Before you hand over your house keys to an electrician, it’s worth spending two minutes checking they’re actually qualified. Here’s how to do it.
Why it matters
Most electrical work on a home in the UK falls under Part P of the Building Regulations. This means it needs to be carried out by a registered electrician who can certify their own work, or be inspected and signed off by a third party. If the work isn’t done by someone registered, you’ll have no certificate, which can cause real problems when you come to sell the property or make an insurance claim.
Check their registration
The main schemes in the UK are NICEIC and NAPIT. Both are government-approved competent persons schemes — being registered means the electrician has been assessed and their work is checked regularly. You can verify registration online in about 30 seconds:
- NICEIC website — search by company name or registration number
- Electrical Competent Person Register — covers multiple schemes including NICEIC, NAPIT and others
- ECS (Electrotechnical Certification Scheme) — verifies individual electricians’ card status
Any registered electrician should be happy to tell you their registration number. If they’re reluctant, that’s worth noting.
Other things worth checking
Look at their Google reviews — volume matters as well as score. Get a written quote before work starts. Ask whether they carry public liability insurance. And if the price seems extremely low compared to other quotes, ask why — cheap electrical work has a way of being more expensive in the long run.
We’re NICEIC registered and have been working across Bristol and South Gloucestershire for years. If you’d like to get in touch, we’re happy to talk through any job.
