DonereelPart P explained: which electrical work needs to be certified (England)
Published 13 November 2026 · Facts checked 13 November 2026
New circuits, consumer unit changes and work around a bath or shower must be notified under Part P of the Building Regulations. Here is what that means for homeowners, what certificate you should get, and how to check your electrician.
Part P of the Building Regulations covers electrical safety in homes in England. All electrical work in a home has to be done safely, but only some jobs are notifiable: building control must be told about them, and you should get a certificate at the end. Knowing which jobs these are helps you spot a cowboy and avoids problems when you sell your house.
Which electrical jobs are notifiable in England
Since April 2013, three kinds of work are notifiable in England:
- Installing a new circuit from the consumer unit, for example a new cooker, shower, EV charger or garden circuit.
- Replacing a consumer unit (the fuse box).
- Any addition or alteration to a circuit in a "special location": the zones around a bath or shower, and rooms with a swimming pool or sauna.
Everything else (adding a socket or light to an existing circuit outside a bathroom, replacing a socket or switch, repairs and maintenance) is not notifiable. It still has to be done safely and to the wiring standard BS 7671.
Two ways notifiable work gets signed off
- A registered electrician who belongs to a government-approved competent person scheme (for example NICEIC, NAPIT or ELECSA) can certify their own work. They notify building control for you.
- Building control. If the person doing the work is not registered, building control must be told before work starts. They inspect the work, and a fee is charged.
The first route is quicker and usually cheaper, which is why most people hire a registered electrician.
What paperwork you should get
For notifiable work done by a registered electrician you should receive:
- an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) with the test results, usually on the day;
- a Building Regulations compliance certificate from the scheme, normally posted or emailed within a few weeks.
For small non-notifiable jobs, a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate is good practice. Keep all of them: a buyer's solicitor will ask for them when you sell.
How to check an electrician before you hire
- Ask which competent person scheme they belong to, then check their name on the scheme's own website or the Electrical Competent Person register.
- Ask whether the job is notifiable and who will notify building control. A good electrician answers this straight away.
- Ask to see similar jobs they have done. On Donereel you can watch videos of a tradesperson's real work before you get in touch.
What happens if notifiable work was not certified
If work was not notified, you may have trouble when selling, and your insurer may ask questions after a fire or electrical fault. Building control can ask for the work to be put right. If you find uncertified work, a registered electrician can inspect it, or you can ask your local building control about a regularisation certificate.
Sources
This article is general information, not legal or professional advice. Rules can change; check the official sources linked above or ask your local building control.