EICR Failed Due to Incorrect Circuit Labelling in London
My EICR Failed Because of Missing Bonding – What It Means and How to Fix It (London Guide)
20 October 2025
EICR Faults & Failures
EICR Failed Because of Missing Bonding
You’ve just received your EICR report, and one line jumps out:
“C2 – No main bonding to gas or water pipes.”
If that sounds familiar, don’t panic this is one of the most common reasons London properties fail an Electrical Installation Condition Report.
In this guide, our certified electricians at London EICR Certificates explain what bonding means, why your property failed, and exactly how to fix it so you can get your satisfactory EICR certificate quickly.
⚡ What Does “No Bonding” Mean on an EICR?
Bonding is a safety feature that connects metal parts in your property (like gas and water pipes) to the main electrical earthing system.
It ensures all metalwork stays at the same electrical potential preventing electric shock in the event of a fault.
There are two main types of bonding your electrician checks during an EICR:
- Main Bonding: Thick 10mm green/yellow cables connecting gas and water pipes to your consumer unit (fuse board).
- Supplementary Bonding: Smaller wires in bathrooms linking taps, showers, and metal pipes to ensure no potential difference.
If either is missing, undersized, or disconnected, your report will fail with a C2 code, meaning “Potentially Dangerous – Urgent Remedial Work Required.”
🧯 Why Bonding Is So Important
Think of bonding as your home’s hidden safety net.
If a fault occurs and a live wire touches metal pipework, that metal could become live turning an everyday tap into a serious shock risk.
Bonding ensures electricity flows safely to earth, tripping the breaker instead of harming you.
Without it, your property’s protective devices might not work correctly, especially in older systems where metal pipework runs throughout the home.
📋 Common EICR Report Notes Related to Bonding
During inspections across London, our electricians frequently record the following bonding-related issues:
- C2 – No main bonding to gas meter
- C2 – No main bonding to water pipe
- C2 – No supplementary bonding in bathroom
- C2 – No continuity on main bonding conductor
- C2 – Bonding cable undersized or damaged
These are all “unsatisfactory” findings that need correction before your certificate can be marked as safe to use.
🧰 How Electricians Fix Bonding Issues
Good news: bonding faults are usually quick and inexpensive to fix.
Here’s what a typical bonding remedial job involves:
- Assessment – The electrician identifies existing bonding points and earthing arrangements.
- Installation – New 10mm earth bonding cables are run to the gas meter, water stopcock, or bathroom fittings.
- Connection – Proper earthing clamps are fitted with clear “Safety Electrical Connection – Do Not Remove” labels.
- Testing – Continuity and resistance are verified.
- Documentation – A new satisfactory EICR certificate is issued after retesting.
You can learn more about how remedial work is handled here:
👉 EICR Remedial Work
💸 Typical Cost to Fix Bonding Issues in London
Prices vary depending on property size and accessibility, but on average:
| Service | Average Cost (London) |
|---|---|
| Add bonding to gas pipe | £90–£130 |
| Add bonding to water pipe | £90–£130 |
| Add supplementary bonding in bathroom | £120–£180 |
| Full bonding upgrade | £200–£250 |
If your bonding failure came up as part of a larger EICR, many electricians (including us) can complete the remedial work the same day saving you from booking another appointment.
For a full breakdown of testing and repair pricing, visit:
🔗 EICR Certificate Cost
🧠 What Happens After You Fix the Bonding?
Once the bonding is installed or upgraded, your electrician will perform a partial re-test and issue a satisfactory EICR certificate confirming compliance with BS7671 wiring regulations.
This is especially crucial for:
- Landlords – as part of your legal obligation every 5 years or on change of tenancy.
- Homeowners – when selling, remortgaging, or after major electrical work.
- Businesses & HMOs – to maintain insurance and safety compliance.
Learn more here:
🔗 EICR Certificates for Landlords
🔗 EICR Certificates for Homeowners
🛠️ How to Prevent Bonding Fails in the Future
Bonding doesn’t usually deteriorate, but problems arise when:
- Renovations or plumbing work accidentally disconnect cables.
- Extensions add new metal pipework not bonded to the main system.
- DIY work removes or cuts earth clamps.
👉 Schedule a regular EICR test every 5 years, or sooner if your property is older than 30 years.
See our service page for details:
EICR Services
🧩 How Bonding Works Together with RCDs and Earthing
Bonding alone doesn’t protect you it works with other safety devices:
- Earthing: Provides a path for fault current to safely flow to ground.
- RCD (Residual Current Device): Detects imbalances and disconnects power quickly.
- Bonding: Keeps metal objects at the same potential, reducing shock risk.
Missing any one of these can cause an EICR to fail.
If your report also shows “No RCD Protection,” read our detailed guide:
👉 Is No RCD a Fail on an EICR?
🧩 Supplementary Bonding in Bathrooms – The Most Overlooked Fail
Bathrooms are one of the most dangerous areas for electric shock due to moisture and metallic fixtures.
