New powerpoint/ socket

[GreatGooglyMoogly]

Has anyone ever had an electrician in to put in a new powerpoint/ socket? How expensive was it? TIA.

The cost of putting in an additional socket has now gone up considerably since part P of the building regulations came into effect. It means anyone installing an additional socket needs to be suitably qualified and able to able to issue a test certificate. If the work is carried out by someone unqualified then the local authority can insist on carrying out an inspection themselves at a cost of around £240.00.

Anyone qualified carrying out the instalation will have to test the whole house to be able to sign off the additional socket which may bring other problems to light. The rules as to what has to be tested are complicated and a simple job can result in a significant amount of work being required.

The actual cost depends on how near other sockets and ring mains are to the new socket position but average cost is now around £150.00.

actually they only need to be part p qualified if they are installing new circuits, doing work in a bathroom or outside.

If they are simply extending an existing circuit then it can legitimately be done by a suitably competent handyman.

Should be able to get it done for around £50

Hmm, interesting - thanks. We know that the house needs re-wiring due it not having been done for many years; will we be able to add a socket to the current set-up or will they not do it until it's re-wired?

as long as there is a good earth path and there is nothing obviously wrong with the wiring there is no reason why they wouldn't add a socket for you. as long as it is not outside, in a bathroom or kitchen and you are coming off an existing ring main, you can do it yourself.

Non-notifiable electrical work

Some work is classed as 'non-notifiable', and this work can be carried out by a non-certified individual without notification although, obviously, the individual does need to be competent. Non-notifiable electrical work covers:

Replacement of fittings such as sockets, switches and light fittings.
Replacement of the cable for a single circuit where it has been damaged.
Work that is not in the bathroom or kitchen and consists of:
Adding additional lighting, light fittings and switches, to an existing circuit.
Adding additional sockets and fused spurs to an existing ring or radial main.
Installing additional earth bonding.
All this 'non-notifiable electrical work' is conditional upon the use of suitable cable and fittings for the application, that the circuit protective measures are unaffected and suitable for protecting the new circuit, and that all work complies with all other appropriate regulations.

If an electrician does the work then he/she is required to bring the circuit they're working on up to the current standards (note that this only applies to the circuit they're working on, not all the wiring in the house). So if your ring main doesn't meet current standards it could be expensive to have one extra socket fitted.

If you know the house needs rewiring I would suggest making do without an extra socket until you have all the work done. Then you can specify as many extra sockets as you like and know that they will all be fitted safely.

that is debatable actually (not really the case on non-notifiable work) although it is obviously what most electricians would be keen for you to believe! If you are rewiring next week then sure ..... just wait but you might not be rewiring for a few years yet so your best bet would be to find a suitable handyman or do it yourself