A lot of homeowners are surprised to learn that most electrical work in the home is notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations. This doesn't mean you need to apply for permission before every job — but it does mean the work needs to be carried out or verified by someone who can certify it properly.
What Is Part P?
Part P is the section of the Building Regulations that covers electrical safety in dwellings. It requires that certain electrical work is either carried out by a registered competent person, or notified to and inspected by Building Control.
It applies to homes, flats, and outbuildings used as part of a dwelling. It doesn't apply to commercial premises (which have separate requirements).
What Work Is Notifiable?
Notifiable work includes: new circuits, consumer unit replacements, EV charger installations, rewires, work in kitchens and bathrooms (which are special locations), and work in gardens and garages.
Non-notifiable work includes: like-for-like replacements (swapping an old socket for a new one on an existing circuit), adding extra sockets to an existing circuit (outside kitchens and bathrooms), and replacing light fittings.
What Happens If Work Isn't Notified?
If notifiable work is carried out by an unregistered person and not notified to Building Control, it's technically non-compliant. This can cause problems when you sell the property — solicitors will ask for evidence that electrical work was either carried out by a registered competent person or approved by Building Control.
Retrospective Building Control approval is possible but costs money and involves an inspection. It's much simpler to use a registered electrician in the first place.
How Does a Registered Electrician Handle This?
When you use a NAPIT or NICEIC registered electrician, they self-certify notifiable work directly. This means you don't need to contact Building Control yourself — the electrician notifies NAPIT, who notify the local authority, and you receive an installation certificate confirming the work is compliant.
My NAPIT registration number is 81930. All notifiable work I carry out is certified and notified as standard — it's included in the price, not charged as an extra. If you're in Pinner, Hemel Hempstead, Uxbridge, Ealing, or anywhere nearby and need electrical work doing, give me a call for a fixed price.