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New EICR "unsatisfactory" - complete rewire required?!?

Former Community Member
Former Community Member
The lighting circuit has no CPC (earth), this is not uncommon in older houses. For that reason all light fittings are Class 2 i.e. plastic with no metal, and there is a clause in the tenancy agreement which forbids tampering with the light fittings (this is a house we own and rent out).


Previous EICRs did not even mention the lighting circuit because of the Class 2 fittings. I have just got a new EICR with an observation "lighting circuits have little or no earth" and classification code C1 ("Danger present, risk of injury, immediate remedial action required"). The overall assessment says "Unsatisfactory" with the comment "Needs updating to current regs". This can only be fixed by a complete rewire of the whole lighting circuit.


This is pointless, there are no earth connections in the plastic fittings.


Any thoughts? Many thanks.
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    JPC, it sounds as if you are not getting the answer that you wanted!


    Is there RCD protection for the lighting circuit(s)? How difficult is it to get under the floorboards?

    412.1.2 concerns use of double insulation as the sole protective measure, which seems to be the case here. Adequate supervision is given as an example of a method of ensuring the effectiveness of this protective measure, but it also rules it out: "... where a user may change items of equipment without authorization." So that would be at the core of my case if I were Counsel for the estate of the deceased. (A tenant may have changed a lamp fitting, but it might be a visitor who gets electrocuted.)


    Against that, my argument as Counsel for the Landlord would be that the installation is inspected and tested as is and not what it might be if it has been changed, especially if it has been done unlawfully. So if there is no present danger, C3 is appropriate.


    ETA: I note your answer above to the question of the RCD.


    The real question is what do you do about the C1? Unfortunately, there appears to be no independent right of appeal. On the basis of the C1 (or a C2) the local authority may serve a remedial notice and only at that stage is there a right of appeal (to the Property Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal). The problem now is presenting evidence to show that the C1 was inappropriate.


    You could get another EICR and hope for a C3, but by now your tenant should have a copy of the existing report and would be perfectly entitled to seek the assistance of the local authority.


    So the least bad solution might be to rewire the circuit.
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    JPC, it sounds as if you are not getting the answer that you wanted!


    Is there RCD protection for the lighting circuit(s)? How difficult is it to get under the floorboards?

    412.1.2 concerns use of double insulation as the sole protective measure, which seems to be the case here. Adequate supervision is given as an example of a method of ensuring the effectiveness of this protective measure, but it also rules it out: "... where a user may change items of equipment without authorization." So that would be at the core of my case if I were Counsel for the estate of the deceased. (A tenant may have changed a lamp fitting, but it might be a visitor who gets electrocuted.)


    Against that, my argument as Counsel for the Landlord would be that the installation is inspected and tested as is and not what it might be if it has been changed, especially if it has been done unlawfully. So if there is no present danger, C3 is appropriate.


    ETA: I note your answer above to the question of the RCD.


    The real question is what do you do about the C1? Unfortunately, there appears to be no independent right of appeal. On the basis of the C1 (or a C2) the local authority may serve a remedial notice and only at that stage is there a right of appeal (to the Property Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal). The problem now is presenting evidence to show that the C1 was inappropriate.


    You could get another EICR and hope for a C3, but by now your tenant should have a copy of the existing report and would be perfectly entitled to seek the assistance of the local authority.


    So the least bad solution might be to rewire the circuit.
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