The new rules affect anyone considering electrical work in the home, including DIY enthusiasts. Failure to comply could lead to householders being required to bring the work up to standard and may make it more difficult to sell their homes.

Minor jobs like replacing sockets and light switches in low risk areas will not be affected. However anyone thinking of, for example, carrying out electrical work in kitchens, bathrooms or outdoors or adding new circuits to any part of their house will have to get building control involved. The alternative is to get the work carried out by a suitably qualified electrician.

The key question for householders is who will be carrying out the work. If it is themselves, a friend or relative then they will have to notify the local authority building control department unless only minor work is involved. An alternative is to employ someone who is registered with a ‘competent person’ scheme.

All work that involves adding a new circuit to a dwelling will need to be either notified to building control, who will then inspect the work, or carried out by a competent person registered with a Part P Self-Certification Scheme.

Persons registered with Part P Self-Certification Schemes will be fully qualified electrical contractors with the ability to thoroughly check a circuit for safety. They will be able to issue Building Regulations certificates of compliance.

Many jobs carried out on a DIY basis will be small jobs that do not need to be notified to building control, but householders are recommended to have them checked by a competent electrician to make sure they are safe.

For the purposes of Building Regulations a fixed electrical system means those parts of the wiring and appliances that are fixed to the building fabric e.g. cables, sockets, switches, fuse-boxes, immersion heaters and ceiling fittings.

The changes bring England and Wales further into line with Scotland where Building Regulations already address electrical safety issues.

British Standard 7671 Requirements for Electrical Installations: the IEE Wiring Regulations is the principal British Standard that covers the safe design, installation and testing of electrical installations in buildings systems and it is the technical standard almost universally specified in UK contracts for electrical installation work. It is the basis for the approved technical guidance to meet the electrical requirements of the Building Regulations.

Failure to comply with the building regulations is a criminal offence. Local authorities also have the power to require the removal or alteration of work that does not comply with the requirements.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) has published a leaflet ‘New Rules for Electrical Safety in the Home’, explaining the options and how to go about finding a ‘competent person’ in your area in a clear, easy to read style. The leaflet is available online and hard copies will be available from local authorities and competent person scheme operators from the New Year.

The Local Authority Building Control Officer or an Approved Inspector will also be able to advise whether Building Regulations apply in a particular case.