However Halifax General Insurance is warning people to leave the electrics well alone if they want to stay on the right side of the law - and stay alive!
Hire a professional
In January 2005, Part P of the Buildings Regulations 2000 came in to force. This stipulates that electrical work in the kitchen, bathroom or garden especially, has to be done by a qualified and registered electrician.
In 2003 almost a fifth of Halifax Home Insurance fire-related claims were caused by electrical faults resulting from botched DIY or work done by rogue traders. Now the act stipulates that work done by anyone who does not comply with the new rules will be committing an offence and will face a fine.
New wiring colour codes
Is it legal?
The work that homeowners can carry out themselves is now restricted to repairing power points or putting spurs on to a circuit.
If this work is done in the kitchen, bathroom or outdoors, where water could be nearby, it must still be checked by a local authority building inspector to make certain it is legal. Homeowners who want to carry out wiring themselves will have to submit a plan to their local council and pay for an inspection.
If in doubt, don't
Howard Posner, chief executive officer, Halifax General Insurance says: "Although this change sounds simple it's likely to leave many confused and has the potential to be lethal if homeowners get it wrong.
Changing light fittings or electric sockets may seem like an easy task when following a DIY manual's step-by-step guide, but home owners should not be tempted to have a go at more extensive work, especially in light of the new changes."
The Halifax advise you "to always call in a professional and use a registered and recommended electrician to complete the electrics your DIY project demands."