Supplementary bonding ensures everything taps, radiators, metal baths, pipework stays at equal potential.
Modern homes with RCDs on all circuits may not require it, but older installations still fail if it’s missing.
If your EICR says:
“C2 – No supplementary bonding in bathroom”
it means your system lacks that safety link, and an update is needed before it can pass inspection.
💬 Real Example from London EICR Inspections
A homeowner in Battersea failed their EICR because their gas meter bonding cable had been removed during kitchen renovations.
The fix took less than an hour, cost £120, and they received their satisfactory certificate the same day.
Our engineers see this daily small oversights causing unnecessary stress for landlords and homeowners.
That’s why we always explain exactly what failed, show photos, and provide a transparent quote for repairs.
Book your inspection with our NICEIC-approved team here:
🔗 Book Online
🏠 Bonding Requirements for Landlords (2025 Regulations)
Under current UK regulations:
- Rental properties must have a satisfactory EICR every 5 years.
- Fails such as “missing bonding” must be repaired within 28 days.
- Proof of completion must be provided to tenants and local authorities upon request.
Ignoring these duties can result in fines up to £30,000 under The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020.
Learn more about staying compliant here:
🔗 EICR Certificate for Landlords in London
🧮 How to Check If Your Bonding Is Present
If you’re curious before booking an electrician:
- Find your gas meter and main water stopcock.
- Look for a thick green/yellow cable clamped to the metal pipe near the entry point.
- Each clamp should have a label “Safety Electrical Connection Do Not Remove.”
- Trace it back it should lead to your consumer unit area.
If any of these are missing, loose, or disconnected, your EICR will likely fail.
⚙️ Bonding in Commercial Properties
Commercial EICRs have stricter standards because of multiple circuits and higher loads.
Our Commercial EICR Certificates service ensures bonding is verified on all main metallic services from plant rooms to distribution boards.
Businesses often combine EICR testing with PAT testing and emergency lighting inspections to stay fully compliant.
📊 Related EICR Failures You Might See
If bonding is missing, there’s often overlap with other C2 codes, such as:
- No RCD protection on lighting or sockets
- Exposed conductors or loose earths
- Outdated consumer units without metal enclosures
You can read about these in our educational blogs:
🕒 How Long Does Bonding Remedial Work Take?
Usually 30–90 minutes per connection depending on cable route.
For landlords managing multiple flats, we can carry out bonding fixes and issue new certificates same day, including after-hours or weekend appointments.
🌍 Areas We Cover
We perform EICR inspections and bonding repairs across all London areas, including:
Battersea, Chelsea, Kensington, Clapham, Hampstead, Islington, Canary Wharf, Shoreditch, Tower Hamlets, Fulham, Notting Hill, and Central London.
See full list here:
🔗 Areas We Cover
🧠Frequently Asked Questions About EICR Bonding Failures
❓ 1. What does “no bonding” mean on an EICR?
It means your metal gas, water, or bathroom pipes aren’t properly connected to the electrical earth. Without bonding, exposed metal can become live during a fault, posing a shock risk that’s why it results in a C2 failure on your EICR report.
❓ 2. Is missing gas bonding an automatic EICR fail?
Yes. Missing or undersized gas bonding is a C2 fault under BS7671. It must be corrected before your electrical installation can be classed as satisfactory.
❓ 3. How much does it cost to fix missing bonding in London?
Bonding repairs usually cost between £90 and £250, depending on cable routes and accessibility. You can see average prices on our EICR Certificate Cost
❓ 4. How long does bonding remedial work take?
Most bonding installations take 30 to 90 minutes per connection. Our engineers can usually complete it during the same visit as your EICR retest.
❓ 5. Can I rent or sell my property if bonding is missing?
No. A property with missing bonding cannot receive a satisfactory EICR certificate, which is legally required for rental properties and often requested during sales.
❓ 6. What is supplementary bonding in a bathroom?
Supplementary bonding links all metal items in a bathroom taps, pipes, radiators to ensure equal electrical potential. It reduces the risk of shock and may be required if your installation doesn’t have full RCD protection.
❓ 7. Do new homes still need bonding?
Yes. Even modern homes must have main bonding to gas and water services. The only time supplementary bonding might not be needed is when RCDs protect all circuits.
❓ 8. What size cable is used for bonding?
Standard bonding uses a 10mm² green/yellow cable for gas and water, connected directly to the main earthing terminal at your consumer unit.
❓ 9. What’s the difference between earthing and bonding?
Earthing carries fault current safely to the ground.
Bonding links all metalwork so there’s no voltage difference between them both are vital for electrical safety.
❓ 10. Who should fix bonding issues after a failed EICR?
Only a qualified NICEIC or NAPIT-approved electrician can legally install or upgrade bonding. You can book certified remedial work directly through our online form.
Please Submit Details Below
For your convenience, you can also fill out our online contact form below. Please provide as much detail as possible, and a member of our team will get back to you promptly.
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EICR Certificates,EICR Inspection
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