For further peace of mind we are a member of Elecsa which is one of the governing bodies which were introduced by the government to provide a competent persons scheme which allows us to legally self certify our domestic electrical installation work. 

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) issued an amendment to the building regulations in January 2005 called Part P - see here for the actual document. 

This amendment set out guidelines to control domestic electrical work which included strict rules on who can and cannot perform many major electrical tasks.  The document itself contains the detail but a short list of examples which can only legally be carried out by a competent person as defined by Part P is as follows:

• Any electrical work in a bathroom except for an identical item replacement e.g. swapping out one 9KW shower for another of the same rating would be OK.  If the rating were to change for example 10KW were to be installed then this work must be carried out by a competent person

• Any electrical work in a kitchen except for an identical item replacement e.g. swapping an old socket plate for new

• SELV lighting in any room (commonly known as low-voltage lighting or 12 volt lighting) unless the unit comes pre-assembled i.e. no separate transformer, light fitting etc.

• Addition of any new circuit - for example to add a new electric shower where one did not previously exist or to wire a new extension

• Electric under-floor heating in any room

There are many more pieces of work which are deemed notifiable and must therefore be carried out by a competent person - this list is not exhaustive.