What Electrical Work Can You Legally Do Yourself? (England & Wales)
DIY electrical work isn't banned in the UK — but the line between legal and notifiable catches a lot of people out. Here's where it actually sits.
The legal position, honestly stated
There is no law that says only electricians can do electrical work in their own home. What the law (Part P of the Building Regulations) says is that all work must be done safely to the standards of BS 7671 — and that certain higher-risk jobs are notifiable, meaning Building Control must know about them and the work must be certified.
So the real questions are: is the job notifiable, and are you genuinely competent to do it safely and test it properly? Be honest about the second one — the test equipment alone to verify a circuit properly costs more than hiring an electrician.
Generally fine to DIY (non-notifiable)
These jobs on existing circuits, outside bathroom zones, don't require notification — though they must still be done safely, with the power isolated and connections properly made:
- Replacing sockets, switches and light fittings like-for-like
- Replacing a damaged length of cable on a single circuit, like-for-like
- Adding a socket or fused spur to an existing circuit (outside kitchens' special locations and bathrooms)
- Installing or replacing ceiling roses and lampholders
- Fitting plug-in or battery-powered items — no fixed wiring involved at all
Notifiable — involve a registered electrician (or Building Control)
These jobs must either be done by a Competent Person Scheme electrician who self-certifies, or notified to Building Control before work starts:
- Any new circuit — EV charger, electric shower, hot tub, garden office, kitchen ring, anything
- Replacing or upgrading the consumer unit (fuse board)
- Any addition or alteration to circuits in a bathroom or shower room's zones
Where people get caught out
The classic traps: extending circuits into a garden building (that's a new circuit — notifiable); 'just adding a spur' in a bathroom (notifiable); replacing a consumer unit bought online (notifiable, and the most safety-critical item in the house); and buying a hot tub before discovering it needs a dedicated notifiable supply.
The other trap is silent: unnotified work has no certificate, and certificates are exactly what buyers' solicitors and insurers ask for. A £50 DIY saving can turn into a £500 regularisation bill at sale time.
If you're unsure which side of the line your job falls on, call us on 07535 810812 — we'll tell you straight, even when the answer is 'that's fine to do yourself'.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I do notifiable work myself if I notify Building Control?
Legally yes — notify before starting, pay the fee (typically £250–£500), and the work will be inspected and tested. In practice the fee plus the required testing usually costs more than a registered electrician's price for the same job.
Is it illegal to change a light fitting myself?
No — replacing a light fitting on an existing circuit is non-notifiable and legal to DIY, provided it's done safely with the circuit isolated. In bathrooms, changes within the zones become notifiable.
What should I do about old DIY work already in my house?
Get an EICR. It will identify anything unsafe and give you a documented, dated assessment of the installation — which is what matters for safety, insurance and any future sale. Unsafe DIY findings are usually fixable for far less than people fear.
Talk to a NAPIT-Registered Electrician
Call 07535 810812 or WhatsApp us — free quotes, honest advice, and certified work across London & Kent.