What Part P is
Part P is the section of the Building Regulations for England and Wales that covers electrical safety in homes. Its aim is simple: electrical work in dwellings should be designed and installed so that people are protected from fire and shock.
Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own building regulations, so if you live there the rules are different.
What counts as notifiable work
Some work has to be notified to building control. In broad terms, that includes:
- Installing a new circuit
- Replacing a consumer unit
- Most new work in bathrooms and other 'special locations' near baths and showers
Need an electrician?
Describe the job and compare free quotes from local electricians near you.
- Free to use
- No obligation
- Compare local electricians
- Quick online form
You'll continue to our quotes partner, MyJobQuote, to describe your electrical job.
What usually isn't
Like-for-like replacements – a new socket faceplate, a replacement light fitting, a new switch – and adding to an existing circuit outside special locations generally aren't notifiable. They should still be done safely and, ideally, tested.
How it works in practice
Most electricians are registered with a government-approved competent person scheme. That lets them self-certify notifiable work: they notify the council for you, and you receive a building regulations compliance certificate as well as the electrical certificate.
If an electrician isn't registered, the work needs to go through building control separately, which usually costs more.
