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Part P Non-Compliance: What To Do

Electrical work has been done in your home without the required Part P Building Regulations notification.
Updated
How urgent
Caution
Who fixes it
An electrician

What's happening?

Part P sets electrical-safety requirements for work in dwellings in England. Notifiable work includes a new circuit, replacement of a consumer unit, and additions or alterations within the defined zones of a room containing a bath or shower or around a swimming pool or sauna heater. A registered competent person can self-certify notifiable work; otherwise it must follow the Building Control route.

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What usually causes it?

  • Electrician who was not registered with a competent person scheme carried out notifiable work without notifying Building Control
  • DIY electrical work on notifiable circuits without Building Control involvement
  • Electrical additions or alterations within a defined bathroom special-location zone completed without the required notification
  • Consumer unit replacement done without Part P notification
  • A new outdoor circuit installed without the required notification

Is it dangerous?

Non-compliance with Part P does not necessarily mean the work is unsafe, but it does mean the work has not been independently verified. The danger depends on the quality of the work done. Improperly installed circuits can have inadequate protection, incorrect cable sizing, or missing earthing: all of which are fire and shock risks.

Can I fix it myself?

A competent-person installer cannot retrospectively self-certify work they did not carry out. Ask a competent electrician to inspect and test its safety, and ask the local authority what evidence or regularisation process it requires for missing Building Regulations notification.

When should you call an electrician?

Ask a competent electrician to inspect and test the work and identify any remedial action. Electrical test evidence does not itself replace a missing Building Regulations notification, so contact the local authority separately about regularisation.

What will the electrician actually do?

  • Inspect and test the non-compliant electrical work against current standards
  • Identify any defects or areas that do not meet BS 7671 requirements
  • Carry out remedial work to bring the installation up to standard
  • Issue the appropriate electrical certificates (EIC or MEIWC)
  • Notify any new remedial work when its scope is notifiable
  • Provide you with formal certification for your records

Who fixes this

What it usually costs

EICR Cost
£100–£330

Questions people ask

What electrical work is notifiable in England?

Approved Document P lists new circuits, consumer unit replacement, and additions or alterations within defined zones around a bath, shower, swimming pool, or sauna heater. Repairs, like-for-like replacements, and additions to existing circuits outside those zones are generally non-notifiable, but all work must still be safe.

What happens if I sell a house with non-notified work?

Buyers' solicitors will ask for electrical certificates. If you cannot provide them, the buyer may insist on a price reduction, indemnity insurance, or the work being regularised before completion. It can delay or complicate the sale.

Can I get a regularisation certificate from the council?

You can ask your local council about retrospective Building Regulations approval. Building Control may inspect the work and require parts of it to be opened up; the council sets its own fee.

Will I be fined for non-compliant electrical work?

Local authorities can technically prosecute for Building Regulations breaches, but this is extremely rare for domestic properties. The more practical consequences are difficulty selling the property and potential insurance implications.

Sources & References

  1. HM Government: Approved Document P (Electrical Safety)
  2. Building Regulations Part P: Electrical Safety in Dwellings
  3. BS 7671: IET Wiring Regulations (18th Edition)
  4. NICEIC: Householder Guidance

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