Do I Need a Consumer Unit Upgrade?

Your consumer unit (the box on the wall with all the switches) controls and protects every circuit in your home. If yours is more than 25 years old, uses rewirable fuses, or lacks RCD protection, it may be putting your home and family at risk.

Signs You Need a New Consumer Unit

• It uses old-style rewirable fuses (wire in a ceramic holder) rather than modern circuit breakers
• The box is plastic and doesn't have RCD protection. Modern regulations require a dual RCD or RCBO board.
• Breakers or fuses trip frequently without an obvious cause
• You're having an extension, kitchen, or loft conversion that requires new circuits
• An EICR has returned a C2 or C1 observation on the consumer unit itself
• The unit is made of older bakelite or shows signs of scorching, burning smell, or discolouration

What Is RCD Protection and Why Does It Matter?

An RCD (Residual Current Device) detects the kind of current imbalance caused when electricity passes through a person, and cuts the power in under 40 milliseconds. Without RCD protection, a fault that would trip a breaker in a second can deliver a lethal shock in the time it takes to blink.

Modern consumer units have RCDs built in. Older ones don't, and that's the single biggest reason to upgrade.

What Does a Consumer Unit Upgrade Involve?

The process typically takes 4-8 hours for a standard domestic property:

• The power is switched off at the main fuse (your DNO fuse, which only a qualified electrician should work near)
• The old unit is disconnected and removed
• A new dual RCD or RCBO consumer unit is fitted and all circuits re-terminated
• Every circuit is tested and the whole installation checked for compliance with BS 7671
• An Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) is issued and, where required, Building Regulations notification is submitted (Part P)

How Much Does a Consumer Unit Upgrade Cost?

For a typical 3-4 bedroom house, expect to pay £400-£700 for the unit and labour. The price varies based on:

• Number of circuits: more circuits means more breakers, more termination time
• Type of unit: a full RCBO board (one device per circuit) costs more but gives better protection and easier fault tracing
• Condition of existing wiring: if cables need re-routing or are in poor condition, extra time is needed
• Location: London and South East rates are generally higher than the national average

Does It Require Building Regulations Approval?

Yes. Consumer unit replacement is notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations in England. We self-certify the work. You receive an Electrical Installation Certificate and the work is automatically notified to your local authority. You don't need to do anything separately.

Can I Leave It and See?

If you have a rewirable fuse board without RCDs, the honest answer is no, not safely. If the unit is plastic but does have RCD protection and an EICR has not flagged it, you may have more time. But an outdated consumer unit will eventually fail an EICR, so if you're planning to rent or sell, upgrading sooner saves a time-pressured rush later.

Get a Quote for Your Consumer Unit

RMP Electrical carry out consumer unit upgrades across West London, Berkshire, and Buckinghamshire. We'll quote a fixed price before we start. No surprises. Contact us with your postcode, a description of your current setup (photos help), and we'll come back with a price, usually within the hour.