SiteKiln gives you plain-English information, not legal advice, design guidance or a substitute for the Building Regulations. If you need advice specific to your situation, check with your scheme operator or building control.
7.4.1 The short version
Part P is the bit of the Building Regulations that says electrical work in dwellings must be designed and installed so people are protected from fire and electric shock. Certain domestic jobs are "notifiable" -- either you tell Building Control, or a Part-P-registered electrician self-certifies the work through a scheme.
NICEIC and NAPIT are two of the main Part-P Competent Person Schemes. If you join one, you can sign off your own domestic work instead of paying the council each time. On the landlord side, the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector Regulations 2020 mean rented homes in England must have 5-yearly electrical safety checks (EICRs) done by a "qualified and competent person".
7.4.2 Why it matters
If you are doing domestic work in England or Wales, Part P is not optional paperwork -- it is law. Getting it wrong means building control trouble for the homeowner, and potential enforcement action and civil claims pointed at you.
Being with a proper scheme (NICEIC, NAPIT or similar) means you can self-notify, look professional to clients and landlords, and avoid the faff and cost of one-off council notifications on every kitchen, consumer unit change or extension. For landlord work, if you do not understand the 5-year inspection rules and what a compliant EICR looks like, you will lose that work to the spark who does.
7.4.3 What Part P actually covers
Part P applies to fixed electrical installations in:
- Dwellings (houses, flats, bungalows).
- Parts of buildings that share electricity with dwellings (e.g. common parts of flats).
- Outbuildings, garages, garden lighting, pond pumps etc. fed from a dwelling.
The core requirement is simple:
"Reasonable provision shall be made in the design and installation of electrical installations in order to protect persons operating, maintaining or altering the installations from fire or injury."
In practice:
- All domestic electrical work must meet BS 7671 standards.
- Certain higher-risk work is "notifiable" -- for example new circuits, consumer unit changes, and work in specific locations -- and must be either:
- Notified to Building Control, or
- Self-certified by a registered Part-P scheme member.
7.4.4 NICEIC and NAPIT -- what they actually do
NICEIC and NAPIT are Competent Person Scheme operators authorised to run Part-P schemes.
If you join one of these schemes:
- You are assessed to show you are competent, have test gear, keep records and work to BS 7671.
- You can self-certify notifiable domestic work and the scheme notifies Building Control for you.
- You can issue the right Building Regulations compliance certificate and Electrical Installation Certificate/EICR.
They also tend to offer:
- Technical helplines and updates.
- Public listings/search tools so customers and landlords can verify you.
NICEIC and NAPIT are the two big names; which one you join is more about assessment style, fees and branding than being "more legal".
7.4.5 Electrical Safety Standards for landlords (EICRs)
In England, the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 mean:
- Every private rented property must have its electrical installation inspected and tested at least every 5 years (or sooner if the report says so).
- The inspection must be done by a "qualified and competent person".
- The landlord must get an EICR, give a copy to the tenant within 28 days, and supply one to the local authority within 7 days if asked.
- Breaches can attract civil penalties up to £30,000.
NICEIC/NAPIT registration is not strictly mandatory to do an EICR, but in practice many landlords and agents look for scheme membership or equivalent proof of competence.
7.4.6 Quick Part P / NICEIC / NAPIT health check
You are in a healthier place on domestic electrics if:
You know exactly which domestic jobs are notifiable under Part P and how they are being notified -- via your scheme or the local authority.
If you regularly do domestic work, you are on a Part-P scheme (NICEIC, NAPIT or similar) rather than bodging Building Control notifications one job at a time.
You can show domestic customers and landlords current scheme registration and issue proper certificates (EIC/EICR plus Building Regulations compliance where required).
If you do landlord work, you understand the 5-year EICR rule and what the local authority can do if a landlord ignores it.
If you cannot tick those off, that is your next compliance job before you touch another consumer unit in someone's house.
7.4.7 What to do next
- If you regularly do domestic electrical work, join a Part P scheme (NICEIC or NAPIT) so you can self-certify instead of one-off council notifications.
- Know which domestic jobs are notifiable and make sure every notifiable job is either self-certified through your scheme or notified to building control.
- If you do landlord work, understand the 5-year EICR rule and what penalties apply if a landlord ignores it.
- Keep your scheme registration, certificates and test records up to date and easy to access.
7.4.8 Who to contact
- NICEIC -- 0333 015 6625, niceic.com -- Part P scheme registration and technical helpline (free to check)
- NAPIT -- 0345 543 0330, napit.org.uk -- Part P scheme registration and technical helpline (free to check)
- CSCS -- 0344 994 4777, cscs.uk.com -- card applications and accepted qualifications (free to check)
- Local authority building control -- for Part P notifications and queries on specific projects
- Environment Agency -- 03708 506 506 -- if your electrical work involves environmental considerations
7.4.9 Sources and legislation
- Building Act 1984 -- framework for building regulations including Part P. legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/55
- Building Regulations 2010 -- Part P (electrical safety in dwellings). legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/2214
- Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 -- duties on electrical safety in workplaces. legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/635
- Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 -- 5-year EICR requirement for landlords. legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/312
7.4.10 Related guides on this site
- 7.11 Part P, Part L, Part F
- 7.10 Building regs vs planning permission
- 7.1 CSCS cards -- full breakdown
- 7.3 Gas Safe registration
- 6.1 Public liability insurance
- 7.15 TrustMark registration
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to notify building control for electrical work?
