What electrical work requires Building Regulations notification in England?

Part P of the Building Regulations covers electrical safety in homes in England. It applies to dwellings and to associated land and outbuildings, such as gardens, sheds and detached garages.

Two things are easy to confuse:

1. All domestic electrical work must be designed and installed so that it is safe, and in practice that means following the wiring regulations, BS 7671.
2. Some of that work is also notifiable, which means building control must be told about it.

This article is a summary for England. Wales has its own rules. For the authoritative text, read Approved Document P (linked below) or ask your local building control body.

Work that is notifiable

Under the current Approved Document P, notifiable work includes:

• installing a new circuit, whether at low voltage or extra-low voltage
• replacing a consumer unit
• any addition or alteration to existing circuits in a special location. The main special location in a home is the space around a bath or shower, defined by the zones in BS 7671. Swimming pools and saunas are also special locations.

Work that is usually not notifiable

Examples of work that is not notifiable (but must still be done safely and to BS 7671) include:

• replacing sockets, switches and light fittings like for like
• adding sockets or lighting points to an existing circuit, outside a special location
• replacing a damaged cable for a single circuit, on the same route
• repairs and maintenance

How notification works

There are two routes.

A registered competent person. Electricians registered with a government-authorised competent person scheme can self-certify their work. They notify building control on your behalf, and you receive a Building Regulations compliance certificate from the scheme, normally within a few weeks.

Building control. If the installer is not registered with a scheme, building control must be notified before the work starts, and the work will be inspected. Fees apply.

When choosing an electrician for notifiable work, ask which scheme they are registered with and check the scheme’s public register.

Paperwork you should receive

• An Electrical Installation Certificate for new circuits, consumer unit replacements and new installations, or a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate for additions and alterations to an existing circuit
• For notifiable work, a Building Regulations compliance certificate (via a competent person scheme) or a completion certificate (from building control)

Keep these. Solicitors routinely ask for them when a house is sold, and missing certificates for notifiable work can delay a sale.

Who is the building control body?

That depends on where you live. Around our area:

• Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon, Boroughbridge, Thirsk and Tadcaster: North Yorkshire Council
• York: City of York Council
• Wetherby, Boston Spa and Collingham: Leeds City Council

If you are planning domestic electrical work in these areas, see our domestic electrical services.