Guide To Planning Permission and Building Regulations Relating To Electrical Works

Considering carrying out electrical works to your property? Here is a handy guide regarding building regulations and planning permission with regards to electrical home improvement work

Planning Permission Relating To Electrical Works

Installing or replacing electrical circuits to your home is not normally subject to planning permission requirements however if your home is a listed building or is in a listed or protected area you would be wise to contact your local building control or planning authority office to check whether there are any permissions required before proceeding with your electrical work.

Electrical Work To Homes In England And Wales

When carrying out electrical work to your property you now need to ensure you follow these guidelines:

• Ensure that the electrical work you have carried out is performed by an electrical installer who is registered with a competent person scheme.
• This does not normally apply to replacement works such as electrical repairs, changing existing sockets or light switches or alterations to existing lighting or power sockets.
• This DOES APPLY to all electrical works carried out in bathroom areas, kitchen areas or gardens (exterior areas) - all works carried out to these areas should be carried out by a competent person in accordance with Part P of the Building Regulations Document
• The installer who carries out your work in accordance with a competent persons scheme should provide you with a certificate called an Electrical Installation Certificate. This shows that the work was carried out to a safe standard.
• Always ask electricians who carry out electrical work on your home which Competent Person Scheme they belong to and for evidence of their membership number. In this way, you will be able to check that they truly are competent to carry out your electrical work.

Minor Electrical Works

Certain minor works are allowed under the terms of the Building Regulations relating to electrical works. These works do not normally have to be notified to building control. These normally do not have to be carried out by a registered electrician, however it is often wiser to use the services of an expert contractor (in this case a qualified electrician) whenever carrying out home improvements or property renovations.

The list of minor works which normally do not require building regulation notification and can be carried out without the services of a registered electrician is made up of the following:

• Electrical maintenance or repair work.
• Installation of low voltage cable for items such as fire alarms, burglar alarms, telephone sockets, etc.
• Replacing an existing electrical point or electrical fitting, light switches and electrical sockets (existing).
• Adding fused spurs to existing appliances. Areas listed above, e.g. bathrooms, kitchens and gardens (exterior areas) do not apply to this and must be carried out by a registered competent person.
• Bonding installation or upgrades.

Competent Person Schemes

Organisations involved in the competent persons scheme include the following:

• NAPIT
• CORGI
• NICEIC

If In Doubt?

If in doubt about any electrical works it is always wise to seek advice from a formal body or building control.
Top Tradespeople do not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of this information and professional advice should always be sought if in doubt prior to commencing any home improvement projects.