Yes -- if the electrical work is "notifiable" under Part P of the Building Regulations (England and Wales). Notifiable work includes new circuits, consumer unit replacements, work in bathrooms and kitchens (within specified zones), work in special locations, and any work that involves adding a new circuit. You must either use a registered competent person scheme (like NICEIC or NAPIT) who can self-certify, or apply to your local building control before starting.
If you use a registered electrician, they'll handle the notification and issue the certificate. If you do the work yourself or use a non-registered electrician, you must apply to building control, pay their fee (typically £250-£400), and they'll inspect the work. Skipping notification is a building regulations offence and can cause serious problems when you sell the property.
What electrical work is notifiable?
Under Part P of the Building Regulations (England and Wales), notifiable work includes: installing a new circuit, replacing a consumer unit (fuse board), any electrical work in a bathroom or shower room, any electrical work in a kitchen within a specified zone, work in swimming pool areas, saunas, or hot tub areas, and any work in a special installation (garden buildings with mains supply, for example).
Non-notifiable work (which you can do without telling building control) includes: replacing sockets, switches, light fittings and ceiling roses, adding a spur to an existing circuit in a non-special location, and replacing a damaged cable. Even non-notifiable work must still comply with BS 7671 (the IET Wiring Regulations). If in doubt, get a registered electrician to check.
Can I do my own electrical work?
Yes, legally you can do your own electrical work in your own home. But if the work is notifiable under Part P, you must either apply to building control before starting, or have a registered electrician inspect and test it afterwards and issue a certificate. You cannot self-certify your own domestic work unless you're a member of a competent person scheme.
For non-notifiable work (like swapping a socket), you can crack on -- but it still must comply with BS 7671. If your DIY electrical work causes a fire or injury, your home insurance may refuse to pay out if you can't show it was done to the correct standard. For anything beyond changing a light fitting, most people are better off using a registered electrician.
What is a Part P certificate?
A Part P certificate -- technically called a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate or an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) -- is the document proving that notifiable electrical work has been done in compliance with Part P of the Building Regulations. If a registered electrician does the work, they issue a BS 7671 certificate and notify building control, who then issue the compliance certificate.
You need this certificate when you sell your property -- conveyancing solicitors ask for it, and not having one can delay or collapse a sale. If work was done without notification, you can apply for retrospective building control approval (a regularisation certificate), which costs more (typically £400-£600+) and requires inspection. Keep every electrical certificate safe -- you'll need them.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to notify building control for electrical work?
Yes -- if the electrical work is "notifiable" under Part P of the Building Regulations (England and Wales). Notifiable work includes new circuits, consumer unit replacements, work in bathrooms and kitchens (within specified zones), work in special locations, and any work that involves adding a new circuit. You must either use a registered competent person scheme (like NICEIC or NAPIT) who can self-certify, or apply to your local building control before starting.
If you use a registered electrician, they'll handle the notification and issue the certificate. If you do the work yourself or use a non-registered electrician, you must apply to building control, pay their fee (typically £250-£400), and they'll inspect the work. Skipping notification is a building regulations offence and can cause serious problems when you sell the property.
What electrical work is notifiable?
Under Part P of the Building Regulations (England and Wales), notifiable work includes: installing a new circuit, replacing a consumer unit (fuse board), any electrical work in a bathroom or shower room, any electrical work in a kitchen within a specified zone, work in swimming pool areas, saunas, or hot tub areas, and any work in a special installation (garden buildings with mains supply, for example).
Non-notifiable work (which you can do without telling building control) includes: replacing sockets, switches, light fittings and ceiling roses, adding a spur to an existing circuit in a non-special location, and replacing a damaged cable. Even non-notifiable work must still comply with BS 7671 (the IET Wiring Regulations). If in doubt, get a registered electrician to check.
Can I do my own electrical work?
Yes, legally you can do your own electrical work in your own home. But if the work is notifiable under Part P, you must either apply to building control before starting, or have a registered electrician inspect and test it afterwards and issue a certificate. You cannot self-certify your own domestic work unless you're a member of a competent person scheme.
For non-notifiable work (like swapping a socket), you can crack on -- but it still must comply with BS 7671. If your DIY electrical work causes a fire or injury, your home insurance may refuse to pay out if you can't show it was done to the correct standard. For anything beyond changing a light fitting, most people are better off using a registered electrician.
What is a Part P certificate?
A Part P certificate -- technically called a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate or an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) -- is the document proving that notifiable electrical work has been done in compliance with Part P of the Building Regulations. If a registered electrician does the work, they issue a BS 7671 certificate and notify building control, who then issue the compliance certificate.
You need this certificate when you sell your property -- conveyancing solicitors ask for it, and not having one can delay or collapse a sale. If work was done without notification, you can apply for retrospective building control approval (a regularisation certificate), which costs more (typically £400-£600+) and requires inspection. Keep every electrical certificate safe -- you'll need them.
Common questions
Is Part P electrical self-certifiable?
Only if you're registered with a Competent Person Scheme such as NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA or Stroma. Registered electricians can self-certify notifiable work and issue the Building Regulations compliance certificate. Anyone else must notify Building Control, pay them to inspect, and have them certify it.
Part P Electrical Safety guide.
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