Electrical service
Consumer unit replacement: a vetted electrician for your fuse box
A consumer unit (fuse box) replacement brings the board where every circuit terminates up to the current wiring regulations, with proper RCD or RCBO protection and certification. It is needed when the existing board is an old plastic or re-wireable type, or when adding an EV charger or heat pump. Sorted Property matches you to a vetted, registered electrician.
Need this done? We match you to a small number of vetted local trades who hold the right accreditation, never a dozen cold-callers. Free for homeowners.
Get matchedWhen you need a replacement
- An old plastic board with no RCD, or a re-wireable fuse board.
- Adding an EV charger, which usually triggers surge protection and load management.
- A heat pump install needing a dedicated protected circuit.
- A board flagged C2 on an EICR.
- A property you plan to let or remortgage with an outdated board.
What a compliant job includes
- The new board, with RCD or per-circuit RCBO protection.
- A main earth and bonding upgrade if the existing is undersized.
- Surge protection where required.
- An Electrical Installation Certificate at handover.
- Part P notification through the electrician competent-person scheme.
What it costs
- Consumer unit replacement
- Get a quote Depends on the board type (split-load or RCBO), circuit count and any bonding upgrade.
- Certification
- EIC + Part P notification Part of a compliant job, not an add-on.
For the full breakdown of board types and what an honest quote should include, see the consumer unit upgrade cost guide.
How to choose a vetted trade
- Use an electrician registered with a competent-person scheme (NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA or Stroma).
- Ask the quote to name the board make and the RCBO or MCB count, and to list bonding as a contingency line.
- Confirm the EIC is issued at handover and the work is notified under Part P.
Frequently asked questions
When does a fuse box need replacing?
When it is an old plastic board with no RCD or a re-wireable type, when it is flagged C2 on an EICR, or when you add an EV charger or heat pump that needs modern protection. An outdated board on a property you plan to let or remortgage is also worth replacing.
What does a consumer unit replacement include?
The new board with RCD or RCBO protection, any earth and bonding upgrade, surge protection where required, the Electrical Installation Certificate, and Part P notification through the electrician scheme. Be wary of a low headline price with "plus extras" wording, which often grows on site.
Will Sorted Property send my details to lots of electricians?
No. We match your enquiry to a small number of vetted, registered electricians, not a dozen, so you get a few usable quotes without a wave of cold calls. We are an independent introducer, free for homeowners, and not an electrician ourselves.
Sources
Editor, Sorted Property
Oliver leads Sorted Property's editorial coverage of UK home services. He researches and writes the plain-English guides that help homeowners choose between installers and trades, drawing on the standards set by bodies such as MCS, TrustMark, the Energy Saving Trust and the Property Care Association, and is clear about what to check before any work starts.
Last reviewed: 11 June 2026