Electrical Work a Handyman Can and Can't Do (Part P Explained)

Building Regulations Part P governs electrical safety in English and Welsh homes (Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own separate schemes). 'Notifiable' work — generally including new circuits, electrical work in a kitchen or bathroom, and consumer unit changes — must be carried out by, or signed off by, a registered 'competent person' or the local authority's building control team. 'Non-notifiable minor works' — commonly cited examples include like-for-like replacement of a socket, switch, or light fitting — can generally be done without full notification. This guide is deliberately not a definitive, job-by-job checklist: the precise current line depends on the specific job and property, and the safest approach for anything borderline is to check current Approved Document P guidance or ask a registered electrician before proceeding — not to assume. If it's a kitchen, a bathroom, a new circuit, or the consumer unit, treat it as a job for a registered electrician, not a handyman.