LED lighting and energy-saving rewires
Swapping halogen downlights for LEDs is usually straightforward, but older dimmer switches often aren't compatible with LED drivers and need replacing alongside the bulbs, or you'll get flickering or a limited dimming range. If you're rewiring a room anyway, it's worth speccing LED-compatible circuits from the start rather than fixing dimmer compatibility later.
Tripping fuses or flickering lights? Common causes
A breaker that trips repeatedly usually means a fault on a specific circuit, not the consumer unit itself — an electrician can isolate which circuit is affected. Flickering lights are often a loose connection rather than a faulty bulb, and worth having checked rather than ignored, particularly in older wiring.
NICEIC & NAPIT registration explained
NICEIC and NAPIT are the two largest government-authorised Competent Person Schemes for electrical work in the UK. Joining requires a recognised qualification (City & Guilds 2382, the 18th Edition Wiring Regulations, plus a Level 3 NVQ and City & Guilds 2391 for inspection and testing), and ongoing assessment. A registered electrician can self-certify notifiable work without a separate council inspection.
Lighting design and circuit planning
Adding recessed downlights, under-cabinet lighting or dimmer circuits usually means new cabling even if you're keeping the existing consumer unit, since older lighting circuits weren't sized for LED transformers or multiple dimmer switches. Plan lighting changes before, not after, a room's redecorated.
Electrical upgrades: EV chargers, solar PV & smart home systems
Beyond repairs, many electricians now fit EV charging points, solar PV inverters and battery storage, and smart home systems — app-controlled lighting, heating and security. These jobs usually need a separate circuit and, for EV chargers, a dedicated consumer unit way — worth checking your existing setup can support the extra load before booking.
Shared supplies in flats and converted buildings
In a converted property, it's worth checking whether your flat has its own independent consumer unit and meter, or shares a supply with other flats via a landlord's distribution board. Shared supplies can complicate straightforward jobs and sometimes need freeholder permission before any work starts — check this before booking rather than on the day.
Wiring a loft conversion
A loft conversion typically needs new lighting and socket circuits, often a new consumer unit way if the existing one is already at capacity, and mains-wired interlinked smoke alarms are usually required by building control as part of the sign-off, not just recommended.
New build and extension electrical work
Wiring an extension or new build from scratch is different from rewiring an existing room — it's planned around final wall positions and fittings before plastering, so timing with your builder matters. First-fix electrical work (cabling inside walls) has to happen before plastering; second-fix (sockets, switches, fittings) after.