How to Find a Trustworthy Electrician in the UK

Published 13 August 2026 · Updated 7 October 2026 · Propvio Guides

Electrical work carries real safety risks if it is not carried out correctly. It also produces certificates that buyers and their solicitors will ask for when you sell. This guide sets out what to check before you hire an electrician.

Check for Competent Person Scheme Registration

Look for registration with a competent person scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT. These schemes carry out regular assessments of registered electricians' work.

Registration also allows an electrician to self-certify notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations. Without it, the work must be inspected by building control, which adds cost and time.

Search for the electrician on the scheme's own website rather than relying on a logo on a van.

Which Work Is Notifiable Under Part P

In England, notifiable work includes any new circuit, replacing a consumer unit, and most new work in a room with a bath or shower. A full rewire is always notifiable.

Smaller jobs, such as replacing a socket or a light fitting like for like, are usually not notifiable. They should still be tested and certified.

The Certificates You Should Receive

An Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) for a new circuit, a consumer unit change or a rewire.
A Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate for smaller jobs, such as adding a socket to an existing circuit.
A Building Regulations compliance certificate for notifiable work, sent through the electrician's scheme.

Keep all three with your property records. A buyer's solicitor will usually ask for them, and missing certificates can delay a sale.

If you let a property in England, you also need an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) at least every five years.

Warning Signs When Hiring an Electrician

They say a job does not need a certificate, without explaining why.
They cannot show proof of competent person scheme registration.
They quote for a rewire without seeing the property.
They suggest skipping building control to save money.

Confirmed Electrical Jobs on Propvio

Anyone can leave a review for an electrician on a general directory, whether or not they were ever hired. On Propvio, a review only appears once a homeowner has logged the job and the electrician has confirmed it.

Where a certificate was uploaded with a confirmed job, you can see that the work was certified as well as completed.

What an Electrical Quote Should List

Ask for a written quote that lists the work, whether it is notifiable, and which certificate you will receive at the end.

For questions that apply to any trade, see What to Ask a Tradesperson Before Work Starts.

This guide is for general information only and does not constitute professional advice.

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