RCD protection detects certain current imbalances and disconnects the supply to reduce the risk of electric shock.
Consumer units & fuse boards · NW3
Consumer unit replacement in Hampstead NW3
A carefully planned upgrade, from the first checks to the final circuit labels.
PEP replaces consumer units and older fuse boxes in Hampstead and across NW3. We assess the existing installation, explain the recommended work and complete the replacement with testing and certification.
Whether you have an ageing fuseboard or a recommendation following an inspection, we will help you understand the next step. You do not need to be planning a renovation to arrange a replacement.
Domestic Installer SchemeExisting installation
assessed before replacement
Installation, testing
and documentation
A focused upgrade for your home
A new fuseboard does not have to mean a whole-house rewire
Replacing the consumer unit and replacing the wiring are different jobs. The question is whether the existing circuits are suitable to connect to the proposed board, not simply how old the house is.
Your reason for enquiring might be an inspection finding, missing protection or uncertainty about an old fuse box. We establish what needs attention before recommending the work. Where suitable wiring can remain, the quotation can focus on the board replacement and any necessary associated improvements.
If wider work is needed, we explain why. You should be able to tell which recommendations are necessary for the replacement and which relate to changes you might choose to make later.
Start with the circuits behind the labels
A label reading “sockets” or “upstairs” may not tell the whole story. Previous alterations can leave incomplete descriptions, and an old circuit list may no longer match the rooms or equipment it supplies.
Before agreeing the replacement, we review the existing arrangement and any information you already have. Previous certificates, an inspection report and details of recurring problems can all help. You do not need to identify the circuits yourself.
Tell us if a circuit trips, a label seems wrong or part of the property has a separate supply arrangement. These details help us decide what needs checking and prepare a quotation that reflects the installation, rather than just the appearance of the enclosure.
A clear quotation
Consumer unit replacement cost in Hampstead
The price depends on the work needed at your property. A compact board serving a flat and a larger arrangement with more circuits will not necessarily involve the same equipment or time.
The quotation takes account of:
- The number of circuits and the protective devices required.
- The condition of the existing installation and any necessary remedial work.
- Earthing, bonding and the arrangements for isolating the supply.
- The board position, working space and cable access.
- Inspection, testing, circuit identification and completion documentation.
We explain what is included before you book. If you also want additional sockets, a new appliance circuit or other electrical alterations, tell us at the enquiry stage so those requests can be identified separately.
An exterior photograph of the fuseboard and a wider picture showing its position are useful starting points. Please leave all covers in place and do not touch wiring or internal components to obtain a photograph.
More than one consumer unit? Be clear about which one is changing
Some homes have a main consumer unit and a separate board serving another part of the property. An extension or outbuilding is one possible example; a separate board may also reflect earlier alterations.
If this applies to your home, we establish how the boards relate to one another and which circuits are included in the proposed work. Replacing one board should not leave you assuming that every other board has also been upgraded.
Send photographs of each visible enclosure if you are unsure which one is relevant. We can discuss what further assessment is needed. If your home has a single consumer unit, the enquiry can simply focus on that installation.
Protection with a purpose
Understand the protection in your new board
The protective devices should suit the circuits they serve. We explain the proposed arrangement without expecting you to choose equipment from a list of technical abbreviations.
RCBOs combine residual-current protection with overload and short-circuit protection for individual circuits. Separating protection in this way can help limit the circuits affected by a fault.
Surge protection helps reduce the effects of transient overvoltages on connected equipment. It serves a different purpose from RCD protection.
The board specification is considered alongside the existing installation and applicable requirements. If you have definite plans for new electrical equipment, mention them early so they can inform the design.
Arrange the changeover around the household
The replacement requires a planned interruption to the affected supply. We discuss the expected arrangements once the scope is understood, including access to the board and the rooms or equipment needed for testing.
Let us know about working from home, electrically powered medical equipment, alarms or anything else that makes a loss of power particularly difficult. These are matters to plan before the appointment, not discover once work starts.
In a flat, tell us if the meter or isolation point is in a communal cupboard, or if a managing agent controls access. A clear route to the equipment helps the appointment run as planned.
Installation is followed by inspection, testing and circuit identification. The job is not complete simply because the new enclosure is on the wall.
Know what the handover covers
You receive an Electrical Installation Certificate for the replacement, with the associated inspection and test information. We also explain the circuit labels and the operation of the new board.
Domestic consumer unit replacement in England is notifiable work under Building Regulations. The relevant notification and Building Regulations compliance documentation are distinct from the Electrical Installation Certificate; we explain how the documents for your job will be provided.
The records identify the work completed. Replacing a consumer unit does not turn the certificate into a guarantee that every unrelated part of an older installation has been renewed. Any further findings or recommendations should remain clear after the appointment.
Hampstead · NW3 · neighbouring addresses
Fuse box replacement across Hampstead and NW3
PEP covers Hampstead Village and nearby NW3 addresses, including Frognal, the Redington Road area, Fitzjohn’s Avenue and Netherhall, Belsize Park, Belsize Village, South End Green, South Hill Park and Vale of Health.
Whether the enquiry concerns a house, a converted flat or an apartment, we start with the installation and the work you need. The postcode helps us plan the visit; it does not determine what needs replacing.
For nearby West Hampstead or South Hampstead addresses in NW6, or an address around the NW8 boundary, send your full postcode so we can confirm coverage. We can also check enquiries from Childs Hill in NW2 and Hampstead Garden Suburb in NW11 or N2.
For other work, see our Hampstead electrical services. If the assessment points to a wider wiring project, our Hampstead rewiring page explains that separate service. You can also read about consumer unit replacement across London.
Does an old fuse box always need replacing?
Not solely because it looks old. Its condition, protective arrangements and suitability for the installation need assessment. Tell us what prompted your enquiry, particularly if an electrician has already identified an issue in a report.
Can you replace the board without rewiring my home?
Yes, where the existing circuits are suitable. We assess this before proceeding and explain any work needed to make the replacement appropriate. A fuseboard enquiry does not automatically become a full rewiring project.
Do I need an EICR before the replacement?
A full Electrical Installation Condition Report is strongly recommended before a planned replacement. We discuss the assessment needed for your installation and review any report you already hold. The existing installation must still be assessed if a full EICR is not undertaken.
Can you replace just one of two consumer units?
Potentially, yes. We first need to understand what each board supplies and how the arrangements are connected. The quotation will identify the board being replaced and the extent of the associated work.
Will a new consumer unit stop a circuit from tripping?
Not necessarily. The cause may be an appliance or a problem on the circuit rather than the board itself. Describe when the tripping occurs so we can advise on investigation instead of assuming that replacement is the answer.
Will the power be off for the entire appointment?
An interruption is necessary, but its duration depends on the installation, isolation arrangements and work agreed. We discuss the expected outage before the appointment rather than promise the same changeover time for every property.
What if an additional problem is found?
We explain the finding and its effect on the agreed work. Any additional scope and cost are discussed with you. If a circuit cannot safely be reconnected, it must remain isolated until the necessary work has been completed.
Talk to PEP
Tell us about the fuseboard you want to replace
Send your Hampstead postcode, a photograph taken with the fuseboard covers in place and a short description of why you are considering replacement. Include any inspection report you have and let us know about access restrictions.
PEP will help establish what needs checking and what information is needed for a clear quotation.