The consumer unit — the fuse board — is where every circuit in your home starts. It holds the devices that protect each circuit and, on a modern board, the RCDs: the safety switches that cut the power in a fault. Old fuse boxes and boards without RCD protection are a common reason for an EICR to recommend work. Here's when replacement is — and isn't — the right answer, and exactly how we do it.
Do you really need a new consumer unit?
Not always, and we'll tell you honestly. An older board isn't automatically unsafe, and a C3 ("improvement recommended") doesn't make an EICR unsatisfactory. Replacement usually makes sense when:
- your EICR records a C1 or C2 that a new board is the right fix for — for example, damage, signs of overheating, or no RCD protection where it's needed;
- you still have an old fuse box with fuse wire and no RCD protection;
- you're adding circuits — for an EV charger, a new kitchen or an extension — and the board has no room for them or can't give them the protection they need;
- the board is damaged, or parts for it can no longer be found.
Sometimes a smaller job does the trick, such as adding RCD protection to particular circuits. If that's the right answer for your home, we'll say so. Our guide to consumer unit replacement after an EICR explains the choices.
Signs your board needs looking at
- fuse wire or old plug-in fuses instead of switches;
- no button marked "T" or "Test" anywhere on the board, which usually means there's no RCD;
- an RCD that trips often, or won't reset;
- scorch marks, a burning smell, or crackling and buzzing from the board;
- a cracked or damaged case.
Why RCD protection matters
An RCD watches for electricity leaking to earth — through a damaged cable, a faulty appliance or a person — and cuts the power fast enough to help prevent a serious electric shock. Old fuse boxes don't have them, which is why missing RCD protection so often appears on EICR reports. A modern consumer unit puts RCD protection at the heart of your installation.
Building Regulations: how the work is notified
Replacing a consumer unit is notifiable building work under Part P of the Building Regulations. There are three ways it can be notified:
- a registered competent person self-certifies the work;
- a registered third-party certifier inspects and certifies it;
- a building notice goes to the local council's Building Control before the work starts.
We use the building notice route: we notify Building Control before we start, and your quote shows the Building Control fee, so there are no surprises. Building Control deals with Building Regulations compliance, and you receive our Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) for the electrical work itself.
How we replace a consumer unit
- Look before we quote. We check the existing board, the circuits, the earthing and bonding, and the incoming supply. If the main fuse or the meter needs attention, we'll tell you who to contact — that equipment belongs to your network operator or energy supplier.
- Test the existing circuits first. A new board with RCD protection can expose faults an old fuse box was hiding, such as damaged insulation that would make the new RCD trip. If we find one, we explain it and quote before going further.
- Notify Building Control before the work starts.
- Fit the new consumer unit with RCD protection, every circuit connected and clearly labelled.
- Test everything — every circuit and every RCD — and record the results on your Electrical Installation Certificate.
- Show you round the new board: what each switch does, how to reset a tripped RCD, and how to use the test button.
What to expect on the day
The power has to be off while the old board comes out and the new one goes in, so expect to be without electricity for a large part of the day. A little planning helps:
- keep fridge and freezer doors closed;
- charge phones and laptops, and plan work calls elsewhere;
- remember that heating and hot-water controls usually need power;
- tell us about medical equipment, alarms or anything else that must stay on;
- clear the area around the consumer unit.
Usually the new unit goes where the old one was. If it needs to move, or is larger than the old board, we explain any making good before we start. If your board is in a tight cupboard or a communal meter room — common in London flats — tell us when you request a quote, as it affects how we plan the work. For tenanted homes, we arrange the day with your tenant or agent.
Afterwards
Keep your Electrical Installation Certificate, and anything Building Control sends you, with your property documents. When you sell, the property information form asks about electrical work and certificates, so your buyer's solicitor may ask to see both.
For landlords
If your EICR coded the consumer unit C1 or C2, replacing it is remedial work. It must be done within 28 days (or sooner if the report says so), and you must send written confirmation, with the report, to your tenants and the council within 28 days of finishing. The Electrical Installation Certificate is the written confirmation you pass on. Our EICR remedial work service covers any other items on the report at the same time.
What affects the price
- how many circuits the new board needs to serve;
- the type of consumer unit and the protection each circuit needs;
- whether the earthing or bonding needs upgrading at the same time;
- any faults found on the existing circuits;
- where the board is, and how easy it is to work on;
- the Building Control notification.
You get a fixed quote, with VAT included, before anything is booked. You don't have to accept it.
Why book with us
- Honest advice — we recommend a new board only when it's the right fix.
- Tested before and after — every circuit, to BS 7671.
- Properly certified — an Electrical Installation Certificate on completion.
- Building Control notified before the work starts.
- A fixed quote first, with no obligation.
- Insured — £5m public liability insurance.
- London-wide — all 32 London boroughs and the City of London.
Not had an EICR recently? Start with a homeowner EICR or a landlord EICR. The report shows whether a new board is needed, and what else to plan for.
Request a quote
Request a quote — tell us about your home and your current board, and we'll call to talk it through. Have your EICR to hand if you have one. Or call us on 07301 010244.