Most Common Electrical Issues Found During EICRs

An EICR is not just a tick-box exercise. When we carry one out at a property in Aberdeen, Peterhead, Ellon or across Aberdeenshire, we are going through every circuit, every connection and every piece of protective equipment to find problems that could cause a fire or an electric shock. Most properties have at least one issue. Some have several.

This guide covers the most common faults we find during EICRs in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, what they mean in plain language, and what happens next. It is written to help homeowners, landlords and business owners understand their report — not to confuse them with jargon.

What Is an EICR and What Does It Cover?

An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a formal inspection of the fixed electrical installation in a property. That means everything from the meter and consumer unit through to every circuit, socket, light fitting and earthing connection. It does not cover portable appliances — that is a separate PAT test.

The inspection follows BS 7671 wiring regulations and the associated guidance in the IET On-Site Guide. In Scotland, the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 requires landlords to carry out an EICR at least every five years or at each change of tenancy.

Every fault found is given a classification code:

• C1 — Immediate danger. The installation is unsafe right now and must be made safe before the report is issued.
• C2 — Potential danger. Not immediately dangerous but must be fixed for the report to be satisfactory.
• C3 — Improvement recommended. Not required for compliance but worth doing.
• FI — Further investigation needed. Something could not be fully tested and needs follow-up.

A report with any C1, C2 or FI codes is classed as unsatisfactory. The property cannot be issued a satisfactory certificate until those items are fixed and retested. You can read more about what the codes mean in our guide to EICR C1, C2 and C3 codes explained.

1. Outdated or Non-Compliant Consumer Units

This is the single most common finding across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, particularly in older properties. Consumer units manufactured before 2016 are often fitted with MCBs (miniature circuit breakers) but no RCD protection on individual circuits. Under BS 7671, circuits supplying sockets, bathrooms and outdoor areas need RCD protection as a minimum.

Older units with rewireable fuses are even more problematic. A rewireable fuse gives no protection against sustained overloads — it simply carries on until the wire burns through or a fire starts. We code these as C2 at minimum, and often C1 if they show signs of overheating or damage.

The fix is a consumer unit upgrade to a full RCBO board. An RCBO protects each individual circuit independently, which means a fault on one circuit trips only that circuit rather than knocking out half the house. This is now considered best practice under BS 7671 Amendment 4.

2. Missing or Inadequate RCD Protection

Even properties that have had some work done in recent years often have split-load consumer units with two RCDs covering groups of circuits rather than individual ones. This arrangement is no longer considered best practice. A single fault on a circuit in one RCD group will trip everything on that side — including the fridge, freezer and alarm system.

The more serious version of this finding is missing RCD protection entirely on socket circuits. Any socket outlet that could supply equipment used outdoors must have 30mA RCD protection under BS 7671 Regulation 411.3.3. If it does not, it is a C2.

We also check for surge protection devices (SPDs) on the consumer unit. Under Amendment 4 of BS 7671 (mandatory from October 2026), SPDs are required in most new and replacement consumer unit installations. We note their absence as a C3 recommendation on existing installations.

3. Old, Damaged or Incorrectly Sized Wiring

Wiring degrades over time. In Aberdeen’s granite tenements and Aberdeenshire’s older rural properties, we regularly find rubber-insulated wiring from the 1960s and 1970s that has hardened and cracked with age. When insulation breaks down, conductors can come into contact with each other or with earthed metalwork — creating a risk of shock or fire.

Specific things we look for:

• Rubber or lead-sheathed cable — This is now well beyond its safe working life and should be replaced.
• Undersized cable for the circuit breaker rating — A 2.5mm² cable is designed to carry up to 20A. If it has been connected to a 32A breaker by a previous owner, it will overheat under load before the breaker trips.
• Cables without mechanical protection in vulnerable locations — Cables running below 50mm in a wall without conduit or a metal capping are at risk of being damaged by fixings. This is a C2 under BS 7671.
• Exposed or poorly joined cables — Junction boxes left without covers, or joints made with tape rather than proper connectors, are consistently flagged.

Where wiring problems are widespread, a full house rewire is often the most cost-effective long-term solution rather than patching individual circuits.

4. Earthing and Bonding Deficiencies

Earthing is the safety net of your electrical installation. If a fault develops inside an appliance or a fitting, the earth path carries that fault current safely back to the supply, causing the protective device to trip. Without a reliable earth, the fault current can instead flow through the person who touches it.

Common earthing and bonding faults we find:

• No main protective bonding to gas or water pipes — The main incoming gas and water pipes must be bonded to the earth terminal at the consumer unit. This is missed in many older properties, particularly where pipework has been replaced with plastic at some point.
• No supplementary bonding in bathrooms — Older regulations required all metalwork in a bathroom to be bonded together. This is no longer required where the installation meets current standards, but many older bathrooms still have an absent bond that was required under the rules at the time of installation.
• Undersized earth conductors — The earthing conductor connecting the consumer unit to the DNO’s earth terminal must be appropriately sized for the supply. We check this against the requirements in BS 7671 Table 54.7.

