A Part P electrical certificate is the paperwork that shows notifiable electrical work in a home was certified under Part P of the Building Regulations (England and Wales). Homeowners usually receive a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate after a registered electrician notifies the job, plus the technical certificate for the work itself — an Electrical Installation Certificate or a Minor Works Certificate.
Notifiable work typically includes new circuits, consumer unit replacements, and additions or alterations in special locations such as bathrooms. Minor like-for-like replacements on existing circuits are often non-notifiable — they must still be safe and meet BS 7671.
This guide is for England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland use different building standards (see below). RIGS Electrical is a NICEIC registered domestic electrician based in Tring, serving Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and nearby border areas.
Sources: Electrical Safety First — Part P, IET guidance on Part P in England and Wales.
What Is a Part P Electrical Certificate?
Searches for “Part P certificate”, “Part P cert” or “what is a Part P certificate” usually mean the Building Regulations Compliance Certificate. It confirms that:
- The work was notifiable under Part P
- A competent person certified it (or building control signed it off)
- Notification reached the local authority via the scheme operator
It is not the same document as an EIC, a Minor Works Certificate, or an EICR:
| Document | What it is |
|---|---|
| Part P / Building Regulations Compliance Certificate | Proof notifiable work was notified and certified under building regs |
| Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) | Technical record of new installation work against BS 7671 |
| Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate (MEIWC) | Technical record of smaller alterations to an existing circuit |
| EICR | Condition inspection of existing electrics — not proof that new work was notified |
Keep the compliance certificate and the EIC or Minor Works Certificate for the same job. Solicitors, insurers and future electricians look for both.
Part P is building regulations. BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations) is the technical standard the installation must meet. Work can fail Part P if it was never notified; it can also fail if it was notified but does not meet BS 7671.
What Electrical Work Is Notifiable?
In England, notifiable domestic work is set out in Approved Document P. It generally includes:
- Installing a new circuit
- Replacing a consumer unit (fuse board)
- Adding to or altering existing circuits in a special location — rooms containing a bath or shower, swimming pools, and hot air saunas
A new kitchen circuit, outdoor feed, shower circuit or garden-room supply is notifiable because it is a new circuit, not simply because it is in a kitchen or garden. Extra sockets on an existing bedroom ring are often non-notifiable if the design is compliant.
Wales still treats a wider set of jobs as notifiable, including more work in kitchens and outdoors. If your property is in Wales, treat kitchen and outdoor alterations as notifiable unless a registered electrician confirms otherwise.
Typical notifiable jobs:
New circuits — extra socket ring, lighting circuit, cooker supply, electric shower, outdoor or garden-room feed.
Consumer unit replacement — swapping or adding a board always needs Part P certification in England and Wales. See consumer unit replacement.
Bathroom and shower-room alterations — additions or alterations to existing circuits in these rooms are notifiable in England.
Rewires and extensions — new fixed wiring throughout. Plan with extension electrics guidance.
If you are unsure, use a registered electrician rather than self-assessing.
Non-Notifiable Work (Still Must Be Safe)
Electrical Safety First and the IET describe minor work that may not need notification in England, including:
- Replacing accessories (sockets, switches, ceiling roses) on existing circuits, outside special locations
- Adding a lighting point or socket to an existing circuit in some circumstances (not in special locations, not a new circuit)
- Like-for-like cable repair on a single circuit in the same location
- Maintenance and like-for-like repairs
Non-notifiable does not mean DIY is always fine. The work must still comply with BS 7671. Poor work can cause fire or shock and can affect insurance. Replacing a like-for-like switch is not the same as adding a shower circuit or running armoured cable to a garden room.
Who Can Issue Part P Certification?
Registered competent person (usual route) A scheme-registered electrician (for example NICEIC) self-certifies notifiable work and notifies through the scheme. You receive the compliance certificate without lodging a building notice yourself.
Unregistered installer + building control You must notify local building control before work starts, pay fees, and arrange inspection and testing. Slower, and you still need someone competent to design and test the installation.
DIY Possible only for some non-notifiable minor work if you are genuinely competent. Notifiable DIY still needs building control. Most homeowners should not attempt it.
RIGS Electrical is NICEIC registered and self-certifies notifiable domestic work. If you need a consumer unit change, new circuit, or other notifiable job around Tring, enquire via the contact page or read about consumer unit replacement.
Part P and Common Home Projects
| Project | Usually notifiable in England? |
|---|---|
| Full or partial rewire | Yes — new circuits |
| Consumer unit replacement | Yes |
| New kitchen circuit or cooker supply | Yes — new circuit |
| Electric shower on a new circuit | Yes |
| Extra socket on an existing bedroom ring | Often no — confirm design |
| Bathroom circuit alteration | Yes — special location |
| New outdoor socket circuit | Yes — new circuit |
| Garden room supply | Yes — new circuit |
| EICR only | No — inspection, not installation |
| Replace a broken light switch (same location) | Often no |
Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland uses the Building Standards system. Electrical work must comply with Scottish regulations and BS 7671, but Part P as described for England and Wales does not apply in the same form.
Northern Ireland has separate building control arrangements. Use a registered installer familiar with local rules.
RIGS operates from Tring and serves domestic clients in Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and nearby border areas (England). If your property is outside that jurisdiction, verify local rules with a local registered electrician.
Certificates to Keep for Sale, Insurance and Landlords
Missing paperwork causes problems later:
- Buyers’ solicitors ask for certificates on notifiable work
- Local authorities can require non-compliant work to be altered or removed
- Insurers may question claims after fire or shock
- Uncertificated work often costs more to put right than doing it properly first time
Keep a folder with EICRs, EICs and Minor Works Certificates, Part P compliance certificates, and a photo of the circuit chart after major jobs. Landlords also need periodic EICRs for rentals — that is separate from installation certificates for new work. See EICR for homeowners and electrical inspections.
If you are planning notifiable work around Tring or nearby Herts and Bucks, contact RIGS for a registered electrician to assess the job and issue the correct paperwork.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Part P certificate?
A Part P certificate (Building Regulations Compliance Certificate) confirms notifiable domestic electrical work was notified and certified under Part P. Keep it with the EIC or Minor Works Certificate for the same job. An EICR is not a Part P certificate.
Is Part P the same as BS 7671?
No. Part P is building regulations for electrical safety in dwellings in England and Wales. BS 7671 is the IET Wiring Regulations — the technical standard the installation must meet. Notifiable work needs both: compliant design and testing, and the building-regs notification route.
Do I need a Part P certificate for a consumer unit replacement?
Yes. Replacing a consumer unit is notifiable in England and Wales. A registered electrician should issue an Electrical Installation Certificate and notify the work so you receive a Part P compliance certificate. See consumer unit replacement.
Who can issue Part P certification?
A registered competent person (RIGS is NICEIC registered) can self-certify and notify through their scheme. An unregistered installer cannot self-certify; you would need local building control involvement. Scheme operators and local authority building control enforce the rules.
Can I get retrospective certification?
Sometimes, if the work can be inspected and tested and is found compliant. Opening up and remedial work may be needed if it is not.
Do landlords need Part P for every repair?
No. Landlords must keep installations safe and hold valid EICRs for rentals in England. Only notifiable new work needs Part P certification. Like-for-like minor repairs may be non-notifiable but must still be safe.
*Regulatory summaries reflect England and Wales guidance at time of writing. For Scotland and Northern Ireland, consult applicable building standards. This is general information, not legal advice.*