Do I Need a Part P Electrician? A Homeowner's Guide
A plain-English guide to Part P: which electrical jobs legally need a registered electrician, what you can do yourself, and what happens if you don't follow the rules.
What Is Part P?
Part P is a section of the Building Regulations for England and Wales that covers electrical safety in homes. Introduced in 2005, it exists to reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by faulty electrical installations.
In simple terms: certain types of electrical work in your home must either be done by a registered electrician or inspected by your local council's building control.
Which Jobs Need a Part P Electrician?
Always Requires Part P Registration
These are classed as "notifiable" work — they must be done by a competent person scheme member or inspected by building control:
• Consumer unit (fuse box) replacement
• New circuits — Adding any new circuit to your home
• Work in kitchens — New circuits within 2 metres of a sink
• Work in bathrooms — Any new circuits (not just like-for-like replacements)
• Work in gardens and outbuildings — New outdoor circuits
• Adding a socket to a kitchen — If it involves a new circuit
You Can Do Yourself (Non-Notifiable)
These minor jobs don't require notification or a registered electrician:
• Replacing sockets, switches, or light fittings — Like-for-like swaps
• Adding fused spurs to an existing circuit (not in kitchens/bathrooms)
• Replacing a cooker or shower on an existing circuit of adequate rating
• Installing low-voltage lighting (e.g., 12V garden lights from a plug-in transformer)
• Repairing cables — Fixing existing wiring damage
Grey Areas — Proceed with Caution
Some work falls into a middle ground:
• Adding a socket — On an existing circuit outside of a kitchen, this is non-notifiable but should still be done competently
• Moving a light switch — Generally non-notifiable but involves working with mains wiring
• Installing a new light — If it's on an existing circuit, it's usually non-notifiable
When in doubt, always consult a registered electrician. The cost of a quick consultation is far less than the cost of getting it wrong.
What Are Competent Person Schemes?
Competent person schemes are government-approved organisations that assess and register electricians. Members can self-certify their work without involving building control.
The main schemes are:
• NICEIC — The largest and most well-known
• NAPIT — National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers
• ELECSA — Part of the Certsure group (same parent as NICEIC)
• STROMA — Also covers gas, renewables, and other building services
Why Does Part P Matter?
Safety
Faulty electrical work kills. Part P ensures work meets a minimum safety standard.
Insurance
If electrical work causes a fire and it wasn't done in compliance with Part P, your home insurance may not pay out.
Selling Your Home
When you sell, conveyancers ask for electrical certificates. Missing paperwork can delay or derail a sale, or require retrospective inspection (which costs money and may fail).
Legal Compliance
Non-compliant work is technically a criminal offence. Local authorities can require you to have work inspected or even ripped out and redone.
What If Previous Work Wasn't Certified?
If you've had electrical work done that should have been certified but wasn't:
• Don't panic — This is common, especially in older properties
• Get an EICR — An Electrical Installation Condition Report will assess the safety of your installation
• Apply for retrospective building control approval — Your local council can inspect and approve the work (fees apply)
• Consider a regularisation certificate — This formally approves previously non-compliant work
The Bottom Line
Part P exists to keep you safe. While it might seem like red tape, the regulations ensure that the electrical work in your home won't put your family at risk.
The simplest approach: For any electrical work beyond swapping a socket or light fitting, use a Part P registered electrician. They'll handle all the certification and paperwork, giving you peace of mind that the work is safe and legal.
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