If you own a home or rental in London or Romford, you have probably heard an electrician mention your “consumer unit” or “fuse box” at some point. Maybe you have flickering lights, circuits that trip for no clear reason, or a very old board with rewireable fuses and you are wondering if you need a full upgrade.
This guide will walk you through what a consumer unit does, the real world signs that it might be time to replace it, how UK regulations fit in and what happens on the day of the upgrade.
Your consumer unit is the nervous system of your electrical installation. It:
In a modern unit, those protective devices are usually:
Newer consumer units are designed to meet the current edition of BS 7671, which requires RCD protection for all new or significantly altered lighting circuits in domestic properties and higher standards of fault protection overall.
There is no law that says you must replace a consumer unit every X years. However, there are strong clues that yours may be due an upgrade.
If your consumer unit is old enough to remember dial up internet, it probably predates the latest safety requirements. Many electricians suggest considering an upgrade if the unit is more than 20 to 25 years old, especially if it still uses rewireable fuses or has a wooden enclosure.
Older fuse boxes often lack RCDs entirely and rely on fuse wire. Modern guidance highlights that one of the main reasons to upgrade is that newer boards include RCDs and MCBs or RCBOs which give far better protection against shock and fire.
If your board:
it is worth getting it professionally assessed.
Frequent tripping can point to overloaded or faulty circuits, or to an installation that is struggling to cope with today’s loads. Recent UK guidance notes that repeated tripping and flickering lights can indicate loose wiring, overloaded circuits or worn-out fittings that need expert attention.
A modern consumer unit, paired with any necessary remedial work, can help stabilise the system and protect it properly.
If you are:
you will probably need spare capacity in the board and up to date protection to satisfy current wiring regulations and, in some cases, manufacturers warranty conditions.
In practice, many upgrades are triggered by an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report). Electricians often recommend changing a consumer unit when an inspection finds issues such as wooden enclosures, lack of RCD protection or other significant defects, which can receive C2 codes on the report.
If your last EICR for a London or Romford property came back “unsatisfactory” due to the board, upgrading it is often the most efficient way to move to a safe, compliant position.
The current version of BS 7671 (18th Edition Wiring Regulations) sets the standard for design and protection in UK electrical installations. Among other things it requires:
For landlords, electrical safety regulations now require periodic inspections at least every five years and many older consumer units will not pass without at least some remedial work.
If your board cannot reasonably be brought in line with these requirements, replacement is often the best route.
A lot of people picture chaos and mess when they hear “fuse box replacement”. In reality, a good electrician will keep things as controlled as possible.
A typical process with Volt East would look like:
You end up with a neat, metal clad, RCD or RCBO protected consumer unit that meets current standards.
Costs depend on:
Online guides suggest that for typical UK homes, consumer unit replacement sits in the low to mid hundreds of pounds, with higher costs where extra work is needed to bring the rest of the installation up to standard.
Volt East will always survey first and give a clear, itemised quote so you know exactly what is included.
Sometimes, an older consumer unit can still be safe enough in the short term if:
In that case, an electrician might recommend planning an upgrade over the next few years rather than rushing. This is why an honest assessment is important: not every old board has to be changed tomorrow.
Contact Volt East for a consumer unit and safety review across London, Romford and the surrounding areas.
We can check your existing setup, advise whether an upgrade is really needed and, if so, plan it in a way that fits your budget and schedule.
Volt East works with homeowners, landlords and small businesses across East London, Romford and Essex to keep electrical installations safe, modern and compliant.
We can:
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There is no specific law that says you must replace the board itself after a set number of years. However, your installation as a whole must meet current safety standards. If an EICR or other inspection shows serious issues that cannot be resolved without upgrading the unit, replacement effectively becomes necessary for compliance.
For a typical flat or small house, expect most of a day on site. Larger homes or those with complex wiring may take longer, especially if remedial work is needed on circuits at the same time.
You will have some downtime while the board is being replaced and tested, but we plan the work to minimise disruption. In many cases, power can be restored to most circuits before final documentation is completed.
If your existing box is very old, lacks RCD protection or is causing regular nuisance tripping or faults, then yes, the safety and peace of mind alone are worth it. The cost of not upgrading can be much higher if a fault leads to fire, shock or a failed inspection when you come to sell or rent out the property.
If your consumer unit is old, unreliable or has been flagged on an inspection report, now is the perfect time to get clarity.
Volt East can inspect, advise and where needed, upgrade your consumer unit so your London or Romford property is protected for the future.
Ready to talk it through? Get in touch with Volt East and let us help you decide what is right for your home.
Contact us today to receive your free quotation with no strings attached.
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