No — replacing a fuse board (consumer unit) yourself is not legal in England, Wales, or Scotland unless you are a Part P registered electrician or work under a building notice. The work is notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations. An unregistered person must submit a building notice to their local authority before starting work. Using a registered electrician ensures the installation is certified, tested to BS 7671 18th Edition, and safe for your household.
🏠Homeowner view
Can I Replace My Fuse Board Myself?
The short answer is no, not legally — and here is why that matters for your home and your insurance.
What the Law Says
In England and Wales, consumer unit replacement falls under Part P of the Building Regulations (2005, amended 2013). This classifies it as notifiable electrical work, meaning it must either be carried out by a competent registered electrician (such as one registered with NICEIC, NAPIT, or ELECSA) or notified to your local authority building control before work begins.
Scotland operates under the Building (Scotland) Regulations and has similar requirements for notifiable work.
Why You Should Not DIY This
Live main supply: The tails from the meter to the consumer unit remain live even when you switch off the main switch — only the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) can disconnect the meter
Risk of fire: Incorrect wiring of an MCB or RCD can cause arcing, overheating, and house fires
Insurance risk: Your home insurance may be invalidated if an unregistered person carries out notifiable work
Resale problems: When you sell your home, solicitors will request an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) — without one, your sale can be delayed or fall through
No Part P certificate: Without certification, the work is technically illegal and you may face enforcement action
What You Can Check Safely
Note whether your current board has RCD protection on all circuits
Check how old the board is — boards over 25 years old with rewireable fuses should be replaced
Look for any scorch marks, burning smells, or tripping MCBs — report these to a registered electrician
What to Do Instead
1. Get 3 quotes from NICEIC or NAPIT registered electricians
2. Ask each contractor to confirm they will issue an Electrical Installation Certificate on completion
3. Expect the job to include full testing of all circuits to BS 7671 18th Edition (2022)
4. A typical consumer unit replacement takes 4–8 hours depending on the number of circuits
A new consumer unit with RCBOs for every circuit typically costs £400–£900 installed, including certification.