If you are asking can landlords fail an EICR, the short answer is yes – in practical terms, they can. The landlord does not personally “fail” the inspection in the same way a person fails an exam, but the electrical installation in the rental property can receive an unsatisfactory result. When that happens, the responsibility sits with the landlord to put things right within the required timescales.
For landlords in Plymouth and the surrounding area, this is not just a paperwork issue. An unsatisfactory Electrical Installation Condition Report can affect tenant safety, legal compliance, insurance expectations and, in some cases, whether a property should continue to be let before remedial work is completed.
Can landlords fail an EICR in legal terms?
It is more accurate to say that a property fails the inspection rather than the landlord as an individual. Even so, the legal duty belongs to the landlord, so the outcome matters in very real terms.
An EICR is a formal inspection and test of the fixed electrical installation in a property. It looks at the condition of wiring, consumer units, earthing, bonding, protective devices and other parts of the installation that affect safety. The electrician then issues a report with observations coded according to risk.
If the report is marked satisfactory, the installation is considered safe for continued use at the time of inspection. If it is marked unsatisfactory, remedial work is needed. That is where landlords can come unstuck. The problem is not simply having an older installation. The problem is failing to act when defects are identified.
What makes an EICR unsatisfactory?
An EICR becomes unsatisfactory when the inspector finds issues serious enough to require action. These are usually recorded as C1, C2 or FI observations.
A C1 code means there is present danger. This is the most urgent category and may require immediate action to make the installation safe. A C2 code means potentially dangerous. That still requires remedial work and should not be brushed aside. FI means further investigation is needed without delay, usually because the inspector has found something concerning that cannot be fully assessed during the initial inspection.
A C3 code is different. That means improvement is recommended, but it does not on its own make the report unsatisfactory. This is where some confusion starts for landlords. A property can have recommendations for improvement and still pass the EICR.
Common reasons for an unsatisfactory report include outdated consumer units with inadequate protection, missing or insufficient earthing and bonding, damaged accessories, signs of overheating, poor-quality previous alterations, and circuits that fail testing. In rented properties, it is also fairly common to find additions made over the years that were never properly checked.
Why older properties often raise concerns
Many rental homes in Devon and Cornwall are older properties, and age alone does not automatically mean failure. A well-maintained older installation can still perform safely. The issue is whether it meets a safe standard now, not whether it looks modern.
That said, older properties often have more wear, more alterations, and more chance of hidden defects. You may find older fuse boards, circuits without RCD protection where it is expected, or bonding that no longer meets current requirements. Sometimes the installation was acceptable when it was first fitted, but years of changes, extensions or DIY work have created weak points.
This is why landlords are better served by treating an EICR as a useful safety check rather than a box-ticking exercise. A report that picks up problems early can prevent a more expensive or dangerous issue later.
What happens if the property gets an unsatisfactory EICR?
If the report is unsatisfactory, the next step is not panic. It is action.
For rented residential properties, landlords are generally required to have any remedial work or further investigation completed within 28 days, or sooner if the report specifies a shorter period. Once the work is done, written confirmation should be obtained from a qualified person stating that the electrical safety standards have been met, or that further remedial work is no longer required.
This matters because the EICR on its own is not the end of the process. If defects are found, the follow-up paperwork is just as important. Landlords should keep copies of the original report, any certificates for remedial work, and the written confirmation that the installation is now compliant.
If local authorities request evidence, you need to be able to produce it. Tenants may also be entitled to receive a copy. Good record keeping is part of good property management.
Can a landlord be penalised for failing to act?
Yes. While the wording people use is often “failing the EICR”, the real risk is failing to respond properly to an unsatisfactory result.
If a landlord ignores a report that highlights dangerous or potentially dangerous defects, there can be legal and financial consequences. Local authorities can enforce compliance, and serious neglect may expose landlords to enforcement action or penalties. Beyond that, there is the obvious safety risk to tenants, visitors and the property itself.
There is also a reputational point here. Most landlords want reliable tenants and fewer disputes. Showing that electrical safety is taken seriously helps build trust and reduces the chance of problems escalating.
Can landlords fail an EICR because of tenant damage?
Sometimes the cause of the defect is tenant damage, but the landlord still has to deal with the safety issue. The electrical installation remains the landlord’s responsibility.
That can feel frustrating, especially if sockets have been damaged, fittings have been tampered with, or overloading has clearly caused wear. In practice, the immediate concern is making the installation safe. Questions about damage, costs or tenancy issues can be dealt with separately.
This is one reason regular inspections and prompt maintenance matter. Smaller issues are easier to manage before they become reportable defects.
How landlords can reduce the risk of an unsatisfactory result
The simplest way to reduce the chance of problems is not to wait until the inspection date to think about the electrics.
If a property has an older consumer unit, recurring tripping, worn fittings, or a history of piecemeal electrical work, it is sensible to get advice before the EICR is due. Minor upgrades carried out in advance can often avoid bigger remedial work later. It also helps to use qualified electricians for all alterations rather than relying on quick fixes.
Landlords should also pay attention to warning signs between inspections. Flickering lights, crackling switches, warm sockets, damaged accessories or tenant reports of faults all deserve proper attention. These may or may not result in an unsatisfactory report, but they should never be ignored.
A decent inspection is also important. A thorough EICR should be clear, properly explained and backed by practical recommendations. Cheap inspections can look attractive at first, but if the report is vague or the follow-up is poor, it often creates more hassle.
What if the report recommends costly work?
This is where the answer becomes more nuanced. Not every unsatisfactory EICR means a full rewire, and not every older installation needs major upheaval.
Sometimes the remedial work is relatively straightforward, such as replacing damaged accessories, improving bonding, correcting faults on a circuit, or upgrading protective devices. In other cases, especially where there are widespread issues or very old wiring, larger works may be the sensible long-term option.
The right approach depends on the condition of the installation, the age of previous work, and whether repeated patch repairs are becoming poor value. A good contractor should explain the difference between what is legally necessary now and what would be advisable over time.
For landlords, that clarity matters. You need to know what must be done to achieve compliance, what can be phased, and what will give the best value over the life of the property.
Choosing the right electrician for an EICR
An EICR is only as useful as the person carrying it out. Landlords should use a qualified, competent electrician with the right inspection and testing experience, especially for rental compliance work.
Look for proper certification, clear reporting and a willingness to explain findings in plain English. If remedial work is needed, the quote should be transparent and proportionate to the defects found. Good landlords do not just want a pass certificate. They want confidence that the installation is safe, compliant and properly documented.
At Goodwin Electrical, this is the approach we take with landlords across Plymouth – clear advice, tidy work and practical support from inspection through to any remedial action required.
An EICR is not there to catch landlords out. It is there to show whether a property is electrically safe at the time of inspection. If the answer is no, the best response is to deal with it properly, keep the paperwork in order, and treat it as part of responsible property management rather than an inconvenience.