Electrical help near you
Light fittings, sockets, appliances and everyday electrical know-how, including what must be left to a registered electrician.
What it costs
- Cost of Rewiring a House in the UK: Typical Prices — What a full or partial house rewire typically costs in the UK, how long it takes, the disruption involved and the signs that a rewire is due.
- EV Charger Installation at Home: Costs and Process in the UK — A plain guide to home EV charger installation in the UK: typical costs, what the survey checks, the wiring involved and what to ask installers.
- Cost to Replace a Consumer Unit (Fuse Box) in the UK — Typical UK prices for a new consumer unit, what affects the cost, how long the job takes and how to tell when your fuse box needs replacing.
- Electrician Call-Out Charge: What to Expect in the UK — What an electrician call-out fee usually covers, typical UK ranges, when emergency rates apply and how to avoid paying more than you need to.
Common questions
- Does a rewire need building control approval? A rewire is notifiable work in England, so it must be carried out either by an electrician registered with a competent person scheme, who will notify for you, or be inspected through building control. Rules differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Can I use a three-pin plug to charge at home? Some vehicles come with a portable lead, but regular charging on a domestic socket for many hours is not recommended unless the socket and circuit have been checked as suitable. A dedicated charge point is the safer long-term option.
- How long does a consumer unit replacement take? Often a half to a full day for a straightforward home, depending on the number of circuits and any issues found during testing.
- Can I refuse to pay a call-out fee if the electrician cannot fix it? You agreed to pay for the visit and the diagnosis, so a fee is normally due even if the fix needs another visit. That is why agreeing terms in writing beforehand matters.
- Is it cheaper to buy the materials myself? Sometimes the saving is small, and many electricians prefer to supply their own so they can stand behind the parts. If you want to supply fittings such as light fittings or decorative switches, agree this first and check they are suitable for the circuit.
- Can I just add a socket to an existing one myself? Fixed wiring is not a safe place for guesswork. The circuit's capacity, protection and cable route all need to be right. A registered electrician can do the job and test it.
Guides
- Adding Extra Sockets and USB Sockets: Cost and Rules (UK) — How adding sockets works in a UK home: typical costs, spurs and ring circuits explained simply, USB socket options and when the work is notifiable.
- Bathroom Electrical Zones Explained for UK Homes — What bathroom zones 0, 1 and 2 mean, why electrics are restricted near water, what you can and cannot fit, and why bathroom work should be left to a pro.
- Consumer Unit Keeps Tripping: What to Check and When to Call — Why a consumer unit or RCD keeps tripping, safe checks you can make by unplugging appliances, how to reset it and when to call a registered electrician.
- EICR Explained: Electrical Installation Condition Reports — What an EICR is, what it checks, how the codes C1, C2, C3 and FI work, who needs one, how often and typical costs for landlords, owners and buyers.
- Electric Shower Installation: What It Involves in the UK — What fitting an electric shower involves in a UK home, from dedicated circuit and consumer unit checks to cost, notifiable work and choosing a kilowatt rating.
- How to Compare Electrician Quotes Like for Like — A simple method for comparing electrician quotes in the UK: what to line up, which gaps matter, and how to avoid choosing on headline price alone.