What electrical work can I do myself in the UK? Part P explained
Short answer
In England you can do a lot yourself: replacing sockets, switches, ceiling roses and light fittings, and adding a light point or socket to an existing circuit outside a bathroom, don't need to be notified. Three things are notifiable under Part P: installing a new circuit, replacing a consumer unit, and adding to or altering a circuit in a special location such as a room with a bath or shower. All work — notifiable or not — must still be done safely and to the regulations.
The UK is far more relaxed than Australia about DIY electrics — but “allowed to do it” and “allowed to do it without telling anyone” are different things. Part P of the Building Regulations (England) is about the second.
Non-notifiable: you can do it yourself
Most minor work in England doesn’t need to be notified to building control. That includes:
- replacing sockets, switches and ceiling roses
- replacing light fittings
- replacing a damaged cable on a single circuit
- adding a light point or socket to an existing circuit — outside a special location
- maintenance, replacement and repair work generally
Non-notifiable doesn’t mean unregulated. The work still has to be done safely and meet the wiring regulations — so if you’re not confident, get an electrician.
Notifiable: must be certified
Under Part P, three kinds of work must be notified:
| Work | Why |
|---|---|
| Installing a new circuit (for example, a new circuit for an electric shower or EV charger) | Changes the load and protection on the installation |
| Replacing a consumer unit (fuse box) | Affects every circuit in the house |
| Adding to or altering a circuit in a special location | Water and electricity together — rooms with a bath or shower, swimming pools and saunas |
In a bathroom, the special location runs from the floor up to 2.25 m high and out 0.6 m from the edge of the bath or shower tray (or 1.2 m from the centre of the shower head).
How notification works
There are three routes:
- Use an electrician registered with a competent person scheme. They certify their own work and notify building control for you. This is the usual option.
- Use an electrician who works with a registered third-party certifier.
- Do it yourself and apply to building control first. Submit a building notice to your local authority before you start and pay the fee; they’ll inspect the work.
Not notifying notifiable work is an offence, and the council can require you to remove or alter work that doesn’t comply. It can also cause problems when you sell, since buyers’ solicitors ask for electrical certificates.
Wales and Scotland
- Wales has had its own version of Part P since 2014, with a wider scope — check the current Welsh rules before assuming the English list applies.
- Scotland doesn’t use Part P. Some electrical work needs a building warrant under the Building Standards system, and certification works differently. Check with your council.
Compared with Australia
In every Australian state, even replacing a socket (a “power point”) is licensed work for an electrician — see what you can legally DIY in Australia. If you’re following UK DIY videos from Australia, the rules don’t carry over.
Sources
Every rule on this page is taken from these official sources. If a rule has changed, please tell us and we’ll fix it.
This guide is general information, not legal or professional advice. Rules differ between states, councils and individual properties, and they change. Confirm with your state regulator or council before starting work, and if in doubt, get a licensed tradesperson.