Notifiable vs Non-Notifiable Electrical Work
Knowing whether a job is notifiable decides how you certify it and whether Building Control needs to know. The line is simpler than it looks.
Part P splits domestic electrical work into notifiable and non-notifiable. Notifiable work has to be recorded with Building Control — directly or through your competent person scheme — while non-notifiable work does not, though it still has to comply with BS 7671.
This guide sets out which jobs fall on each side of the line, and how a registered competent person handles notification without involving Building Control directly.
Key takeaways
- Notifiable: new circuits, consumer unit replacement, and additions/alterations in special locations.
- Non-notifiable: adding to or altering existing circuits outside special locations, and like-for-like repairs.
- Non-notifiable does not mean uncertified — issue a Minor Works Certificate where appropriate.
- Registered competent persons self-certify and notify through their scheme.
- Unnotified notifiable work can surface in house sales and cause problems.
What counts as notifiable
In England the notifiable categories are: installing a new circuit, replacing a consumer unit or main switchgear, and carrying out any addition or alteration to existing circuits in a special location such as a room containing a bath, shower or swimming pool.
These are the jobs where the consequences of getting it wrong are highest, which is why Building Control wants a record.
What is non-notifiable
Adding a socket, light or spur to an existing circuit outside a special location is non-notifiable. So is replacing accessories like sockets and switches, replacing a damaged cable for a single circuit on a like-for-like basis, and most repair work.
The catch is that non-notifiable is not the same as unregulated — the work still has to meet BS 7671 and should be tested and certified.
Still certify it
A non-notifiable addition should get a Minor Works Certificate. It is your proof the work was tested and compliant, even though no notification is needed.
How notification works
If you are a registered competent person with a scheme like NICEIC, NAPIT or ELECSA, you self-certify the work and the scheme notifies Building Control, issuing the homeowner a compliance certificate.
If you are not registered, you must notify Building Control before starting notifiable work and pay for their involvement, or have the work certified by a registered third party.
Certificates that feed the notification
TradePlanr produces the EIC or Minor Works Certificate your scheme notification is based on, ready to sign on site.
Why it matters at sale time
When a house is sold, conveyancing often asks for certificates or Building Regulations compliance for electrical work. Notifiable work done without notification can hold up the sale and lead to indemnity insurance or retrospective regularisation.
Getting the routing right first time — notify what needs notifying, certify everything — avoids all of that.
Frequently asked questions
Is replacing a consumer unit notifiable?
Yes. A consumer unit replacement is notifiable under Part P and needs an Electrical Installation Certificate plus scheme notification or Building Control involvement.
Is adding a light fitting notifiable?
Adding a light to an existing circuit outside a special location is non-notifiable, but it must comply with BS 7671 and should be certified with a Minor Works Certificate.
What if I'm not scheme-registered?
You must notify Building Control before carrying out notifiable work, which involves a fee and inspection, or arrange for a registered person to certify it.
From guidance to action
Related guides
Part P Building Regulations Explained
What Part P covers, which jobs are notifiable, and how competent person schemes keep you compliant.
Minor Works Certificate: When and How
What counts as minor works, when an MEIWC is enough, and how to fill one in correctly.
Consumer Unit Upgrades Explained
What a consumer unit change involves — assessing the existing installation, RCBO boards and paperwork.
