Since the 2020 regulations made EICRs mandatory for all rented properties, I've done a lot of them across Pinner, Hemel, Harrow, Watford and the surrounding area. The same five issues come up over and over — knowing what they are can save you a failed certificate and an emergency rebook.
1) No RCD Protection on Final Circuits
Easily the most common fail I issue. Properties with consumer units more than 15 years old often have the standard split-load layout — RCD on some circuits but not others. The 18th edition of the Wiring Regulations (BS 7671) mandates RCD protection on virtually every final circuit, particularly anything carrying a flexible cable or in a wet area.
The fix is a consumer-unit upgrade. £500 fitted in most flats, £600-£700 in 3-4 bed houses. It takes half a day and the property is back up and running the same evening. Once done, the EICR re-test passes immediately.
2) Missing or Insufficient Main Bonding
Bonding is the bare green-and-yellow wire that connects your gas and water pipes to the earth at the consumer unit. It stops voltage building up between metal pipes and electrical fittings during a fault. Older properties — particularly 1960s-80s — often have undersized bonding (cable too thin) or no bonding at all to the gas pipe.
It's a C2 fail every time. Fix is straightforward — running new 10mm bonding cable from the consumer unit to the gas and water entry points. £80-£150 depending on property layout. Add it to the EICR remedial list and I'll do it on the same visit.
3) Damaged or Non-Compliant Cable Runs
The classic culprits: extension leads run permanently as fixed wiring, junction boxes hidden behind plasterboard with no access ('maintenance-free' joints are required by current regs), exposed twin-and-earth cable in damp areas, and old rubber-insulated cable still in service from the 1960s/70s.
I see this most often in HMOs and properties that have been added to over the years without using a registered electrician. Fix depends on what I find — sometimes a £30 junction box swap, sometimes a partial rewire of the affected area at £200-£800.
4) Old Fuse Boards (Wylex / Crabtree Wire-Fuse)
If your rental still has a wire-fuse board (rewireable fuses rather than MCBs), it's an automatic C2 fail. These boards lack RCD protection entirely, fuses are easily replaced with the wrong rating (which removes circuit protection), and there's no isolation switching on individual circuits.
The only fix is a full consumer-unit replacement — same as #1 above, £500-£700 fitted. It's annoying to find one because it usually means the property hasn't had any electrical work for 30+ years, which often means other issues lurking too. Get it done before the tenancy renewal cycle.
5) Outdoor and Loft Circuits Improperly Protected
Outdoor sockets, garden lighting, shed feeds and loft lighting circuits are the typical sources of intermittent EICR fails. Common issues: indoor cable used outdoors (degrades quickly), no proper IP-rated enclosures, no separate RCD protection on outdoor circuits, and DIY connections that don't meet the 18th edition.
Loft circuits often have rodent damage I find during testing — mice love the warm spaces and chew through cables. Fix is replacing the affected section with proper SWA cable (outdoor) or properly clipped twin-and-earth (loft), £100-£300 depending on length.
How to Avoid These Fails Before You Book the EICR
The honest answer: you can't fully avoid them, because they're structural issues with the wiring you've inherited. But you can prepare:
1) Get the EICR done with enough lead time before tenancy renewal — book the inspection 4-6 weeks before any deadline so there's time to fix anything that fails.
2) Use a single electrician for inspection AND remedial. I quote both at the time of inspection so the work can usually start the same week.
3) Don't go cheap on the inspection. A £50 EICR is a paper exercise; a real one finds the real issues. £180 from a NAPIT-registered electrician for a 3-bed is what proper testing costs.
4) Consider a proactive consumer unit upgrade if your property's board is more than 15 years old. £500 spent now avoids most of the fails on this list.
Book Your Landlord EICR
I cover Pinner, Hemel Hempstead, Harrow, Watford and the surrounding area for landlord EICRs. Fixed prices, same-day digital certificate, NAPIT registered (Reg. 81930), and I deal directly with your tenant for access. Call 07405 629 940 or use the contact form to book — usually 2-5 days lead time.