A handyman in the UK can legally carry out non-notifiable electrical work — like-for-like replacement of sockets, switches and light fittings on an existing circuit. They cannot carry out notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations, which includes new circuits, consumer unit (fuse board) replacement, EV charger installation, outdoor wiring and electrical work in bathrooms and shower rooms.
Notifiable work must be done by someone registered with a competent person scheme (such as NICEIC, NAPIT or ELECSA) who can self-certify it, or it must be notified to your local authority building control before work starts.
Notifiable vs non-notifiable: what a handyman can touch
| Job | Notifiable? | Handyman can do it? |
|---|---|---|
| Swap a socket or light switch (like-for-like) | No | Yes |
| Replace a light fitting or pendant | No | Yes |
| Replace a ceiling rose | No | Yes |
| Add a socket to an existing circuit (outside bathrooms) | Usually no | Case by case |
| Install a new circuit | Yes | No |
| Replace or upgrade a consumer unit / fuse board | Yes | No |
| Any electrical work in a bathroom or shower room | Yes | No |
| Install an EV charge point | Yes | No |
| Outdoor wiring — garden lights, external sockets | Yes | No |
| Electric underfloor heating | Yes | No |
| Anything in a swimming pool or sauna zone | Yes | No |
What is Part P?
Part P is the section of the Building Regulations covering electrical safety in homes. It doesn’t ban you or a handyman from doing any electrical work — it defines which work is “notifiable”, meaning building control has to know about it and it has to be certified.
All electrical work, notifiable or not, must still comply with the wiring regulations (BS 7671). Non-notifiable simply means no building control notification is required — it does not mean “anyone can do it however they like”.
Why this matters when you sell or insure
- Selling your home. Conveyancing solicitors routinely ask for certificates for notifiable work. Missing paperwork can delay or derail a sale.
- Insurance. An insurer may query a claim connected to uncertified electrical work.
- Landlords. Rented homes in England need an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) at least every five years — a separate obligation from Part P.
- Enforcement. Notifiable work carried out without notification can, in principle, lead to enforcement action by the local authority.
How we handle electrical jobs
We carry out non-notifiable electrical work as part of a wider job — swapping a tired socket while we’re fitting shelves, changing a light fitting during a decorating job. If your job turns out to be notifiable, we tell you and refer you to a registered electrician rather than doing it anyway. That’s the honest answer, and it protects your paperwork.
The same principle applies to gas: anyone working on gas appliances, pipework or flues must be on the Gas Safe Register. That is a legal requirement and a handyman must not touch it.
Part P and BS 7671 — two different things
People often use these interchangeably, and they’re not the same.
- Part P is a section of the Building Regulations. It decides which domestic electrical work is notifiable — that is, which work building control has to be told about and which has to be certified.
- BS 7671 (the IET Wiring Regulations) is the technical standard for how electrical work must actually be carried out. It applies to all electrical work, notifiable or not.
The practical consequence: “non-notifiable” does not mean unregulated. Swapping a socket is non-notifiable, but it still has to be done to BS 7671 standards by someone competent. Nobody gets a free pass because the job is small.
Who can certify notifiable work?
There are two legitimate routes, and only two:
- A registered competent person. An electrician registered with a scheme such as NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA or STROMA can self-certify their own notifiable work and notify building control on your behalf. This is the normal route and usually the cheapest.
- Building control notification. You notify your local authority building control before the work starts, and they inspect and sign it off. This route costs more and takes longer, but it’s what you use if your electrician isn’t scheme-registered.
What you should not do is have notifiable work carried out by someone who can do neither, and simply hope it never comes up. It reliably comes up when you sell.
The paperwork you should end up with
| Document | When you get it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) | New circuits or a new installation | Proves the work meets BS 7671 |
| Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate | Alterations to an existing circuit | Covers smaller works |
| Building Regulations Compliance Certificate | After notifiable work | What conveyancing solicitors ask for |
| Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) | Periodic inspection | Legally required for rented homes in England |
If the rules differ where you live
Part P applies in England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own building standards frameworks covering electrical safety, with different notification procedures. The general principle — that significant electrical work needs certifying by a competent person — holds across the UK, but the specific paperwork and thresholds differ. Check with your local authority if you’re outside England and Wales.
Requirements have also changed over time. The special-locations rules in particular have been amended since Part P was introduced, which is why older online advice often contradicts current guidance. If in doubt, ask a registered electrician what applies today rather than relying on a forum post from a decade ago.
What if work was already done without certification?
This is common, particularly in flats that have changed hands a few times. Your options:
- Get an EICR. A registered electrician inspects the installation and reports on its condition. It isn’t the same as retrospective Building Regulations sign-off, but it demonstrates the installation is safe and it’s what most buyers and insurers want to see.
- Apply for a regularisation certificate. Local authority building control can, in some cases, assess unauthorised work retrospectively. Expect fees and possibly some opening up of the work.
- Indemnity insurance. Solicitors often suggest this during a sale. It protects against enforcement costs — it does not make the wiring safe, and it’s no substitute for an inspection.
Landlords: the separate EICR duty
If you let property in England, electrical safety standards require the installation to be inspected and tested at least every five years, with a copy of the report given to tenants and to the local authority on request. This is an obligation in its own right, separate from Part P, and it applies whether or not you’ve had any work done. A handyman cannot carry out an EICR — it requires a qualified electrician.
Gas: no grey area at all
Electrical work has a genuine non-notifiable category. Gas does not. Anyone carrying out work on gas appliances, pipework or flues must be on the Gas Safe Register, by law. There is no equivalent of “minor gas work a handyman can do”. Boilers, gas hobs, gas fires and the pipework serving them are all off limits, and you’re entitled to ask to see a Gas Safe ID card before anyone touches them.
Frequently asked questions
Can a handyman change a light fitting?
Yes. Replacing a light fitting, pendant or ceiling rose on an existing circuit is non-notifiable work, provided it is not in a bathroom or shower room.
Can a handyman change a plug socket or light switch?
Yes, for a like-for-like replacement on an existing circuit outside a bathroom. Adding a brand-new circuit is notifiable and needs a registered electrician.
Can a handyman do electrical work in a bathroom?
No. Electrical work in rooms containing a bath or shower is notifiable under Part P and must be carried out by a registered competent person or notified to building control.
Can a handyman replace a fuse board?
No. Consumer unit replacement is notifiable work and must be done by a registered electrician who can certify it.
Does a handyman need to be Part P registered?
Only if they intend to carry out notifiable work and self-certify it. For non-notifiable work, competence and insurance matter more than scheme membership — but the work must still meet BS 7671.
Not sure which category your job falls into?
Tell us what you need and we’ll tell you straight whether it’s something we can do or whether you need a registered electrician. Call 0800 102 6422, message us on WhatsApp, or request a quote online.
Related: what can a handyman do · handyman vs plumber vs electrician · our pricing.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Building Regulations differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and are updated periodically — confirm current requirements with your local authority building control or a registered electrician before starting work.