Failed EICR: do you need a full rewire?

Probably not just because the report says unsatisfactory: a failed EICR means the C1 and C2 items must be fixed, and often that's a matter of targeted repairs. A rewire comes into it when the faults run right through the installation, or when the cable itself is the problem and repairs would leave you with worn-out wiring.

We're a matching service, not electricians. We can't tell you what your report means for your home, but we can explain how to read it and pass your enquiry to a local electrician who can quote.

Remedial work and a rewire are different things

Remedial work fixes what the report lists: a damaged socket, missing earth bonding, a fault on one circuit, or an old consumer unit. The rest of the installation stays. A rewire replaces the cable itself, along with the sockets, switches and lighting points, in part of the home or all of it.

Those are averages, not quotes, and your price will depend on the size of the home and the number of circuits. You can see why it's worth asking the question, though: there's a big gap between a few repairs and a rewire.

What a report heavy with C1, C2 and FI codes means

The codes describe how serious each observation is. They don't say "rewire".

• C1: danger present, and anyone using the installation is at risk.
• C2: potentially dangerous.
• FI: further investigation needed.
• C3: improvement recommended, and not necessarily required. A few of these won't fail a report.

When you've got a lot of them, look at what they have in common. Ten C2s that all relate to the same old cable tell a different story from ten unrelated faults, and FI items may turn out to be nothing or may open up a bigger problem. These questions will help you to work out which you've got:

• Are the problems on one circuit or in one room, or on every circuit?
• Is the cable itself listed as damaged or deteriorated, for instance perished rubber or fabric sheathing? That's harder to fix item by item than a faulty socket.
• Would fixing each item leave most of the old wiring in place, and what's likely to come up at the next inspection?
• Are you about to renovate anyway? If walls and floors are coming up, it may be the cheapest time to do it.

Ask the electrician to price both routes in writing: repairs item by item, and a full or partial rewire. If they can't explain why individual repairs won't work, keep asking.

Getting a second opinion

If you've been told you need a rewire and it doesn't add up, a second opinion is a reasonable step on a bill this size. Take the full report with you, not only the summary page, so that the second electrician can see what was tested and what was recorded. Ask them to look at the worst observations in person and tell you whether they agree.

Use a registered electrician. Electrical Safety First recommends this for any installation or repair work and lists NICEIC, NAPIT and SELECT for Scotland, and our guide to finding a good electrician covers what to ask. If you send us an enquiry, say in the message that you already have a report and want a second view. Don't sit on a C1 while you wait, though. That's danger now, and it needs making safe.

What landlords must do, and by when

The Scottish Government's Repairing Standard guidance is firm on the what, and less exact on the when:

• C1 and C2 items must be rectified for the property to comply with the Repairing Standard, and anything that fails must be repaired or replaced.
• No number of days is given. If you've seen a 28-day deadline elsewhere, it isn't in this guidance, so treat "urgent" as meaning what it says.
• If remedial work includes a new consumer unit, an Electrical Installation Certificate must be provided. A fully rewired house should get one too.
• A copy of the most recent EICR must go to a new tenant before the tenancy starts.

The guidance doesn't tell you to rewire, or set an age at which you must. It's your decision how to meet the standard. A tenant who thinks you're not meeting it can tell you in writing what work is needed and then apply to the tribunal. If the home's empty, that's the time to do any disruptive work.

If it's your own home

The Repairing Standard is written for private landlords, so those duties aren't aimed at you, but the safety point still applies. A C1 is still a danger. Electrical Safety First's general advice is to have your electrics inspected about every 10 years. If you're buying, get estimates before you commit, so the cost doesn't come as a surprise after you've moved in.

Where to go next

For each code and what the repairs cost, see repairs after a failed EICR. If a rewire does look likely, our house rewiring page covers what's involved, how long it takes and typical prices. Tick "House rewire" or "EICR" on the form below and we'll pass your enquiry to one local electrician who covers your postcode.