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Electrical work: what you can and can’t DIY in the UK
Electricity is the area where DIY rules are strictest, because mistakes injure and start fires. In England you can do some simple like-for-like jobs yourself, but anything that adds or changes a circuit, or is in a bathroom, must be done or certified by a registered electrician.
Updated November 2026. Estimates based on typical UK prices.
What a electrician charges
£300 a day
Typical Midlands day rate from our rates data. Small jobs are often priced as a fixed fee or a minimum callout, and certification is usually included.
The price
What affects the cost?
- 1
Type of job
Changing a light fitting is quick. Adding a socket, a new circuit or a consumer unit costs far more.
- 2
Access and wiring age
Old wiring, plaster chasing and floor lifting add time and cost.
- 3
Certification
Notifiable work comes with a certificate and building control notification, which is included by registered electricians.
- 4
Number of points
More sockets, lights or circuits in one visit usually costs less per point.
- 5
Special locations
Bathrooms, gardens and outbuildings have stricter rules and need specialist knowledge.
Be honest with yourself
Can you do this yourself?
You can do
- Replacing a like-for-like light fitting outside a bathroom zone
- Replacing a socket, switch or fused spur faceplate like for like
- Wiring a plug correctly and fitting the right fuse
- Changing a light bulb and fitting a lampshade
Leave to a pro
- Anything in a bathroom, wet room, garden or outbuilding
- New circuits, a new consumer unit or extra sockets on a new run
- EV charger installation
- Rewiring, any fault-finding, or work you are not sure about
The rules
In England, work that adds a new circuit, replaces a consumer unit, or is in a special location (such as a bathroom) is notifiable under Part P and must be certified by a registered electrician or approved by building control. Rules differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. If in doubt, ask a registered electrician.
DIY guide
How to change a ceiling light fitting safely, step by step
This covers a like-for-like swap on an existing circuit, outside a bathroom. If you see anything that looks old, damaged or different to what you expect, stop and call an electrician.
Tools you'll need
- Approved voltage tester or two-pole tester
- Insulated screwdrivers
- Wire strippers
- Torch
Materials
- Correct replacement fitting
- Appropriate cable connectors
- Correct fuse for plugs
- 1
Switch off at the consumer unit and prove it is dead
Turn off the circuit at the consumer unit and secure it so nobody can turn it on. Then test the light terminals with an approved voltage tester to prove the circuit is dead.
Never rely on the wall switch alone. Always isolate at the consumer unit and test.
- 2
Photograph the wiring before you disconnect
Take down the old fitting and photograph how the wires connect, and note which terminal each cable goes to.
- 3
Check the cables and the fixings
Look at the cable insulation. If it is cracked, brittle or burnt, stop. Check the ceiling fixing can take the weight of the new light.
- 4
Connect the new fitting
Connect each wire to the same terminal as before: live to live, neutral to neutral, and earth to earth. Make sure every connection is tight and no bare copper is exposed.
- 5
Fix the fitting and test
Fix the fitting to the ceiling, fit the bulb, then restore power at the consumer unit and test the switch.
Tip: If the lamp does not work or a breaker trips, switch off and call an electrician. Do not keep trying.
- 6
How to wire a standard UK plug
Strip back the outer sheath, clamp it under the cable grip, and connect brown to live (right-hand terminal beside the fuse), blue to neutral (left), and green and yellow to earth (top). Fit a 3A fuse for appliances up to about 700W and 13A for higher power.
Most modern appliances come with a moulded plug. Never cut it off and re-wire unless you know exactly what you are doing.
Learn from others
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming the wall switch is enough to make a circuit safe
- Working in a bathroom without a registered electrician
- Using the wrong fuse in a plug
- Not getting a certificate for notifiable work, which causes problems when you sell
- Ignoring signs of old or damaged wiring
Frequently asked questions
Can I change a light fitting myself in the UK?
In England, replacing a like-for-like light fitting on an existing circuit, outside special locations such as a bathroom, is something a competent person can do. Isolate at the consumer unit, prove the circuit is dead with a proper tester, and stop if the wiring looks old or damaged. If in doubt, use an electrician.
What electrical work is notifiable under Part P?
In England, adding a new circuit, replacing a consumer unit, and most work in special locations such as bathrooms is notifiable. It must be done by a registered electrician, who certifies it, or be approved by building control. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own rules.
Can I add a socket myself?
Extending an existing circuit to add a socket outside a special location may not need notifying, but it must still comply with the wiring regulations (BS 7671) and be tested. Most people should use a registered electrician, who can test and certify it.
Can I install an EV charger myself?
No. An EV charge point needs a dedicated circuit, earthing checks and notification, so it must be installed by a suitably qualified, registered electrician.
How do I wire a plug?
Brown goes to live (the terminal beside the fuse), blue to neutral, and green and yellow to earth. Clamp the outer sheath under the cable grip and fit the correct fuse: 3A for appliances up to about 700W and 13A above that. Most appliances now come with a moulded plug.
Ready to plan it?
Add this job to your renovation plan to get the order of work, who to book and a budget you can track.