Who Is Policing Part P?
Across the UK, electricians are asking the same question: who’s actually ensuring compliance with Part P of the Building Regulations?
While Government-approved scheme providers such as NICEIC, ELECSA, and NAPIT check competence when electricians first register, many within the trade question whether enough follow-up inspection happens between assessments.
This article ties directly to Risk Assessment Lesson 2 and Essential Downloads Lesson 23, both of which emphasise accountability and documentation — key principles behind maintaining compliance.
The Awareness Problem
According to the Local Authority Building Council (LABC), 55% of homeowners are unaware that fitting a new electrical circuit is a regulated activity.
This lack of awareness has two serious effects:
- DIY electrical work is on the rise, often carried out without testing or notification.
- Rogue traders can take advantage of unsuspecting homeowners who don’t know how to verify qualifications.
Many DIY retailers sell electrical components freely, unintentionally encouraging u nqualified individuals to take risks. Without controls on the sale of wiring accessories, unsafe installations will continue.
Interestingly, while only 2% of homeowners would attempt gas work, the same cannot be said for electrics — revealing a major gap in public understanding.
Raising awareness of risk and responsibility reflects the learning objectives within Risk Assessment Lesson 3, which focuses on identifying and controlling hazards before they cause harm.
Part P Prosecutions and Enforcement
Part P makes it illegal to carry out electrical work that doesn’t comply with Building Regulations. But between 2011 and 2013, NAPIT reported only one successful prosecution
under Part P — highlighting how little active enforcement is taking place.
Even more concerning, 72% of local authorities in England took no action on Part P non-compliance during that same period.
The rules are clear:
- Failing to comply risks invalidating your home insurance.
- You may face fines of up to £5,000 per offence.
- Unsafe work could put lives in danger and complicate future property sales.
Despite this, policing remains largely reactive — investigations often happen only after accidents or complaints.
Room for Improvement
Electricians within Part P schemes have long suggested that providers should monitor members throughout the year, not just at renewal.
Many in the industry believe the UK should adopt a single, recognisable registration system — similar to Gas Safe — to simplify consumer trust. Currently, only 19% of homeowners recognise the NICEIC name, compared to 62% who recognise Gas Safe.
A unified register would make it easier for the public to confirm competence and could help eliminate c onfusion around multiple schemes.
Meanwhile, education remains key. More government-led campaigns and better retailer awareness could help homeowners make safer choices and understand why hiring a registered electrician matters.
These improvements connect directly to Information in the Workplace Lesson 1, where clarity, communication, and information flow are central to professional standards.
Staying Compliant with Part P
For electricians, compliance is both a legal obligation and a mark of professionalism. Proper certification protects clients, supports public trust, and ensures electrical safety for years to come.
If you’re looking to understand how Part P affects electricians, Elec Training offers both Part P courses and online options to help you stay compliant and confident in y our work.
Learn more about qualifications and regulatory training at Elec Training.
FAQs
What is Part P of the Building Regulations and why is it important?
Part P is a section of the UK’s Building Regulations, introduced in 2005, that governs electrical safety in dwellings and associated buildings. It requires that all fixed electrical installations be designed, installed, inspected, and tested to protect people from risks like fire and electric shock, in compliance with standards such as BS 7671 (the Wiring Regulations). It applies to new properties, alterations, extensions, and certain DIY work, with notifiable tasks needing approval from Building Control or self-certification by registered electricians. Its importance lies in enhancing safety—reducing accidents, injuries (around 4,000 annually from unsafe electrics), and fires (over half of accidental home fires are electrical)—while making non-compliance a criminal offense to ensure high standards and public protection.
Who is responsible for enforcing Part P compliance in the UK?
Local authorities, through their Building Control departments, are primarily responsible for enforcing Part P compliance. They have the legal power to investigate, require rectification of non compliant work, and prosecute violations as criminal offenses. The person carrying out the electrical work (installer, homeowner, or landlord) bears the duty to comply, but enforcement actions, such as fines or orders to remove unsafe installations, are initiated by the local council. During property sales, solicitors may also check for compliance evidence.
