Part P Building Regulations: What Every Homeowner Needs to Know
Part P of the Building Regulations governs electrical safety in domestic dwellings in England and Wales. Introduced in 2005 and significantly revised in 2013, Part P requires that certain electrical work in homes either be notified to the local building authority, or be carried out by a registered competent person who can self-certify their work without the need for a building control application. As a NAPIT-registered electrical contractor, ALPS Electrical self-certifies all notifiable electrical work under Part P — meaning you don't need to apply to your local council or pay a building control fee when we do the job.
What Electrical Work Requires Part P Notification?
Since the 2013 revisions, the scope of notifiable work under Part P was reduced, but certain work still requires either notification or certification. The following work in domestic dwellings must comply:
- New circuits from the consumer unit: Any new dedicated circuit — for a EV charger, kitchen appliance, solar panel installation, outbuilding, or similar — is notifiable work.
- Consumer unit (fuseboard) replacement: Always notifiable. A new consumer unit must be reported and the completed work certified. See our consumer unit upgrades service.
- Additions to existing circuits in special locations: Bathrooms, shower rooms, and garden circuits require particular care. Additions to existing circuits in these zones remain notifiable.
- Work in kitchens: New circuits in kitchens are notifiable. Replacements like-for-like (same socket, same position) are generally not.
- Work outdoors: New circuits for sheds, outbuildings, garden lighting, irrigation systems or EV charger posts are notifiable.
What Doesn't Require Notification?
Not all electrical work requires Part P notification. The following is generally exempt (though must still comply with BS 7671):
- Replacing an existing socket, switch or light fitting (like-for-like, outside special locations)
- Adding socket outlets or light fittings to an existing circuit (except in kitchens, bathrooms or gardens)
- Replacing a damaged cable for a single circuit (like-for-like)
- Installing or replacing a fixed hardwired appliance (electric cooker connection, for example) using an existing circuit
DIY Electrical Work and Part P
Homeowners can legally carry out some of their own electrical work under Part P, but only for exempt (non-notifiable) work. Any notifiable work carried out by a homeowner must be inspected and certified by a registered competent person or notified to building control — neither of which is cheap or quick. The practical reality is that for most notifiable work, using a registered contractor who self-certifies is simpler, faster and often not significantly more expensive than the combined cost of DIY materials and the building control application fee.
The risk of uncertified notifiable work is significant: when you sell your property, solicitors require Building Regulations completion certificates for any notifiable work carried out since 2005. Without one, you cannot demonstrate legal compliance, which can delay or jeopardise a sale. Retrospective certification from building control is possible but involves inspection and potential remedial works. The safe approach is always to use a registered contractor for notifiable work.
Electrical Installation Certificates
Every piece of notifiable electrical work we carry out at ALPS Electrical results in an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) or Minor Works Certificate, depending on the scope. This document confirms the work was designed, installed and tested in compliance with BS 7671:2018 (the IET Wiring Regulations). You receive a copy at handover — keep it with your property deeds. EICs are the primary evidence that electrical work has been properly certified and are required by solicitors and mortgage lenders when properties change hands.
Fuse Board Replacement and Part P
Consumer unit replacement is one of the most common items of notifiable electrical work in domestic properties. All new consumer units must be enclosed in a non-combustible enclosure (metal, in practice) under the current regulations. Modern dual RCD consumer units significantly improve protection against electric shock and fire caused by electrical faults. If you have a consumer unit older than 2016 that still has a plastic enclosure, replacement is strongly recommended on safety grounds. Our consumer unit upgrade service covers all aspects of the replacement and certification process.
Part P and Solar Panels
Solar panel installation always involves notifiable electrical work: a new AC circuit from the generation meter to the consumer unit at minimum, and often a new dedicated circuit for a battery system. All solar installations we carry out are certified under Part P as part of the MCS certification process — you receive both an Electrical Installation Certificate and an MCS certificate, both of which are required for Smart Export Guarantee registration. Any installer not providing an EIC alongside your MCS certificate should be treated with caution.
Get a Part P Compliant Installation
ALPS Electrical is NAPIT-registered and carries out all notifiable electrical work to Part P standards across Teesside and the wider North East. Every job results in a formal certificate, and we register all notifiable work with NAPIT on your behalf — you never need to notify building control separately. Contact us for a free quote on EV charger installation, consumer unit upgrades, solar electrical work or any other notifiable domestic electrical project.