Landlord guidance
Common Landlord EICR Failures
Common reasons a landlord EICR is Unsatisfactory include missing RCD protection, inadequate bonding, old consumer units, damaged accessories and unsafe DIY additions.
Knowing why rented-property EICRs commonly come back Unsatisfactory helps landlords anticipate remedial work and, ideally, address issues before the inspection.
The frequent failures
- Missing or inadequate RCD protection — very common in older installations, often coded C2.
- Inadequate earthing and bonding — missing main bonding to gas and water, coded C2.
- Old or damaged consumer units — obsolete boards or combustible enclosures.
- Damaged accessories — cracked sockets, scorched terminals, exposed conductors (up to C1).
- Unsafe DIY additions — alterations made without proper design or certification.
- Overloaded circuits — signs of overheating or circuits extended beyond capacity.
Why they happen
Rented properties often have older installations that were safe when installed but no longer meet current expectations, and may have accumulated uncertified alterations over the years.
Getting ahead of them
A landlord who proactively upgrades ageing consumer units, adds RCD protection and corrects bonding will sail through inspections and — more importantly — provide a genuinely safe home. When failures do occur, tackle them by remedial priority within the required timescales.
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