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Electricians in the West Midlands

Birmingham's housing spans Victorian and Edwardian terraces in areas like Balsall Heath and Small Heath, 1930s semis across Hall Green and Northfield, and newer builds around the city centre and Longbridge. Wiring age varies enormously as a result — some properties still have older fuse boards or cabling that predates current wiring colours, while others have been fully rewired within the last decade. An electrician working locally needs to recognise what they are dealing with before quoting, which is why photos of the fuse board or the area of work are genuinely useful when you post a job.

Electrical work covers a wide range, from a single socket or light fitting to a full rewire, a new consumer unit, or an EV charger installation. Not every job is the same in terms of regulation: some work covered by Part P of the Building Regulations is notifiable and must either be self-certified by a registered competent person or notified to building control, while many routine replacements are non-notifiable. Describe the job on FixAll-er, including the property type and roughly when it was last rewired if you know, and you'll hear from electricians interested in quoting.

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What to think about before you book

Part P and notifiable work

Under Part P of the Building Regulations in England, installing a new circuit, replacing a consumer unit, and additions or alterations within the defined zones around a bath or shower are examples of notifiable work. It must either be self-certified by an installer registered with an authorised competent person scheme or notified separately to building control. Many routine replacements are non-notifiable, but all electrical work must still be safe. Ask which category your job falls into and what certificate you will receive.

Registration and competent person schemes

Registration with a competent person scheme lets an electrician self-certify notifiable work rather than involving building control separately, and registered electricians are assessed periodically against wiring regulations (BS 7671). It is not a legal requirement for someone to be registered to carry out general electrical work, but for notifiable work you will need either a registered electrician's certificate or building control sign-off, so ask which route will apply to your job.

EICRs and when they're needed

An Electrical Installation Condition Report assesses the safety of the fixed wiring in a property against the current wiring regulations and flags any defects by category of urgency. Landlords in England have a legal duty to have one carried out at set intervals for rented properties; homeowners are not required to but may choose one when buying a property, after a fuse board upgrade, or if wiring is of unknown age.

Age of the wiring

Older properties may still have rubber, fabric or lead-sheathed cabling, or a fuse board without RCD protection, none of which necessarily means a fault, but it does mean an electrician will want to inspect before quoting for extra circuits or a consumer unit change. If you know roughly when the property was last rewired, mention it in your post.

Certificates for your records

For notifiable work, ask for a copy of the electrical installation certificate (or minor works certificate for smaller non-notifiable jobs) and, where relevant, the building control notification reference. Keep these with your property paperwork — they may be asked for when selling or letting.

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Electrical: common questions

Does all electrical work need to be certified by a registered electrician?
No. In England, examples of notifiable work include installing a new circuit, replacing a consumer unit, and additions or alterations within the defined zones around a bath or shower. Many routine replacements are non-notifiable, but all electrical work must still comply with safety requirements. Ask the electrician what paperwork applies to your particular job.
What's the difference between an EICR and a certificate for new work?
An EICR is a periodic health check on the existing fixed wiring in a property, identifying any defects. An electrical installation certificate or minor works certificate, by contrast, is issued for specific new work carried out, confirming it meets wiring regulations at the time. They serve different purposes and aren't interchangeable.
Do landlords have to get an EICR?
In England, landlords are legally required to have the electrical installations in a rented property inspected and tested by a qualified person at least every five years, and to provide the report to tenants and the local authority on request. Rules can differ for other tenure types, so check current government guidance for your specific situation.
Can I do electrical work myself?
Some minor, non-notifiable work is legal to do yourself, but building regulations still apply and any notifiable work carried out without proper certification or building control notification can cause problems when selling a property. If you're unsure whether a job is notifiable, it's worth asking an electrician before starting.
What should I include when posting an electrical job?
A description of the fault or work needed, the age and type of property, a photo of the consumer unit or affected area, and whether the work is in a kitchen, bathroom or outdoors, since these locations carry different regulatory requirements. That helps electricians judge scope and whether the job is notifiable.

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