Part 'P' - the Law and you

Since the introduction of Part P of the Building Regulations in 2005, most electrical work in the home or garden is notifiable to the Local Authority Building Control (LABC) department. Contrary to popular belief, this does not mean that you cannot undertake the work yourself.

You do however have a legal obligation to ensure the work is safe and compliant with Building Regulations, and a compliance certificate must be obtained. This will be required if the property is subsequently sold, or in the event of an insurance claim.

There are two ways to comply with the requirements:

1. Employing a contractor registered with a Government-approved scheme

If you choose to employ a contractor registered with one of the government-approved self-certification schemes, you will be issued with an Electrical Installation Certificate on completion of the work. This will certify that the work complies with BS7671:2008 (Requirements for Electrical Installations) and the relevant Building Regulations. Furthermore, you will receive a Building Regulations compliance certificate through the post from their regulatory body, assuring you that the work has been correctly notified to LABC.

2. Employing a contractor not registered with a scheme, or doing it yourself (DIY)

If you choose to employ a contractor who is not registered with a scheme, or decide to undertake the work yourself, YOU are required by Law to pre-notify LABC at least 48 hours before the work commences. They will charge you a fee, which varies depending on the scale of the work. For reference, Chorley Borough Council publish their fees here.

LABC then become responsible for ensuring compliance with BS7671:2008 and the relevant Building Regulations. They (or a company acting on their behalf, possibly us) will probably wish to visit your home at least once during the works (to check cable routes etc before they are covered with plaster), and again on completion to inspect and test the electrical work. Please note that since April 2010 they are allowed to charge you an extra fee for this.

Once LABC are satisfied that the work is safe and compliant, you will be issued a Building Regulations completion certificate or a final certificate. You will NOT receive an Electrical Installation Certificate as this can only be issued by the person or company responsible for the installation work.

For further guidance, the official Approved Document P can be downloaded from the link at the top right of this page.

What does this mean for you?

We at RED Electrical are proud to be a full scope member of NAPIT, a Government-approved regulatory body. We are authorised to undertake all types of electrical work without consultation or hindrance from LABC, and will take care of all aspects of certification and notification for you.

If you would like further information on the wider benefits of using a NAPIT registered contractor, then please click their logo at the top of the page.