What Is Part P?
Part P is the section of the Building Regulations (England and Wales) that covers electrical safety in dwellings. Introduced in 2005 and updated in 2013, it requires certain types of electrical work in homes to be either carried out by a registered competent person (e.g., registered with NICEIC, NAPIT, or ELECSA) or notified to building control.
The aim is to reduce the risk of fire and electric shock from poor electrical work. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate but similar regulations.
Notifiable vs Non-Notifiable Work
| Notifiable (needs certification) | Non-Notifiable (no notification) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it means | Must be notified to building control or done by a registered competent person | Can be done by anyone competent, no building control notification needed |
| Examples | New circuit installation, consumer unit replacement, work in bathrooms/kitchens (within zones), work in special locations (near pools, saunas), garden/outbuilding electrical supplies | Like-for-like socket/switch replacement, adding a spur to an existing circuit (not in a special location), replacing a light fitting, adding an outdoor socket from an existing circuit (not a new circuit) |
| Certificate | EIC (Electrical Installation Certificate) or Minor Works certificate | No certificate legally required (but good practice) |
| Who can do it | Registered competent person scheme member, or anyone + building control notification | Anyone who is competent |
If in doubt, treat it as notifiable. The penalty for not notifying is much worse than the cost of getting it right.
Certificate Types
Required for all new circuits and major alterations. Confirms the installation meets BS 7671. Must include full test results (Schedule of Test Results) and an inspection schedule. Issued by the person who designed, installed, or commissioned the work.
For small jobs that don’t involve a new circuit — like adding a spur, moving a socket, or replacing a consumer unit (though CU replacement is sometimes treated as major). Simpler than a full EIC but still a legal document.
Not for new work — this reports on the condition of an existing installation. Required for rental properties every 5 years. Records any defects and classifies them by severity (C1/C2/C3/FI).
Common Scenarios
I’m replacing a consumer unit — notifiable?
Yes. Consumer unit replacement is notifiable work. You need a registered electrician or building control sign-off, and an EIC (or Minor Works, depending on the scheme).
I’m adding sockets in my kitchen — notifiable?
It depends. If it’s a new circuit, yes. If it’s adding a spur from an existing ring, it’s notifiable if the socket is within a special location (e.g., within 3m of a bath/shower in a bathroom). In a kitchen, adding a spur is generally notifiable because kitchens are considered special locations under certain interpretations. Best practice: treat kitchen electrical work as notifiable.
I’m a homeowner doing my own work — is that allowed?
Yes, but notifiable work still needs building control notification. You’ll need to apply to your local authority building control (typically £200–£400) and have the work inspected. A registered electrician is usually cheaper and faster.
I’m a landlord — do I need an EICR?
Yes. Since 1 July 2020 (new tenancies) and 1 April 2021 (all tenancies), landlords in England must have an EICR renewed every 5 years. You must give a copy to tenants within 28 days and to your local authority within 7 days if requested. Penalties for non-compliance can be up to £30,000.
I fitted a new outdoor lighting circuit — do I need a certificate?
Yes. A new circuit is always notifiable. You need an EIC.
I’m replacing a light switch — do I need a certificate?
No. Like-for-like replacement of accessories is non-notifiable. No certificate required (though good practice to test after).
Penalties for Non-Compliance
- Local authority can require you to expose and test work (even if behind plasterboard)
- Unlimited fines and up to 2 years imprisonment for breach of Building Regulations (Building Safety Act 2022, amending Building Act 1984 s.35)
- Property sale complications — solicitors check for electrical certificates during conveyancing
- Insurance implications — if a fire starts from non-compliant wiring, your insurer may not pay out
- Landlords face up to £30,000 penalty for missing EICRs
The Do’s and Don’ts
Do
- Get an EIC or Minor Works certificate for every notifiable job — it’s a legal requirement.
- Register with a competent person scheme (NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA) — it lets you self-certify.
- Keep certificates for the life of the installation — homebuyers and solicitors will ask for them.
- Issue an EICR every 5 years for rental properties — it’s a legal requirement since 2020.
- Check whether work is in a special location (bathroom zones, swimming pools, saunas) before deciding it’s non-notifiable.
- Test your work before and after to confirm it meets BS 7671.
Don’t
- Assume like-for-like means non-notifiable. Replacing a consumer unit is like-for-like but IS notifiable.
- Skip notification because ‘it’s only a small job’. A new circuit is always notifiable, regardless of size.
- Let a non-registered person self-certify notifiable work — only competent person scheme members can do this.
- Forget that Scotland and Northern Ireland have different regulations — Part P applies to England and Wales only.
- Issue a Minor Works certificate when a full EIC is required — they’re not interchangeable.
- Backdate certificates or issue them for work you didn’t inspect or test.
Competent Person Schemes
Competent person schemes let registered electricians self-certify notifiable work without involving building control. This is faster, cheaper, and the standard route for most professional electricians.
| Scheme | Notes |
|---|---|
| NICEIC | Largest scheme. Approved Contractor and Domestic Installer routes. Annual assessment. |
| NAPIT | Covers electrical, plumbing, heating, and ventilation. Competitive pricing. |
| ELECSA | Part of the Certsure group (with NICEIC). Domestic and commercial routes. |
| OFTEC | Primarily oil and renewable heating, but covers some electrical work in conjunction with heating installations. |
Related Certificates
For small jobs that don’t involve a new circuit.
Electrical Installation CertificateRequired for all new circuits and major alterations.
EICRCondition report for existing installations. Required for rentals every 5 years.
EIC, Minor Works, and EICR — All in One Place
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