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What electrical DIY is legal in the UK?
In England and Wales, you may do some electrical work yourself, but certain jobs must be notified to building control or done by a registered electrician. The rules differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
This is general information, not legal advice. Always check the current rules on GOV.UK and with your local authority building control team before starting.
What Part P is
Part P is the section of the Building Regulations in England that covers electrical safety in homes. Wales has its own Building Regulations, so check Welsh Government guidance. The government's guidance is in Approved Document P. Its goal is to make sure electrical work in dwellings is safe.
Notifiable work
GOV.UK says many jobs in the home need to be notified to and approved by building control, and its page on building work lists the installation of a new or replacement fuse box (consumer unit) as notifiable. It also lists alterations to electrical installations around a bath or shower as notifiable unless a registered installer does them. That page is dated 2014, and Approved Document P is the authority on what is notifiable now, so check it before you start. Adding a new circuit is another job to ask building control or a registered electrician about first.
Non-notifiable work
The same GOV.UK page says additional power points or lighting points, or other alterations to existing electrical circuits, are not notifiable. Not being notifiable does not make a job safe or exempt from the wiring standard (BS 7671). If you are not competent to do the job and test it, hire someone who is.
Using a registered electrician
GOV.UK says an installer registered with a Competent Person Scheme can carry out specific types of work and handle the Building Regulations process for you, and should notify the local authority and give you a certificate of compliance. If you have not received a certificate within 30 days, contact the scheme operator. GOV.UK points to the Registered Competent Person Electrical website for finding a registered installer. Keep certificates, since you may need them when you sell.
If you do notifiable work yourself
You would need to contact building control before you begin, and the work has to be inspected and tested. Many homeowners find hiring a registered installer simpler. If work was done without notification, ask your local authority building control team what you can do.
Landlords and rented homes
Tenants should not do their own electrical work in a rented home without the landlord's agreement. Landlords have their own legal duties; see GOV.UK's landlord guidance.
Gas work is different
Gas fitting is restricted by law to Gas Safe registered engineers. Do not touch gas appliances or pipework yourself, including moving a cooker or fitting a gas hob.
Safe jobs for a beginner
- Changing a light bulb, or a fuse in a plug
- Resetting an RCD (see our guide)
- Putting up shelves, with detectors (see our guide)
If you are unsure, stop, switch off at the consumer unit and ask a qualified electrician.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland has its own Building Standards system under the Scottish Government, and Northern Ireland has its own Building Regulations. Use the official pages for those nations. Do not assume English rules apply.
Questions to ask yourself first
- Is the work notifiable? If yes, use a registered electrician or notify building control.
- Do I know how to isolate the circuit and prove it is dead with a proper tester?
- Can I test the finished work, including earth continuity and insulation resistance?
- If something goes wrong, could it harm somebody, including a future owner?
If any answer is no, hire a professional.
Frequently asked questions
Can I replace a socket myself?
A like-for-like replacement is generally not notifiable in England, but it must still be done safely, with the power off and proven dead. If you are not confident, use an electrician.
Do I need a certificate for new electrical work?
For notifiable work you should receive a building regulations compliance certificate, or a certificate from a registered electrician.
Is Part P the same across the UK?
No. Part P applies in England, with equivalent rules in Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate systems.