Electrical Safety Check in Liverpool 30th September 2026

EICR in Liverpool Before Renting a Property: Consumer Unit Replacement

1) What did the customer need?

Electrical Faults Fixed carries out Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs), electrical testing and remedial work for landlords and property owners across Liverpool and Merseyside.

In this case, our customer was planning to rent out their property while spending some time abroad. Before letting the house, they needed an EICR to assess the condition and safety of the existing electrical installation.

An Electrical Installation Condition Report involves a detailed inspection and testing process designed to identify electrical defects, deterioration and potential safety risks. For landlords, it provides important information about the condition of the installation and helps establish whether remedial work is required.

The customer contacted us to carry out the inspection, explain any findings and provide appropriate documentation for the property rental process.

2) The existing electrical installation

The property had an older plastic consumer unit without RCD protection for socket outlets likely to be used to supply mobile equipment outdoors.

Although there were no signs of thermal damage to the consumer unit itself, our inspection and testing identified several other electrical safety concerns.

This demonstrated why a proper EICR involves much more than simply looking at the consumer unit. Electrical defects can be hidden within circuits and accessories, making systematic inspection and testing an essential part of assessing an installation.

3) What did we do?

We carried out a Periodic Electrical Inspection and produced an Electrical Installation Condition Report, inspecting the accessible parts of the installation and performing the appropriate electrical tests.

This included checking earthing arrangements, protective conductors, insulation resistance, continuity and the effectiveness of the protective measures in place.

During the inspection, we identified several observations requiring attention.

4) What did the inspection reveal?

• Lack of RCD protection to socket outlets – C2

The inspection identified that socket outlets likely to supply mobile equipment outdoors did not have the required RCD protection.
Residual Current Devices (RCDs) provide additional protection against electric shock by disconnecting the supply when certain electrical faults occur. This protection is particularly important when electrical equipment is used outdoors, where damp conditions and damaged cables can increase the risk of electric shock.

This was recorded as a C2 observation, indicating a potentially dangerous condition requiring urgent remedial action.

• Lack of neutral continuity on the downstairs ring final circuit – C2

Testing identified a lack of continuity on the neutral conductor of the downstairs socket ring final circuit.

The neutral conductor forms an essential part of the electrical circuit. A lack of continuity indicates a break or serious damage that requires further investigation and rectification.

This was recorded as a C2 observation, meaning the defect required urgent attention before the installation could be considered satisfactory.

• Thermal damage to the shower pull-cord switch – C2

The shower pull-cord switch showed signs of thermal damage.

Overheating at an electrical accessory can result from loose or deteriorated connections, excessive loading or another underlying fault. If left unresolved, thermal damage can worsen and potentially create a fire risk.

The affected accessory and associated connections required attention to address the defect and ensure the circuit could be operated safely.

This was recorded as a C2 observation.

• Single-insulated wiring visible outside an enclosure at the consumer unit – C2

We identified single-insulated wiring visible outside an enclosure at the consumer unit.

Electrical conductors must be suitably enclosed and protected to reduce the risk of accidental contact with live parts. Exposed single insulation can present an electrical safety concern, depending on the circumstances.

This observation was recorded as C2 and required remedial action.

• No Surge Protection Device installed – C3

The installation did not have a Surge Protection Device (SPD).

An SPD helps protect electrical equipment against transient overvoltages, which can arise from lightning-related events or switching operations on the electrical supply network.

This was recorded as C3, indicating that an improvement was recommended. Unlike the C2 observations, this finding did not itself make the EICR unsatisfactory.

5) Why was the EICR unsatisfactory?

The inspection identified multiple C2 observations, including a lack of RCD protection to relevant socket outlets, a neutral continuity issue on the downstairs ring final circuit, thermal damage to the shower pull-cord switch and inadequately protected wiring at the consumer unit.

A C2 observation indicates a potentially dangerous condition requiring urgent remedial action. The presence of these defects meant that the overall EICR result was unsatisfactory.

We explained the findings to the customer and outlined the remedial work needed to address the identified electrical safety concerns.

For landlords preparing a property for rental, an unsatisfactory report can be concerning. However, an EICR provides the information needed to identify problems and take appropriate action to resolve them.

6) Remedial work and consumer unit replacement

Following the inspection, we carried out remedial work to address the identified observations. This included replacing the existing consumer unit and rectifying the other defects recorded during the inspection.

The consumer unit replacement formed part of the wider remedial work, allowing the relevant protective arrangements to be addressed alongside the other electrical safety issues.

Rather than leaving the customer with a list of defects to resolve independently, we carried out the required work and arranged the appropriate follow-up inspection and testing.

7) Issuing a new EICR following the remedial work

Once the remedial work had been completed, we issued a new Electrical Installation Condition Report.

A new EICR is not necessarily the only way to document remedial work following an unsatisfactory report. Depending on the circumstances, suitable certification of the remedial work, such as an Electrical Installation Certificate, may provide the necessary evidence.

However, we understand that landlords and estate agents need clear, straightforward documentation when preparing a property for rental. In this case, issuing a new EICR provided an updated report reflecting the condition of the installation following the remedial work.

We aim to make the process as straightforward as possible for our customers by explaining our findings, resolving identified defects and providing appropriate documentation.

8) What did we charge?

We believe in being transparent about the cost of electrical inspection, testing and remedial work. The charges for this job were as follows:

The initial inspection cost £200. Following the inspection, the consumer unit replacement and rectification of the other observations cost a further £680.

The total cost for the inspection and subsequent remedial work was £880.

This covered the initial EICR, the consumer unit replacement and the rectification of the identified observations.

9) The outcome

The customer initially contacted Electrical Faults Fixed because they needed an EICR before renting out their property while spending time abroad.

Our inspection identified several potentially dangerous electrical defects that might not have been apparent during everyday use.

We explained the findings, carried out the necessary remedial work, replaced the consumer unit and issued a new EICR following the work.

The customer received updated documentation reflecting the installation's condition after the remedial work, helping them provide clear information to their estate agent as part of the rental process.

This case demonstrates the value of thorough electrical inspection and testing, accurate reporting and a practical approach to resolving defects. An EICR does not simply produce a pass-or-fail result; it helps identify issues that need attention so that appropriate action can be taken.

10) Need an EICR in Liverpool or Merseyside?

If you are a landlord preparing a property for rental, Electrical Faults Fixed can help with Electrical Installation Condition Reports, electrical testing, consumer unit replacements and remedial work.

We work with landlords and property owners across Liverpool and the surrounding Merseyside area, helping them understand the condition of their electrical installations and the work required to address identified defects.

Contact Electrical Faults Fixed to discuss your EICR, landlord electrical safety inspection or consumer unit replacement requirements.