Do New Electrical Installations Need Part P Notification?

What Part P is

Part P is part of the Building Regulations for England. It addresses electrical safety in dwellings. It does not replace the need for competent design, installation, inspection and testing, and it should not be reduced to a paperwork exercise.

Approved Document P provides practical guidance on ways to meet the regulation. Requirements can change, and projects that cross into other building work may also involve broader duty-holder and building-control responsibilities.

What "notifiable" means

Notifiable work must be reported through an accepted route so building-control compliance can be recorded. A contractor registered with an authorised competent-person scheme can generally self-certify work within the scope of their registration. Otherwise, building control may need to be involved before work begins.

The precise notification requirement depends on the work and location. New circuits, consumer-unit replacements and certain work in special locations are common examples, but homeowners should confirm the current rule for their project rather than relying on a simplified online list.

Notification and electrical certification are different

Electrical certification records the design, inspection and test results for the installation work. Building Regulations compliance documentation confirms the notification route where work is notifiable. A project may therefore generate more than one document.

Ask the electrician before work begins which certificates and compliance records will be issued, by whom and when. Keep them with the property records.

Why this matters when selling or renovating

Solicitors, buyers, surveyors and future contractors may ask for records of electrical alterations. Missing paperwork does not automatically prove the work is unsafe, but it can create uncertainty and additional inspection costs.

If previous work lacks records, do not create retrospective certificates that imply the original work was witnessed. A competent person can inspect and report on the current condition, and building control can advise on regulatory options.

Plan before first fix

Notification should not be an afterthought. Confirm the route, circuit design, other trade interfaces and inspection stages before cables are concealed. This is especially important during kitchens, extensions, loft conversions and full refurbishments.

Because regulations and project circumstances vary, the final content and any customer advice should be checked against current government guidance and the local building-control authority.