UK Landlord Forum / Life

I have two flats and have asked an electrician to change a bathroom light for me. He says that electrical regulations say I must change the Fuseboards by January 2018.

I can see that there is a new 17th edition regulation for new  installations. My reading of it is that because it doesn't have the rcd protection I need to change the one where he is changing the light. I can't find anything to say that existing ones must be changed. Can anyone point me in the direction of this regulation?

Have you asked why?

The answer "it's the regulations" doesn't ever wash with me. Ask him for details. There was a change published about metal clad consumer boards - but that would only apply to new installations... people around the country do not have to go back and rip out their old ones in favour of these (the idea of metal is to contain any fire within the consumer unit itself).

Even if adding a new 'circuit' or 'way' to an existing Consumer Unit you do not need to upgrade it.

Once again - ask your Electrician for clarity. If you don't get an answer that you're satisfied with then the Electrician must either be a terribly poor communicator or is trying to fleece you to take an upgrade that will cost several hundred Pounds (probably around £400 to £500) that is unnecessary (but not entirely a bad idea, by any stretch, let's face it).