5. Socket, Switch and Accessory Defects

Sockets and switches are the most frequently touched parts of an electrical installation, which makes them wear out faster than anything else. During an EICR we check every accessible accessory for:

• Cracked or broken faceplates that expose live terminals
• Loose fit in back boxes, which causes stress on the cable connections behind
• Signs of overheating — discolouration, melting or burn marks
• Missing earth connections behind metal faceplates
• Non-standard accessories that do not meet BS 1363 (sockets) or BS 3676 (switches)

A cracked socket faceplate sounds minor but it is a C2 — a child or adult can touch the live terminal inside. We always advise replacing damaged accessories before a tenancy begins or a sale completes.

6. DIY and Unregistered Electrical Work

DIY electrical work by unregistered electricians is one of the most common causes of EICR failures. In Scotland, certain types of electrical work must be notified to the local authority building control under the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004. Work that is not notified, and not carried out by a registered electrician, is a risk to the occupants and creates significant legal liability for the property owner.

The signs of DIY work are usually easy to spot: non-standard cable colours, incorrect accessories, missing earth connections, cables not properly clipped or protected, and consumer unit modifications that do not match the original installation. We code every piece of non-compliant DIY work that we find, and the costs of putting it right always exceed what the original job would have cost if done properly.

If you have bought a property and you are not sure whether previous work was done correctly, an EICR is the right first step. We will tell you exactly what was done, whether it is safe, and what needs to be fixed.

7. RCD Faults and Nuisance Tripping

An RCD that trips regularly is not a faulty RCD — it is doing its job. It is detecting a fault on the circuit it protects. The problem is the fault, not the RCD. Common causes include:

• Faulty or ageing appliances leaking a small amount of current to earth
• Damp or condensation inside a light fitting or outdoor socket
• Damaged cable insulation in a wall or floor
• Incorrect wiring at a socket or switch added later

During an EICR, we carry out insulation resistance testing on each circuit. This involves applying a test voltage (typically 500V DC) between conductors to check whether the insulation is holding up. A low insulation resistance reading tells us which circuit has a problem, and we can then investigate further to find the exact cause. This is one of the main advantages of a proper EICR over a basic visual check.

If your RCDs are tripping frequently, you can read our full guide to why circuit breakers keep tripping and what to do about it.

What Happens After an Unsatisfactory EICR?

If your EICR comes back with C1 or C2 codes, you will need remedial work before a satisfactory certificate can be issued. We always provide a clear written quote for remedials at the time of the inspection. There is no pressure to use us — you can get quotes from other NICEIC-approved electricians if you prefer — but we can usually carry out the remedials on the same day for straightforward jobs.

Once remedials are complete, we retest the affected circuits and issue the satisfactory EICR. For landlords in Scotland, this certificate must be given to your tenant within 28 days of the inspection and kept on record.

Our full landlord electrical services in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire cover EICRs, remedials, consumer unit upgrades and all certificate issuing.

How to Reduce the Risk of EICR Failures

You cannot predict every fault, but there are practical steps that reduce the risk of a failed EICR:

• Do not carry out or commission DIY electrical work. Use a NICEIC-registered electrician for all fixed electrical installation work.
• Test your RCDs monthly using the test button on each device.
• Replace cracked or damaged sockets and switches as soon as you notice them.
• Book an EICR before the five-year mark as a landlord, not on the last day.
• Tell your electrician about any known issues before the inspection — it saves time and helps them test the right areas first.

Book an EICR in Aberdeen or Aberdeenshire

Faithful Spark Electricians carry out EICRs across Aberdeen, Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Ellon, Westhill, Inverurie and the surrounding area. We are NICEIC Approved Contractors and hold the City & Guilds 2391-52 inspection and testing qualification. EICRs start from £150 +VAT for a standard domestic property.

Call 07304 027013 or email info@faithfulsparkelectricians.co.uk to book. We give clear written quotes, detailed reports and carry out remedials the same day where possible.

You can also read more about what an EICR involves in Aberdeen and what to expect on the day of your inspection.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an EICR cost in Aberdeen?

EICRs with Faithful Spark Electricians start from £150 +VAT for a standard domestic property. The final price depends on the number of circuits and the size of the property. We always confirm the price in writing before starting work.

How long does an EICR take?

A typical three-bedroom house takes three to five hours. Larger properties, older properties with more circuits, or properties with known faults can take longer. We will give you an estimated time when you book.

How often do landlords in Scotland need an EICR?

At least every five years or at each change of tenancy, whichever comes first. This is a legal requirement under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006. Failure to comply can result in a landlord registration notice or fine.

What is a C1 fault and what do I do about it?

A C1 means there is an immediate danger and the installation is unsafe to use. We make the installation safe before leaving the property, even if full remedial work is needed later. We will explain exactly what was found and what needs to be done to bring the installation to a satisfactory standard.

Can I do my own electrical work to fix EICR faults?

Some minor work is permitted, but any work on fixed wiring, consumer units or new circuits in Scotland must be carried out by a qualified and registered electrician and notified to building control where required. Attempting to fix EICR faults yourself and then having the work signed off by an electrician is not the same as having the work done properly in the first place.