - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electrical-safety-standards-in-the-private-rented-sector-guidance-for-landlords-tenants-and-local-authorities - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/312/contents/made

Published: 2026-02-28.

Last reviewed: 2026-08-30.

General summary; not legal advice.