When a consumer unit needs replacing

What a modern fuse board does that an old one does not, the signs yours is due, and why it is notifiable work.

The consumer unit, or fuse board, is where the electricity comes into the house and splits into circuits. An old one still works, but it may not protect people the way a current one does.

Signs it is due

• Rewireable fuses with fuse wire, or old cast iron switches, rather than plug in breakers.
• No RCD protection: the device that cuts the power in a fraction of a second if current leaks to earth, which is what protects against a fatal shock.
• A wooden or plastic enclosure, where current standards call for a non combustible one in a domestic setting.
• Circuits that trip repeatedly, or scorching and a burning smell around the board.

It is not a job to shop on price alone

Replacing a consumer unit is notifiable work under Part P of the building regulations in England and Wales. It has to be done by a competent person and either notified to building control or certified through a registered scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT. You should be given an electrical installation certificate at the end, not just an invoice.

Consumer unit upgrades are listed under electrical on Halo Hive. Every professional is UK certified and insured before taking work.

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Last reviewed 2026-09-28.