How often are electricians’ qualifications checked after joining a Part P scheme?
After joining a Part P Competent Person Scheme (CPS) like NICEIC, electricians’ qualifications and competence are typically checked through annual assessments, including office audits (for documentation, insurance, and technical resources) and on-site inspections of recent work. The initial Part P qualification itself may last 3-5 years before renewal, but scheme membership requires ongoing verification to ensure compliance with updated regulations, with providers conducting regular audits to maintain standards.
Why are so many homeowners unaware of electrical safety regulations?
Many homeowners are unaware due to insufficient public education and campaigns, leading to low knowledge of requirements like Part P, EICRs (Electrical Installation Condition Reports), or the need for qualified electricians. Statistics show nearly half of Brits don’t know about lifesaving devices like RCDs, over a third discover electrical issues post-purchase, and 1 in 4 fires stem from electrical faults, yet only 53.4% of accidental fires are electrically caused without widespread awareness. This gap results from no mandatory inspections for owner-occupied homes, reliance on voluntary checks, and evolving regulations not being communicated effectively.
How many prosecutions have been made under Part P in recent years?
Specific statistics on Part P prosecutions are limited and not readily available in public data, as enforcement is often reactive and inconsistent, with few cases reaching court. Reports indicate prosecutions are rare, focusing more on broader building regulations or safety offenses; for context, general CPS data shows thousands of prosecutions annually across categories, but Part P-specific figures are not broken out. Freedom of Information requests or select committee reports suggest low numbers due to under-resourced local authorities, with emphasis on rectification over prosecution.
What are the penalties for carrying out non-compliant electrical work?
Penalties for non-compliant work under Part P include fines up to £5,000 per offense, unlimited fines under the Building Safety Act 2022, and potential imprisonment for up to two years, plus daily fines for ongoing non-compliance. Local authorities can also order the removal or rectification of unsafe installations at the offender’s expense, and failure to comply may invalidate home insurance or complicate property sales.
Why is enforcement of Part P seen as inconsistent across local authorities?
Enforcement is inconsistent due to varying resources, priorities, and expertise among local authorities, leading to patchy proactive checks and reliance on complaints or self-certification schemes. Reports highlight poor enforcement, with some councils not stringently pursuing violations, creating an uneven patchwork; this stems from no uniform national standards, funding shortages, and a focus on rectification over penalties, as noted in parliamentary inquiries.
Should the UK have a single registration system like Gas Safe for electricians?
There is ongoing debate, with many arguing yes for a single register to improve consistency, accountability, and public trust, similar to Gas Safe’s model for gas engineers, which prevents “hiding” behind multiple schemes and ensures uniform standards. Proponents, including industry evidence to parliament, suggest it would enhance enforcement and safety without eliminating competition among providers. However, current multiple CPS schemes allow choice, and some see value in this; a single system could reduce illegal work and align with Gas Safe’s success in preventing unsafe installations.
How can better public education reduce unsafe DIY electrical work?
Better public education through campaigns like NICEIC’s “Don’t Do DIY Electrics” can raise awareness of risks (e.g., half of serious shocks from DIY errors), legal requirements under Part P, and the need for qualified electricians, encouraging safer practices and reducing illegal attempts (1 in 3 adults try DIY electrics). It promotes safety tips, such as isolating power and using proper tools, ultimately lowering accidents, fires, and non-compliant work by empowering homeowners to recognize dangers and hire professionals.
How can electricians stay compliant and prove their competence under Part P?
Electricians can stay compliant by joining a Competent Person Scheme (CPS) like NICEIC, which allows self-certification of work; maintaining up-to-date qualifications (e.g., BS 7671 training); undergoing regular assessments (annual audits); keeping detailed records of installations; and issuing compliance certificates. Competence is proven through scheme membership, which involves initial and ongoing verification of skills, insurance, and adherence to standards, ensuring work meets safety requirements and providing evidence for homeowners or authorities.
