In 10 seconds
In Wales, all new electrical circuits, consumer-unit changes, and any work in kitchens, bathrooms, or outdoor areas must be notified to Building Control before it starts. Use only NICEIC or NAPIT registered installers โ verify them at niceic.com or search.napit.org.uk before booking.
What Part P actually requires
Part P of the Building Regulations 2010 has applied to all electrical work in dwellings since 1 January 2005. It requires that any electrical installation in a home is "reasonably safe" and complies with BS 7671 (the IET Wiring Regulations).
In Wales, the rules retained the pre-2013 stricter notification regime. That means Welsh homeowners face a broader category of "notifiable" work than English homeowners. Notification must happen before the work starts โ either by a registered Competent Person or by you to your local authority Building Control.
Work that is notifiable in Wales:
- Installation of any new circuit (e.g. a dedicated cooker, EV charger, or outbuilding supply).
- Replacement or upgrade of the consumer unit (the fuse-box).
- Any electrical work in a kitchen, bathroom, shower room, outdoor area, swimming pool surround, sauna, or similar "special location" โ even just adding a socket.
- Permanent outdoor installations (lighting, EV charge points, sub-mains).
Non-notifiable work
Some repairs and minor alterations do not require notification, but they must still comply with BS 7671 and be safe:
- Replacing a light switch, socket, or light fitting like-for-like (outside special locations).
- Adding a fused spur or extra socket to an existing circuit (outside kitchens, bathrooms, outdoor areas).
- Repairing or maintaining existing wiring.
The two Competent Person Schemes that matter in 2026
For domestic electrical work in Wales, two government-approved schemes let an electrician self-certify their work and notify Building Control on your behalf:
- NICEIC โ niceic.com/find-a-contractor โ the largest scheme, conducting annual reassessments. Both "Approved Contractor" (full scope) and "Domestic Installer" tiers can self-certify domestic work.
- NAPIT โ search.napit.org.uk โ government-approved, typically lower annual fees than NICEIC. Equally valid for Part P self-certification.
Welsh-specific rules vs England
Welsh Building Regulations diverged from English ones on 31 July 2014. When England simplified Part P in 2013 (narrowing notifiable categories and adding a third-party-certifier route), Wales did not follow.
Practical effect for a Welsh homeowner: more of your electrical work needs notification, and unregistered electricians cannot retroactively certify it through a "third-party route" the way they can in England. The only legal options for notifiable work in Wales are: (a) hire a registered Competent Person; or (b) notify Building Control yourself before work begins.
Penalties for non-compliance
A homeowner cannot escape liability by blaming the electrician. The Building Regulations create duties on both the person doing the work and the property owner.
- Magistrates' court fine: up to ยฃ5,000 per contravention, plus ยฃ50/day for continuing breaches after conviction.
- Enforcement Notice from the local authority requiring removal or remediation of non-compliant work. If you don't comply, the council can do the work itself and recover full costs.
- Property sale impact: buyer's solicitor will require either an Electrical Installation Certificate, a Building Regulations compliance certificate, or indemnity insurance. Without one of these, completion stalls.
- Insurance impact: a non-compliant installation that causes fire or injury can void your contents/buildings insurance.
Common scams in Wales
Three patterns reported by Trading Standards and the IET:
- Fake NICEIC / NAPIT cards โ sometimes high-quality forgeries. A 2021 case in Lanarkshire resulted in an 11-week prison sentence for false certification claims. Always check the live online register, not just the physical card.
- Inflated quotes plus invented "essential" extras โ ยฃ800 to replace a socket, or a "you need a full rewire" verdict on a sound installation. Get two or three independent quotes for any job over ยฃ200.
- 50%+ upfront then disappearance โ pay by card or bank transfer (never cash), and never pay the full amount before completion and certificate sign-off.
How to verify a Welsh electrician is genuinely Part P registered
- Ask for the card. Request to see the electrician's NICEIC or NAPIT membership card on-site.
- Search the live register. While they're still there, search their name/company at niceic.com/find-a-contractor or search.napit.org.uk. Confirm registration is current.
- Confirm Part P scope. The register entry should explicitly cover domestic electrical work โ not just commercial or industrial.
- Check insurance. Ask for proof of public liability insurance โ ยฃ2 million minimum is standard for domestic work.
- Get the certificate. After notifiable work, you must receive an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) AND a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate within 30 days. Keep both โ you'll need them at sale.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do my own electrical work in Wales?
Yes, but you must meet the same BS 7671 safety standards as a professional. Non-notifiable work (e.g. adding a socket to an existing circuit outside a kitchen or bathroom) you can do directly. Notifiable work you can still do legally, but you must notify Building Control before starting and arrange third-party inspection โ typically ยฃ100-ยฃ300 in fees on top of materials.
Do I have to notify Building Control myself if my electrician isn't registered?
Yes. If you hire an electrician who is not NICEIC or NAPIT registered for notifiable work, the legal duty to notify before work starts falls on you. Unlike England, Wales does not allow retroactive third-party certification.
What's the difference between NICEIC Approved Contractor and Domestic Installer?
Approved Contractor covers all installation types (domestic, commercial, industrial); Domestic Installer is restricted to homes. Both can self-certify Part P notifiable work in a home โ the difference matters for the electrician's scope of business, not for your domestic job.
Why was ELECSA merged into NICEIC?
ELECSA and NICEIC were both run by the same parent (Certsure LLP). The brands consolidated in 2021. All former ELECSA members became NICEIC members. Anyone still showing only an "ELECSA" card today is either out-of-date or fake.
How much does notifying Building Control cost?
Welsh local authorities set their own fees โ typically ยฃ60-ยฃ200 for the notification plus an inspection charge. A registered Competent Person bundles this into their job price, so you don't pay the council separately.
Can I hire an electrician from England to work on my Welsh home?
Yes, provided their NICEIC or NAPIT registration is current โ both schemes operate UK-wide. But the work must comply with Welsh Building Regulations (the stricter pre-2013 notification regime), not the English version. Make this clear to them upfront.
My electrician says the work isn't notifiable โ should I trust them?
Cross-check against the list above. A reputable electrician will explain WHY they think it's non-notifiable. If it's in a kitchen, bathroom, or outdoor area, or it's a new circuit or a consumer-unit change, it IS notifiable in Wales regardless of what they say.
I bought a house and there's no Electrical Installation Certificate. What now?
You have three options: (1) commission an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) from a registered electrician โ this confirms current safety even without the original certificate; (2) get retrospective Building Control regularisation; or (3) take out indemnity insurance against future enforcement action. Most lenders accept option (1) or (3).
Sources
- Building Regulations Part P (Welsh Government) โ Official Welsh guidance on Part P.
- NICEIC โ find a contractor โ Live register of NICEIC-registered electricians.
- NAPIT โ member search โ Live register of NAPIT-registered electricians.
- IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671) โ Part P โ Technical standard underlying Part P compliance.
- Electrical Safety First โ Welsh Building Regs โ Consumer-facing summary of Welsh-specific rules.
- Planning Portal Wales โ Failure to comply โ Penalties for unapproved electrical work.
Find a verified electrician in Wales