Part P — What DIYers Can & Can't Do
Part P of the Building Regulations covers electrical installation work in dwellings in England and Wales. Its purpose is to ensure electrical work is safe and meets BS 7671 (the IET Wiring Regulations).
The Key Distinction
Not all electrical work is notifiable. The rules were simplified in 2013 into two categories:
| Work | Notifiable? |
|---|---|
| New circuits (any room) | Yes |
| Consumer unit replacement | Yes |
| All work in bathrooms | Yes |
| All work outdoors | Yes |
| New circuits in kitchens | Yes |
| Like-for-like replacement in a kitchen | No (England, since 2013) |
| Adding sockets/lights to existing circuits (standard rooms) | No |
| Replacing like-for-like (sockets, switches, fittings) | No |
Note: Scotland and Wales have separate building regulations and may have different rules. Always check the applicable regulations for your location.
Notifiable Work
For notifiable work, you have two options:
- Hire a registered electrician — they self-certify and issue an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) for new circuits or a Minor Works Certificate (MWC) for minor additions to existing circuits. The scheme operator (e.g. NICEIC, NAPIT) notifies the local authority on their behalf.
- Do it yourself and notify the local authority — they arrange an inspection (and charge a fee).
Most DIYers choose a registered electrician for notifiable work.
Special Locations
Kitchen: Only new circuits in a kitchen are notifiable. Like-for-like replacement (swapping a socket, switch, or fitting in the same position) is not notifiable in England since the 2013 revision of Approved Document P.
Non-Notifiable Work You Can Do
As a competent DIYer in standard rooms (living room, bedroom, hallway):
- Add a socket to an existing ring final or radial circuit
- Add a light fitting or switch to an existing lighting circuit
- Install extra cabling (e.g. for a spur)
You must still follow BS 7671 — even non-notifiable work must be safe.
Record Keeping
Even for non-notifiable work, keep a written record of what you did, when, and where — including photographs of the installed wiring before plastering. EICs and Minor Works Certificates are formal legal documents that can only be issued by a qualified competent person; a DIYer cannot self-issue them. For non-notifiable work, a written description and photographs are your practical record. If you want formal certification, commission a qualified electrician to inspect and certify the completed work.